Spatio-temporal distribution of Dendrocygna viduata Linnaeus, 1766 in the River Niger valley, case of the Kandadji dam

Abstract

The study is undertaken on the sites of Ayorou, Kandadji and Kokorou where still a significant population of Dendrocygna viduata remains. This study aims to know the spatiotemporal distribution of Dendrocygna viduata in the valley of the Niger River within the framework of the plan of installation of its valley. The methodology of the study initially consisted in cutting out each site in several circular stations of a radius of 100 m. Then observation points are set within the various types of habitat (station). Finally, the observation or the detection of the birds will be done within these stations by the listening point method which consists of counting, from a fixed point, the birds observed or heard inside an imaginary circle of fixed or unlimited radius centered on the operator. The enumeration is done out along the sites during the morning from 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM and the evening of 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The study made it possible to count on the whole 19191 individuals of Dendrocygna viduata on the whole of the sites in 16 meetings of census including, 7318 individuals in the 45 stations of Ayorou, 5613 individuals in the 35 stations of Kandadji and 6260 individuals in the 40 stations of Kokorou. Dendrocygna viduata is observed on all statios during all seasons of the year.