Weaver Wednesday 3: range changes in S Africa
(species text)
Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne
Long-tailed Widowbird, Range-change map between SABAP1 (1987-1991) and SABAP2 (2007-current).
Red, orange and yellow = cells with very large, large, and small relative decreases
Blue, dark green and light green = cells with very large, large and small relative increases.
Cells = quarter-degree grid cells; Only cells with at least 4 checklists in both SABAP1&2 shown. All cells had this species recorded in SABAP1 or in SABAP2 or in both (more about interpretation at Biodiversity Observations 7.62: 1-13).
Long-tailed Widowbird, figure from Birdpix
Range changes in SA
Range change summary
More
4 lists
30 lists
increases
n
%
n
%
Decrease
270
36
124
37
Tiny change
237
32
119
36
Increase
232
32
91
27
Total
739
100
334
100
In South Africa the Long-tailed Widowbird has more grid cells with decreases in reporting rate than cells showing increases, between SABAP1 (1987-1991) and SABAP2 (2007-).
The points below match the points on the map above.
Areas with increases include:
1. Central highveld.
Areas with very large decreases include:
2. Many edges of its range in South Africa show decreases, especially KwaZulu-Natal.
3. Humansdorp area - a small population persists - it has been present historically, and initially must have been joined to the rest of the South African population.
