Importance, composition et distribution des populations d’anatidés présentes en hiver dans l’Ouest africain tropical

The results of the 1984 aerial counts of wintering waterfowl in the Senegal, Niger, and Chad basins are given and discussed. Both palearctic and afro-tropical species of Anatidae are restricted to the Sahelian belt during the winter, and do not enter the Guinea savannas or the forest-savanna mosaic further south, even during the drought episodes. In such harsh circumstances, paleartic migrants and afro-tropical species both concentrate in a limited number of refuge areas within the Sahelian belt itself. However, these winter waterfowl refuges may change from year to year. In January 1984, for instance, the Lake Chad refuge harboured 868 900 ducks and geese, against 122 400 in the Senegal basin refuge, and 545 100 in the Niger basin refuge.Jarry Guy, Roux Francis. Importance, composition et distribution des populations d’anatidés présentes en hiver dans l’Ouest africain tropical . In: Revue d'Écologie. Supplément n°4, 1987. pp. 205-219