Beyond telemetry and breeding ecology: integrating local perceptions and belief systems into the conservation of Yellow-billed Kites Milvus aegyptius in Nigeria

Abstract

The conservation of migratory raptors in the Anthropocene frequently relies on technology-based tools, such as satellite telemetry, which map biological landscapes but often ignore cultural ones. This study bridges this gap by integrating local ecological knowledge and cultural perceptions into the conservation of the Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius in Nigeria. Opportunistic semi-structured interviews (n = 443) were conducted between 2023 and 2026 across five distinct bio-cultural zones during broader fieldwork on kite breeding ecology and telemetry tracking. Respondents demonstrated knowledge consistent with known migratory patterns of the species, with 66.4% accurately tracking the species’ migratory phenology and recognising its foraging ecology. However, despite the kite’s behavioural adaptability, 63.0% of participants reported a drastic demographic decline over the past decade, consistent with broader continental trends. The study identifies human–wildlife conflict as the primary driver of persecution; 45.1% of respondents categorised the kite as an economic pest due to free-ranging poultry depredation, triggering severe retaliatory actions, including nest destruction, trapping and poisoning. Furthermore, analysis of indigenous narratives revealed that the species lacks a protective ‘cultural shield’, as no traditional taboos or spiritual associations discourage its persecution. These findings highlight the fact that technological monitoring alone cannot secure species survival. Effective conservation demands ‘knowledge pluralism’: the integration of diverse knowledge systems, such as local socioeconomic insights and quantitative ecological data, with the incorporation of improved poultry management to reduce economic friction alongside culturally informed environmental education to elevate the kite’s status from an economic pest to a recognised ecological asset.