sign in sign up
<<
Home , Asity, Brown mesite, Fauna of Madagascar, Greater vasa parrot, Helmet vanga, Lesser vasa parrot

of and Their Conservation

byMichael S. Putnam Department ofZoology University of Wisconsin tl Madison, Wisconsin I 100 plus Ecstatic Testimonials Striding up a steep hillside with the Council for Preservation (Collar loud whisper of a rushing stream in and Stuart, 1985), 28 of Warm, nurturing foods. the background, I stepped into a Malagasy birds are threatened and 14 mist-net lane I had cut a week before. species are considered as near­ Cook monthly, As I entered the clearing, a medium­ threatened. These species represent freeze in packets, sized brown bird squawked and flew between one-fifth and one-third of off from eye-level. Carefully search­ the island's endemic bird species. serve in seconds. ing the nearby vegetation, I became one of a lucky handful of foreigners The primary threats to Madagas­ At fine stores, orcall... to ever find a nest of the Brown car's birds today, habitat loss and ( unicolor), a rare overhunting, have already eliminated 1(800) BIRD YUM forest-dwelling relative of rails. The many unique Malagasy creatures. 1 (800) 247-3986 large , delicately colored in sal­ Since people first arrived on Mada­ mon with liver-colored spots, rested gascar 1500 to 2000 years ago, much 13330 Bessemer Street precariously in a frail, dove-like nest of the island has been deforested, Van Nuys, CA91401-3000 positioned at the end of a sloping leaving the red lateritic soil exposed (818) 997-0598 sapling. This encounter with the and eroding, with little chance for is just one of many forest regeneration. Gone are many ornithological marvels I witnessed (some the size of Great during a typical day in Madagascar, a Apes), a hippopotamus, a giant biologist's Mecca. , and the entire family of Madagascar is unique. This large Elephantbirds. The flightless Ete­ island has been adrift in the Indian phantbirds, known only from Mada­ Ocean for millions of years, cut-off gascar, ranged in size from that of from . A high percentage ofthe rheas to truly enormous brutes stand­ flora and of Madagascar is en­ ing several meters (yards) tall and We demic, haVing evolved in near­ estimated to weight 450 kg (1000 Buy isolation from the rest of the world. pounds) (Amadon, 1947). Remains Madagascar's ecosystems vary tre­ ofthe eggshells ofthese birds are still Birds mendously from rain forests in the common in the south. Walking along northeast receiving several meters a remote, white sand beach, I came • (yards) of rain per year, to the spiny across shell fragments of their 8 liter We bush in the southwest where only a (2 gallon) . Standing in the blaz­ few centimeters (about 1 inch) of ing sun, turning bits of eggshell over Sell rain may fall annually. Living in this in my fingers, I wondered what these ~ wide array of habitats are a number birds were like. What did they eat? Birds ofunique and peculiar birds. Many of How long did they incubate their these are rare, seldom seen by orni­ eggs, the largest eggs ever known? Complete Bird Supplies thologists and never kept by avicul­ How did their chicks break free from 8990 Cerritos Ave. turists. these vast vessels? I wondered if the Anaheim, CA 92804 Despite their abilities offlight, two­ egg of the Brown Mesite, like that I (714) 527-3387 thirds of Madagascar's 200 breeding found in the , would some­ (closed for vacation, first 2 weeks of July) species are found nowhere else (Dee, day be known only from a few speci­ 1986). Five entire families of birds ­ mens in some museum? 12200 Magnolia Ave. , Ground-rollers, ­ Riverside, CA 92503 roller, , and - are con­ Malagasy Birds in Avlculture (714) 278-0878 fined to Madagascar and a few neigh­ While captive breeding sometimes (closed for vacation, first 2 weeks of August) boring islands. These families are offers hope to endangered bird spe­ OPEN 9 TO 5 DAILY poorly known by even most ornithol­ cies, few of the endemic Malagasy Closed Sun., Mon. & holidays ogists. According to the International birds have been kept in captivity. To

afa WATCHI3IRD 35 A 1'ecentlyfledged Madagascar Crested Ibis (Lophotibis cristata). As an adult, the facial skin ofthisf01'est-dweller willbecon'le b1'ight l'ed anddevoid ofjeathe1's.

Burning ofthe deciduousJ01'est to clear landforJa1'n'lil1g thl'eatens the island's baobab t1'ees (Adansonia spp.) as well as othefplants andanbnals ofweslern Madagascal'.

