Recent changes in the status of wetland lapwings in the Bulawayo area of Zimbabwe and in Zimbabwe as a whole

摘要

The four species of lapwing that breed in the wetlands of Zimbabwe - Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus, Wattled Lapwing V. senegallus, White-crowned Lapwing V. albiceps and Long-toed Lapwing V. crassirostris -have all increased in population size and distribution over the past century. The main reason is the increased availability of suitable habitat arising from farmland water storage and irrigation. Here I describe the population development of each species based on published sources, nest record scheme data and my own observations.