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close| Location | Kenya, Nyanza Province |
| Central coordinates | 34o 46.00' East 0o 19.00' South |
| IBA criteria | A1, A3 |
| Area | 200 ha |
| Altitude | 1,130 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See Box and Table 3 for key species. Chloropeta gracilirostris has been recorded here (but appears to be uncommon), one of six Lake Victoria Basin biome species that are known to occur, including the papyrus endemics Laniarius mufumbiri (relatively abundant), Bradypterus carpalis and Cisticola carruthersi.
Site description Koguta swamp is a wetland at the mouth of the Sondu-Miriu river, a few kilometres south-west of the Nyando river mouth on the shores of Lake Victoria. The vegetation consists mainly of reeds Phragmites spp. interspersed with patches of papyrus Cyperus papyrus and Vossia cuspidata. Koguta is flooded during the wet season, while during the dry season the area is heavily grazed and trampled by cattle and hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius mufumbiri | resident | 1999 | present [units unknown] | - | A1, A3 | Near Threatened |
| Carruthers's Cisticola Cisticola carruthersi | resident | 1999 | present [units unknown] | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| White-winged Scrub-warbler Bradypterus carpalis | resident | 1999 | present [units unknown] | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Papyrus Yellow Warbler Chloropeta gracilirostris | resident | 1999 | present [units unknown] | - | A1, A3 | Vulnerable |
| Sharpe's Pied-babbler Turdoides sharpei | resident | 1999 | present [units unknown] | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Red-chested Sunbird Nectarinia erythrocerca | resident | 1999 | present [units unknown] | - | A3 | Least Concern |
Local conservation groups The local conservation group below is working to support conservation at this IBA.
| Name | Year formed |
|---|---|
| Nyadek (Nyando Biodiversity Group) | 0 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent herbaceous swamps and bogs; Rivers & streams | 100% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| other | - |
| Notes: Papyrus cutting | |
Other biodiversity Little information is available. The ungulate Tragelaphus spekii (LR/nt) and the snake Python sebae occur, but their status is unknown. Like other wetlands around the shores of Lake Victoria, Koguta is probably an important refuge for a number of the lake’s endemic haplochromine fish species.
Management considerations The site is almost inaccessible from the lakeward side due to dense mats of water-hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes. As in many part of Lake Victoria, infestation by this exotic weed has prevented fishermen from fishing, forcing them to seek alternative forms of livelihood. This adds greatly to the human pressure on papyrus swamps and other wetlands. Unsustainable cutting of papyrus, and overgrazing by cattle during the dry season when the water level recedes threatens Koguta. It requires formal protection, and a community conservation programme that will work towards controlled, sustainable use of the wetland.
References Johnstone and Githongo (1997), Nasirwa and Njoroge (1997).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Koguta swamp. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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