Pied crow (Corvus albus) is a highly adaptable and opportunistic scavenger species that has successfully colonized many urban and peri-urban areas across the African continent. The impact of weather changes on pied crow foraging behavior in different African regions can have important implications for waste management strategies and the mitigation of the potential negative impacts of these urban-adapted birds on local ecosystems. This study aimed to investigate how changes in weather condition influence the foraging strategy of pied crow (Corvus albus) on waste materials in Bonaberi neighborhood of Douala in Cameroon. Observational surveys were conducted over a 4-month period in Bonaberi to monitor the foraging behavior of pied crows. Data were collected on crow numbers, time spent foraging, food types consumed, and foraging locations during both the dry and rainy seasons. Weather data, including sunshine, rainfall, cloud cover, and wind speed, were also recorded. Statistical models were used to analyze the relationship between weather variables and pied crow foraging patterns. In this study, weather condition revealed a significant association on day-period X2=116.908 df=6 P=0.000, aggregation behavior of birds X2=12.514 df12 P<0.05, and the behavioral activity of birds X2=27.937 df=9 P=0.001 respectively. Additionally, weather changes significantly associated with various food-types birds X2=55.011 df=15 P=0.001. More so, weather changes showed a significant relation on the presence of humans on dumpsites X2=13.968 df=6 P=0.030. Furthermore, changes of weather and highway traffic intensity associated significantly X2=15.804 df=6 P=0.015. Also, the aggregation of birds and their location at dumpsites associated significantly X2=17.528 df=12 P<0.05. More so, the aggregation of birds showed a significant relation on their activity X2=14.477 df=12 P<0.05. The study demonstrates that pied crows exhibit behavioral plasticity in their foraging strategies in response to seasonal changes in weather patterns. The increased utilization of waste materials during the dry weather suggests that these urban-adapted birds play an important role as scavengers in managing solid waste, especially in developing regions where waste management infrastructure may be limited. Understanding the relationship between weather changes and pied crow foraging behavior on waste materials is crucial for developing effective waste management strategies and mitigating the potential negative impacts of these urban-adapted birds on local ecosystems across Africa.
Keywords: Dumpsites, Foraging Strategy, Pied crow, Waste materials, Weather changes