A Vasa Pan'ot (Col'acopsis vasa)perchesgingel'ly on a spiky Didie1'ea tree in southwestern Madagascar. This birdand itsflock men'lbe1's wel'e eating the nlel'istenlatic tipsf1'on'l thisplant.

The authol' with a 1'econst1'ucted egg ofan Elephantbi1'd. Rarely whole eggs and often shellfragnlents can still be Afen'laleRufous Vallga (Schetba l'ufa) incubates three eggs. This bifdandhef n'late found in southern Madagascar. These eggs al'e the largest produce vocally con'lplex duets in addition to nlaking clacking andpopjJing sounds knownf1'onl any anbnal. with thei,' bills. 36 April / May 1992 The CrestedDrongo (Dicrurus!01ficatus) is a The -like G"OU1uJ-"0Ile1" (Atelonispiltoides) is one offour ;pecies ofthe endel1lic G1'OU1uJ-1'oUerjal1l­ wide-ranging species that isfound in each of ily that inhabitMadagascar's . Afiflh species lives in the spinysubdesert ofthe southwest. Madagascar's dijJe10entforests. It has adapted Allofthese species lay thei1' eggs at the endoftunnels they excavate in banks 01" the ground. to living in S0111e disturbed areas.

This male Sunbi1"d- (Neod10epanis C01°tlSCans) is-only-vely distantly related to the t1°ue sunbirds. Thefleshyfacial wattlesgreatly expand in the The Souinlanga Sunbird (Necta10inia A nlale Madagascar Red breeding season and nearly touch at the top ofthe head. souinlanga) occurs conlnlonly Pody (Poudfa nladagascar­ throughout Madagasca1~ranging iensis). One ofthe island's fro111 northeastern 1'ainforest to the nlore COl1lnlon birds, it southuJestern subdesert. This nectar­ ranges throughout nlost of feeding bi10dpollinates nlany species of the island i1lcluding urban plants. a1·eas.

