Waterbirds of Alkaline Lakes in Western Uganda

Abstract

Uganda's only alkaline lakes are found in the Queen Elizabeth ConservationArea and the adjoining Kyambura Wildlife Reserve. Both are ImportantBird Areas, a status to which the birds of the lakes contribute.A total of 179 waterbird counts were made between 1984 and 2000,covering eight of the nine alkaline lakes, all of which are smallexplosion craters. Of the 75 species counted, all but three werenon-specialists. Maxima are given for all species, together withseasonal data for five crater lakes. Four lakes regularly supportedmore than 1,000 Lesser Flamingos each, the maximum being 60,000.They were Maseche, Bagusa, Nshenyi and Munyanyange. Breeding hasbeen attempted, but has been unsuccessful so far. The more importantflamingo lakes had high values for conductivity, above 15,000 [mu]Scm-2, whilst species richness is associated with muddy shores and,probably, intermediate levels of alkalinity, between 10 and 50 Meq-1.The lakes are important scenically, for ecotourism, and for the conservationof waterbirds and plants; whilst Lake Katwe's traditional productionof salt is of considerable economic significance.