Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
A vast area of swamp, flood-plain and termitaria encompassing about 40% of the total wetland area in the Bangweulu basin. The site includes Chikuni Game Management Area, a designated Ramsar Site (250,000 ha), and some adjacent areas to the north and west. It lies on the southern side of the basin and reaches the Serenje–Samfya road to the south-west. In areas of permanent swamp the vegetation is dominated by
Cyperus,
Phragmites,
Typha,
Limnophyton and
Thalia species, and in the flooded grassland dominant genera include
Acroceras,
Leersia,
Sacciolepsis and
Setaria. During flood periods, thick mats of aquatic vegetation may form ‘floating meadows’. The extent and timing of the annual flood depends on rainfall, but water-levels usually begin to rise in January and reach their peak in March. From April onwards the water recedes and the flood-plain tends to be dry by late May, although in wetter years pools may persist until August. The area holds considerable numbers of large mammals, and tourists and licensed hunters may stay at one of several camps on the south-eastern side. Many small-scale fishermen inhabit islands and other surrounding areas.
See Box and Table 3 for key species. The area is famous for its population of
Balaeniceps rex, an uncommon resident which, for much of the year, is loosely concentrated near the main river channels, although during flood periods there is much dispersal.
Grus carunculatus is a common breeding resident, often present in large numbers,
Egretta vinaceigula is a scarce resident or visitor which possibly breeds, while
Gallinago media is a common wintering visitor. The three Palearctic
Circus species are all regular, with
C. pygargus the most numerous, followed by
C. macrourus; least common is
C. aeruginosus.
Falco naumanni occurs in some numbers,
Phoenicopterus minor is a vagrant. The basin as a whole may represent one of the last strongholds of the Afrotropical subspecies
Botaurus stellaris capensis, in view of its drastic decline in southern Africa (Allan in Harrison
et al. 1997).
Neotis denhami is common on the flood-plain and during passage periods is found alongside large numbers of
Ciconia abdimii and
C. ciconia. Some of the largest concentrations of herons (Ardeidae), storks (Ciconiidae) and wildfowl (Anatidae) occur as the flood-waters recede and at this time large numbers of waterbirds are also breeding within the swamp.
Egretta vinaceigula is a scarce resident or visitor which possibly breeds, while
Gallinago media is a common non-breeding visitor. The three Palearctic
Circus species are all regular, with
C. pygargus the most numerous, followed by
C. macrourus and least common is
C. aeruginosus. The permanent swamps must hold enormous numbers of rails (Rallidae), but no censusing has been carried out. Common swamp passerines include
Acrocephalus rufescens,
Cisticola pipiens,
Muscicapa aquatica and
Ploceus katangae (small range in Zambia).
Merops variegatus is distributed throughout the area and the plains hold an isolated population of
Cisticola aridulus alongside the rather localized
Euplectes progne.
Phoenicopterus minor is a vagrant.
Non-bird biodiversity: A wide variety of mammals occur, including Tragelaphus spekii (LR/nt) and the endemic subspecies Kobus leche smithemani. Reptiles include Crocodylus cataphractus (DD).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The swamps support a large human population and general disturbance is a continual threat to sensitive species such as
Balaeniceps rex. Furthermore, nests of this species are raided or even actively destroyed if discovered and it would appear that small numbers of birds are still being caught for illegal live export. Large breeding colonies may suffer the same fate if found and small numbers of birds are hunted under licence. Fires are widespread in the dry season and may thwart the breeding attempts of some species.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bangweulu Swamps (Zambia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bangweulu-swamps-iba-zambia on 22/12/2024.
