Newsletter / Blog
2011-09-20 The endangered Mao endemic in Somoa – A very high risk of going extinct.
The Mao - Gymnomyza samoensis - is an endemic
honeyeater found in Samoa and is classified as
Endangered.
Little is known about its feeding and breeding habits.
It is a large
honeyeater, with dark plumage, varying from blackish on the head and breast to
greenish. There is a greenish mark under the eye. The bill is black, long and
curved. Legs and feet are black. Adult birds have light blue eyes whilst the young
have a brown iris.
It is a noisy
bird with loud wailing and mewing calls given most often at dawn and dusk.
It is found on
the Samoan islands of Upolu and Savaii
and formerly occurred also on the island
of Tutuila. It normally
inhabits mountain forest but has also been recorded from scrub and coastal
coconut trees. It’s total population is estimated at between 1000 to 2500 birds
and is declining.
It has a small, fragmented range that is
declining as the quality of its forest habitat diminishes. Unless urgent action
is taken, these unique birds have a very high risk of going extinct in the near
future.
A new research
project is seeking to gather ecological information on the factors that have
led to the Moa’s current decline.
“Already we have
found the first nests and confirmed that each clutch consists of only one egg
per nest”, said Ecologist Rebecca Stirnemann. “Cameras monitoring nests
collected information on predation and feeding rates throughout the day and
night”.
Preliminary data
suggest parents care for fledged young for long periods after fledging. Mao
movements are also being monitored by tracking an individual’s movement with
specially-made transmitters. During capture birds are also fitted with coloured
bands which will enable individuals to be recognised in the field.
Data from this
project is enabling management programme to be developed in partnership with
local communities to address threats to this species and bring about long-term
population recovery.
This project is
funded through the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund with support from the
Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) Samoa,
the Conservation Department New Zealand and The Rufford Small Grants
Programme. CEPF unites six global leaders who are committed to enabling
nongovernmental and private sector organizations to help protect vital
ecosystems: L’Agence Française de Développement; Conservation International;
The Global Environmental Facility; The Government of Japan, The John D. and Catherine T.
MacArthur Foundation.
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