KE039
Kusa swamp


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1999 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius mufumbiri NT resident (1999) present A1, A3
Carruthers's Cisticola Cisticola carruthersi LC resident (1999) present A3
White-winged Swamp-warbler Bradypterus carpalis LC resident (1999) present A3
Red-chested Sunbird Cinnyris erythrocercus LC resident (1999) present A3

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1999. The most recent assessment (2023) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2023 poor high very low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat good

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Quantity (% remaining) Quality (% carrying capacity) Result
Wetlands (inland) moderate (70–90%) moderate (70–90%) poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Biological resource use happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Transportation and service corridors happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Energy production and mining happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Residential and commercial development happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Pollution happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Climate change and severe weather happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Little/none of area covered (<10%) No management planning has taken place Very little or no conservation action taking place very low

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland) 100 Permanent herbaceous swamps and bogs; Rivers & streams

Land use

Land use % of IBA
agriculture -
fisheries/aquaculture -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kusa swamp (Kenya). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kusa-swamp-iba-kenya on 23/12/2024.