Sharpe’s Longclaw found on World Land Trust reserve

Sharpe's Longclaw population is suspected to be in rapid decline owing to the human-driven loss of tussock grasslands. The rate of decline is expected to become very rapid over the next three generations.

Sharpe’s Longclaw is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and, between 2009 and 2012, the species was the focus for WLT’s Kinangop Grasslands Appeal. The appeal successfully raised funds to save tussock grassland habitat for Sharpe's Longclaw and for the many other threatened birds, reptiles and amphibians which make Kinangop their home.

Ranger Andrew Mwangi Waweru manages a bird monitoring programme for Nature Kenya, and his post is funded through WLT’s Keepers of the Wild programme.

In the third quarter of 2015 Andrew monitored birds in three Nature Kenya nature reserves including the Leleshwa Nature Reserve. He recorded an average of 31 species across the reserves, including Sharpe’s Longclaw, Long tailed Widowbird (Euplectes progne) and migrant species such as Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica).

World Land Trust
January 2016

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