Status and conservation of Hinde's Babbler Turdoides hindei, a threatened species in an agricultural landscape

Hinde's Babbler is a restricted-range species endemic to Central Kenya. In recent years it appears to have suffered a marked reduction of population w ithin its range. Using active searching and playback of vocalisations, we a ssessed the species' status in three study areas (Kianyaga, Mukurweini and Machakos) between July 1993 and May 1994. Distribution of the babbler was c losely linked to river valleys and swamps, and to the presence of dense thi cket vegetation. In Kianyaga and Mukurweini, clearance for intensive cultiv ation has removed most natural vegetation. Here the babblers rely on small (ranging from 5 m(2) to 0.81 ha) patches of the exotic weed Lantana camara for shelter and nest sites. In Machakos (a lower altitude site with less ra infall) the birds occurred in riverine thicket that has not yet been cleare d. Densities in Machakos were substantially lower (0.81 individuals per km( 2)) than in Kianyaga and Mukurweini (3.8 and 3.0 individuals per km(2) resp ectively). A questionnaire survey of local people in Kianyaga showed that k illing of birds for food and clearing of Lantana patches are serious threat s to this species. Hinde's Babbler occurs in only one small protected area; its conservation within a severely modified agricultural landscape is a su bstantial challenge that calls for innovative approaches.