Influence of land use and land cover change on the distribution and foraging ecology of grey crowned cranes (balearica regulorum gibbericeps) in the rushebeya–kanyabaha wetland, southwestern Uganda

Abstract

This study examined the distribution and feeding ecology of Grey Crowned Cranes (GCCs) (Balearica regulorum gibbericeps) in the Rushebeya–Kanyabaha wetland watershed in southwestern Uganda, focusing on changes in land use and land cover (LULC) between 1986 and 2022. We documented crane distribution and foraging behaviors through field surveys and analyzed Landsat data of 1986, 1998, 2010, and 2022 using supervised classification. The findings revealed significant changes in LULC, with an increase in built-up areas and subsistence farms, while grassland, bushland, and wetland coverage steadily declined. As the human population increased, leading to a demand for food, subsistence farming emerged as the predominant land use starting in 1998. Data on crane distribution indicates that wetlands are a vital habitat for roosting and breeding; nests are typically located within 140 m of water, along the edges of wetlands, and in vegetation that averages 2.6 m in height. Subsistence farmland, primarily growing beans, potatoes, and sorghum, serves as a key food source for the cranes. The study highlights that while agricultural landscapes provide important foraging sites, crane populations are at risk due to ongoing habitat degradation and disturbances. To effectively conserve these populations, strategies that integrate sustainable land use planning within the catchment area and wetland protection will be essential.