BIODIVERSITY OF WESTERN SIEM PANG
BIRDS
Map 4.1. Areas within Western Siem Pang that were surveyed for birds in 2006
significance for maintenance of intact communities and indirectly as surrogate indicators of functionally (relatively) intact Deciduous Dipterocarp Forest communities. The significance of this community was discussed rather briefly by Tordoff et al. (2005 sec. 3.3.1) and in further depth in a Laos context by Timmins (2009) and SUFORD (2010). A number of the species highlighted by the latter two reviews as potential indicators of conservation significant Deciduous Dipterocarp Forest communities in a Laos context are in a Cambodian context still widespread and common in many areas. However these lists (see Annex 5) give a starting point to make comparative assessments across Cambodian Deciduous Dipterocarp Forest landscapes. Even within a Cambodian context several species in addition to the relatively well documented Globally Threatened species (see Key Species Accounts) appear localised or scarce, for instance Rufous-bellied Woodpecker Dendrocopos hyperythrus (recorded from WSP) and Pale-caped Pigeon Columba punicea (not recorded from WSP), although there has as yet not be a systematic national review. The Deciduous Dipterocarp Forest community so far detected within Western Siem Pang appears to be comparably rich and relatively intact with few obvious omissions compared to other Deciduous Dipterocarp Forest landscapes within Cambodia (see Annex 5). The other significant bird community within the context of Western Siem Pang is that associated with the rivers and streams. A large proportion of the bird species within this community are Globally Threatened and an even larger proportion appear to be at least regionally in significant decline (Tordoff et al. 2005, Timmins 2006, 2008a). The Western Siem Pang area includes a relatively short stretch of the Sekong, but for many of the species of conservation significance the downstream stretch of the Sekong is likely to be of equal and in some cases perhaps higher significance. For a small suite of species the smaller streams of Western Siem Pang are particularly significant. A high proportion of species are showing clear or apparent signs of significant decline (see below) in Western Siem Pang or the downstream stretches of the Sekong, and four species White-winged Duck Asarcornis scutulata, River Tern, Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda and Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata are either extirpated or likely very close to extirpation (the latter not recorded from Western Siem Pang, although it surely occurred in recent times). Despite the precarious status of so many species, Western Siem Pang and the associated downstream stretch of the Sekong still support a bird community of high Global significance and very high regional significance.
Key species accounts Global conservation status information in this section is based on the 2010 version of an international dataset managed and updated by BirdLife on an ongoing basis (BirdLife International 2010, IUCN 2010). Key species are defined here as those that are Globally Threatened. In the following accounts, the areas (A-F) within Western Siem Pang that are referred to are areas of Western Siem Pang that were surveyed in 2006 (Buckingham and Prach Pich Phirun 2006) and are shown on Map 4.1.
Giant Ibis Thaumatiibis gigantea (Critically Endangered) Giant Ibis is a Critically Endangered species with a known world population estimated as at 64
65