Nice video-clip about the saving of the Mauritian fody :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu_TWX_GldE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu_TWX_GldE
Saving the Mauritian fody
- Thread starter vogelcommando
- Start date
Notes on the rescue-plan ( FB ) :
The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation
MAURITIUS FODY CONSERVATION PROJECT
The Mauritius Fody, a small endemic songbird, was once common in the forests of Mauritius. Over time, numbers declined due to habitat loss and nest predation, and it became restricted to a small range within the Black River Gorges.
Efforts to conserve this charismatic species began in the late 1990s, and marooning on predator-free offshore islets was deemed the best strategy to establish additional sub-populations and to ensure the future survival of the species. By 2002/3 it was believed that just 98-126 wild pairs remained.
The rescue of chicks from nests for hand rearing and subsequent reintroduction started in 2002 and by 2003 the first releases of Mauritius Fodies were carried out on Ile aux Aigrettes. This reintroduction was a great success, and the birds were already breeding by 2004. Captive breeding of this species was also initiated at Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Sanctuary during this time. A total of 90 birds were hand reared or captive bred then released on IAA. The releases stopped in 2006.
The Ile Aux Aigrette population is closely monitored, and has grown to 85 breeding pairs and over 340 birds. Combined with the wild population in the gorges this brings the total to around 580-670 birds. In May 2009 the IUCN Red List status of the Mauritius Fody was lowered to Endangered. Although this is a positive step, the numbers and range of the fodies are still very small, and efforts must continue to increase the number of birds.
Monitoring and management of the Ile aux Aigrettes population is ongoing and is vital in enabling us to plan the future management of this species. The data collected on the birds give us more information on their diet, their reproduction and territoriality, helping us better understand the species and optimise the management.
In 2010, Mauritius Fodies were released to Round Island, with the aim of establishing an additional sub-population. Unfortunately, due to a variety of reasons, including predation by Keel-scaled Boas, only one individual survived. There are no active plans for further translocations to Round Island or other islands currently, although suitable locations will continue to be investigated. Currently, MWF is investigating the possibility of creating a mainland island in the Black River Gorges National Park where the main predators, rats, would be controlled to very low numbers. This would enable MWF to release Mauritius Fody and other endemic species in areas of the National Park where they are not present at the moment.
Monitoring and management of the island population will continue, concentrating on breeding activity and the collection of feeding data.
The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation
MAURITIUS FODY CONSERVATION PROJECT
The Mauritius Fody, a small endemic songbird, was once common in the forests of Mauritius. Over time, numbers declined due to habitat loss and nest predation, and it became restricted to a small range within the Black River Gorges.
Efforts to conserve this charismatic species began in the late 1990s, and marooning on predator-free offshore islets was deemed the best strategy to establish additional sub-populations and to ensure the future survival of the species. By 2002/3 it was believed that just 98-126 wild pairs remained.
The rescue of chicks from nests for hand rearing and subsequent reintroduction started in 2002 and by 2003 the first releases of Mauritius Fodies were carried out on Ile aux Aigrettes. This reintroduction was a great success, and the birds were already breeding by 2004. Captive breeding of this species was also initiated at Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Sanctuary during this time. A total of 90 birds were hand reared or captive bred then released on IAA. The releases stopped in 2006.
The Ile Aux Aigrette population is closely monitored, and has grown to 85 breeding pairs and over 340 birds. Combined with the wild population in the gorges this brings the total to around 580-670 birds. In May 2009 the IUCN Red List status of the Mauritius Fody was lowered to Endangered. Although this is a positive step, the numbers and range of the fodies are still very small, and efforts must continue to increase the number of birds.
Monitoring and management of the Ile aux Aigrettes population is ongoing and is vital in enabling us to plan the future management of this species. The data collected on the birds give us more information on their diet, their reproduction and territoriality, helping us better understand the species and optimise the management.
In 2010, Mauritius Fodies were released to Round Island, with the aim of establishing an additional sub-population. Unfortunately, due to a variety of reasons, including predation by Keel-scaled Boas, only one individual survived. There are no active plans for further translocations to Round Island or other islands currently, although suitable locations will continue to be investigated. Currently, MWF is investigating the possibility of creating a mainland island in the Black River Gorges National Park where the main predators, rats, would be controlled to very low numbers. This would enable MWF to release Mauritius Fody and other endemic species in areas of the National Park where they are not present at the moment.
Monitoring and management of the island population will continue, concentrating on breeding activity and the collection of feeding data.