Seasonal changes in abundances of waterbirds at Sabaki River Mouth (Malindi, Kenya), a key stopover site on the West Asian–East African Flyway.

Information on seasonal changes in waterbird numbers in coastal East Africa is limited, but crucial for estimating global flyway populations and targeting conservation efforts. The Sabaki River Mouth is an important site for waterbirds in the region. We counted waterbirds at the site monthly from April 2004 to February 2005. Our counts confirmed the importance of the site for the vulnerable Madagascar Pratincole Glareola ocularis and for Saunders's Tern Sterna saundersi, with 3% and 1%, respectively, of the flyway populations hosted. We detected internationally important (>1% of the biogeographic population) numbers of Curlew Sandpipers Calidris ferruginea. Other species occurred in near-internationally important numbers and, given the high turnover that occurs during migration, it is likely that internationally important numbers of these species used the site. Thus, we highlight the international importance of Sabaki River Mouth as a key stop-over site for waterbirds on the West Asian–East African flyway. We also provide new insights into the presence and abundance of commonly occurring waterbird species, which help to elucidate appropriate conservation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]