ABSTRACT
Family Balaenicipitidae is a monotypic family, endemic to papyrus and Miscanthidium swamps in east (E) tropical Africa, where the total population may be as low as 1500 individuals. Shoebill is endemic to papyrus swamps from the Central African Republic, Sudan and W Ethiopia S through Uganda, west (W) Tanzania and Rwanda to SE Zaire, Zambia and Botswana. Presence in W Kenya requires confirmation. Some of the reports are those of Johnston, Preston and Britton & Britton. The first involves only hearsay evidence from colonial settlers in 1899 of occurrence along the shores of NE L Victoria S to the Winam Gulf 60AB. Despite searching, Johnston himself never found it. Preston's records are of one at Fourteen Falls 76A in June 1971 and two at Shombole Swamp 87A in Apr 1976. Finally, Britton & Britton did not find this bird during a day inside the then undisturbed Yala Swamp 48C in 1969, although the local Luo people said that occasional individuals occurred there.
