email a friend
printable version
close| Location | Ethiopia, Southern Peoples' Region |
| Central coordinates | 38o 3.00' East 7o 29.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4iii |
| Area | 13,000 ha |
| Altitude | 1,880 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See Box for key species. Small numbers of Falco naumanni appear to pass through the site on spring and autumn passage and a few may overwinter. Circus macrourus is fairly common on spring and autumn passage, with small numbers overwintering. Boyo wetland supports a high concentration of waterbirds. During a one-day survey in April 1996, 62 Grus carunculatus and three Balearica pavonina were recorded. During the same survey, other waterbird counts included Ardeola ralloides (40+), Bubulcus ibis (3,000+), Mesophoyx intermedia (300+), Mycteria ibis (80+), Plegadis falcinellus (1,200+), Threskiornis aethiopicus (150+), Plectropterus gambensis (75+) and several thousand Palearctic waders of various species. Counts covered a maximum of 10% of the total area, and the total number of waterbirds was thus estimated to exceed 20,000.
Site description Boyo Wetland is 26 km north of Alaba Kulito, Hadiya Zone. It is in the Bilate river basin that drains from the Gurage highlands south into Lake Abaya. The two main tributaries of the Bilate river, the Guder (which originates in the mountains near the zonal capital Hosana) and the Weira, merge at Boyo wetland. The vegetation of this wetland has not been studied. The site is within one of the most intensely cultivated areas in the country. It is self-supporting in food crops and many other items, and produces much for Addis Ababa.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus | passage | - | frequent [units unknown] | - | A1 | Near Threatened |
| Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus | non-breeding | 1996 | 62 individuals | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | unknown | - | 20,000 individuals | unknown | A4iii |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyo Swamp | Controlled Hunting Area | 32,694 | protected area contains site | 13,000 |
|
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| hunting | - |
Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.
Management considerations The Boyo wetland is listed as a Controlled Hunting Area for Hippopotamus amphibius. The area around the wetland, especially the western side, is being used as range- and farmland, and the hills are denuded of trees and grass cover. As a consequence, the land is severely eroded and the lake is silting up. Other threats include human settlement and the introduction of exotic tree species. Silt deposits have attracted people to expand cultivation in the area, and farmers are planting Eucalyptus globulus, an exotic tree species well known for drying out soils. Birds face disturbance from people and domestic stock.
References National Water Resources Commission (1987).
Contribute Please click here to help BirdLife conserve the world's birds - your data for this IBA and others are vital for helping protect the environment.
Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Boyo wetland. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
|
|