Vulnerability of the endangered Ethiopian bush crow (Zavattariornis stresemanni) to the recurrent drought and its conservation implications

The Ethiopian Bush-crow is one of the endemic and endangered species of birds, with restricted distribution, being confined to the flat savanna areas of Borana, Ethiopia. This species which has an area of occupancy defined by distinct climate pocket is extremely threatened by habitat loss and incompatibility. Available published reports and manuscripts were reviewed to examine and document: i) The likely effects of the recurrent and severe droughts on the potential threats of Bush-crow; and ii) Realization of earlier proposed conservation actions in the context of the prevailing situations in its habitat. Based on this review, it is concluded that prevalence of 2021, 2022 and early 2023 severe drought is likely to cause unpredictable consequences for the survival of the species and resulted in disruption of the ecological associations between the people, livestock and the Bush-crow. Thus, the ecological predictions made earlier and the previously proposed conservation actions are assumed to be arguable and there is a logical concern that the species in question will be extinct much earlier than predicted. It is therefore recommended that there is a need to undertake further assessment of the real ecological and socio-economic situations on the ground and urgently develop species-specific action plan at national level in order to address the ever-increasing Bush-crow’s conservation challenges. • The Ethiopian Bush-crow is an endangered bird species, with restricted distribution and average temperature, in Borana zone. • This bird species prefers open short-grass savannas of grazed pasturelands with scattered stands of taller trees of indigenous species. • This paper aims to examine the effect of severe droughts on its potential threats and realization of its conservation action.