Population size and ecological behaviour of cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) in Chelekleka Wetland, Ethiopia
Temesgen Tigab & Misganaw Enyew
Abstract
The cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a widespread, medium-sized heron recognized for its ecological adaptability and significant role as an indicator species in wetland ecosystems. Despite its global distribution and extensive research on its ecology, limited data exist on its behavioral ecology in Ethiopia. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the activity patterns, foraging behavior, abundance, and seasonal habitat utilization of cattle egrets in the Chelekleka Wetland, a seasonally inundated area located near Debre Zeyit in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. Fieldwork was conducted across wet (June to August 2023) and dry (January to February 2024) seasons using direct observation methods, including scan sampling and focal animal sampling, across defined habitat blocks. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were utilized to analyze the data. Counts revealed higher egret abundance during the wet season (n=5,441) compared to the dry season (n=3,335), highlighting seasonal fluctuations linked to habitat conditions and resource availability. Diurnal activity patterns showed significant variations across time slots and seasons, with feeding and flying being predominant during early and late hours. Foraging observations revealed diverse prey selection, including insects and small vertebrates, and frequent use of livestock pastures and farmlands. The observed seasonal variation in population size and habitat utilization of the cattle egret indicates that wetland hydrology and resource availability are key factors influencing the species’ ecology. Therefore, it is recommended that Wetland conservation and management efforts be strengthened to maintain water levels and vegetation structure throughout the year, ensuring suitable foraging and breeding habitats.
Keywords
conservation status, feeding habits, fauna, population size, seasonal variation
Author information & Contribution
Temesgen Tigab. Corresponding author. MSc in Ecological and Systematic Zoology. Genetic Resource Access and Benefit Sharing Research, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute. Email: Temesgen.tigab@ebi.gov.et
Misganaw Enyew. MSc in Ecological and Systematic Zoology. College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Department of Zoological Sciences, P.O. Box 1176. Email: misganawenyew92@gmail.com
"Both authors contributed equally to the conception, design, preparation, data gathering and analysis, and manuscript writing. They both read and approved the final manuscript."
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Funding
This work was not supported by any funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not Applicable
Data and Materials Availability
The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
AI Declaration
AI tools were not used in writing this paper.
Notes
Acknowledgement
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Cite this article:
Tigab. T. & Enyew, M. (2026). Population size and ecological behaviour of cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) in Chelekleka Wetland, Ethiopia. International Journal of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, 6(1), 47-66. https://doi.org/10.53378/ijstem.353325
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