A nlale Sakalava Weavet· (Ploceus sakalava). The nlales buildtheil' nests in colonies and displayft°on1 theirnesls during C01lSt1"Uction to attract a nlate. This bird is uJidesjJread in the dty weste1"n pal°ts ofMadagasca1°. The auth01" with af01"est-duJelling Madagasca1' Pygnly Kingfishe1" (I~1)idina nladagasca1"iensis) that was caught with a nlist-net on the Masoala Peninsula. afa WATCHDIItD 37 the best of my knowledge, only the programs. The two most likely spe­ species than we saw, we relied following birds are currently being cies are the Madagascar Teal and the heavily on knowing bird vocaliza­ kept in zoos or private collections Madagascar Pochard. The latter tions dUring our censuses. More than outside the country: Meller's species is dangerously close to 95 percent of the detections dUring (Anas melleri), Madagascar Partridge extinction; a single male was recently the census counts were of vocaliza­ (Magaroperdix madagascariensis), uncovered by Lucienne Wilme after tions alone. Since Madagascar is so Greater Vasa (Coracopsis years of searching by her and other poorly known, I tried to collect addi­ vasa), Lesser (Coracop­ ornithologists (Wilme, 1991). tional information on its birds when­ sis nigra), Gray-headed Lovebird The status of these birds is uncer­ ever possible. I began collecting data (Agapornis cana) and the Madagas­ tain since so little is known about on the breeding biology and foraging car Red Fody (Foudia madagascar­ many of them. This is due, in part, to behavior of some of the forest birds iensis). Readers of Roles and Cra­ the small number of ornithologists since knowing their reproductive croft's (1990) article on their efforts working in Madagascar from the rates and resource requirements is to breed the will 1930s through the early 1980s. For important to future conservation be interested to know that the east­ example, the Red-tailed planning. I observed the nest ofsome ern race (c. v. vasa) was bred in (Newtonia !anovanae), a small rare species such as the Madagascar Switzerland in 1988 by Dr. Roumuald , was known from a single Crested Ibis (Lophotibis cristata), Burkard. The western race (c. v. specimen collected 60 years ago. In Pollen's ( pol­ drouhardi) was bred by Mr. Dieter 1989, this bird was rediscovered leni) and the (Euryc­ Meyer of Germany in 1986 and again by Steven Goodman and Thomas erosprevostii). in 1988 (Robiller and Meier, 1989). Schulenberg (1991) hundreds ofkilo­ Although the census data are still In the past, the following endemic meters from the original locality. The being analyzed, I can relate some of species were kept, and sometimes bird was found to be not uncommon the behavioral observations. I found bred outside ofMadagascar: Madagas­ and has since been found in a second that 11 ofthe 14 species of vangas, a car Teal (Anas bernieri), Madagascar rainforest area (Evans, 1991). Clearly, group of -like birds, use their Pochard (Aythya innotata), Mada­ the status of many of Madagascar's feet to handle their prey. Unlike gascar (Turnix nigri­ birds needs to be better explored. many other which clamp collis), Madagascar Turtle Dove It is for this reason that the Ameri­ food between the perch and their (Streptopelia picurata), and the can Federation of funded feet, the vangas grasp their prey in a Madagascar Mannikin (Lonchura my efforts to census forest birds in foot while resting the tarsus on the nana). Madagascar. My two field seasons perch while consuming their meal. Aviculture in Madagascar is almost extended from October 1989 to April They are able to slightly raise the foot non-existant. Unlike its impressive 1990 and from September 1990 to toward the bill to receive a food item collection, few birds are kept February 1991. During this time my but are not as dexterous as in in the zoological garden at Parc Tsim­ research assistant, Jennifer Graetz, handling food with their feet. One of bazaza in the capital, Antananarivo. and I worked at four study sites. The the islands's most unusual birds is Recently the waterfowl collection first was the newly created National Lafresnaye's Vanga (Xenopirostris has been expanded, and the aviaries Park at Ranomafana, a mid-altitude xenopirostris), whose peculiar bill is of other birds have been newly land­ (1000 meter) rainforest in the south­ something of a mystery. This bird's scaped. A private hotel in the west­ east. The second was a lowland rain­ lower mandible is concavely curved ern port city of Mahajanga maintains forest site (below 450 meters) on the while the upper mandible is hooked a collection of birds which includes Masoala Penisula in the northeast. at the tip. This configuration results six species of herons, including two Here we were joined by a Malagasy in a gap between the two mandibles Madagascar Herons (Ardea hum­ university student, Mr. Roche Mahat­ of the closed bill. I discovered that bloti), White-faced Whistling ondra. Another study site was in the Lafresnaye's Vanga inserts the curved (Dendrocygna viduata), Fulvous western deciduous forest at the lower mandible into holes in dead Whistling Ducks (D. bicolor), a Black Ampijoroa Forestry Station. The final wood and, while using the hooked Kite (Milvus migrans), a female study site was near Toliara, at the tip as a fulcrum, pries open Madagascar Partridge, a Helmeted village of Ifaty, in the unprotected galleries with a forward thrust of its (Numida meleagris), spiny subdesert of the Southwest. head. This behavior is all the more Gray-headed Lovebirds, and Madagas­ These sites were chosen to include remarkable since there are no wood­ car Red Fodies. Birds were occa­ the greatest diversity of Madagascar's peckers found on Madagascar which sionally for sale in the market in forest bird species. would normally exploit this food Antananarivo including a Squacco The primary objective of my resource. The roles of woodpeckers Heron (Ardeola ralloides), nestling research was to obtain density esti­ have been filled by several other Madagascar kestrels (Falco newtoni), mates (number of individuals per birds as well, and a bizarre lemur, the Greater and Lesser Vasa Parrots, unit area) ofas many forest species as Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagasacar­ Gray-headed Lovebirds (the most possible. With these density esti­ iensis). commonly offered psittacine), Mada­ mates, conservationists can begin One morning I happened onto a gascar Red Fodies and Madagascar assessing whether there are large recently hatched downy chick ofthe Mannikins. One vendor told me that enough populations of each species rare (Monias bens­ Madagascar Green Pigeons (Treron within protected areas to insure their chi). Cupping the chick in my hand, I australis) could be procured. long-term survival. In preparation for was surprised to see three adults, one Unfortunately, ofthe 42 threatened the dawn census counts, I made female and two males, frantically and near-threatened species, few are numerous recordings of bird vocali­ calling in defense of this chick. The good candidates for captive breeding zations. As we always heard more female approached to within a meter 38 April / May 1992 (yard) of me and with her wings billed Flufftail (Sarothura watersi), a parks to protect rain forests. Also an raised, she paced hurriedly back and (Wilme and Langrand, 1990). increasing number of Malagasy, Brit­ forth calling "nak-nak-nak." This Hunting is largely for subsistence and ish, French and American ornitholog­ encounter suggests that the species its impact on the avifauna is not well ists are conducting research on the may be a cooperative breeder where documented. The critically endan­ island's birds. The publication of more than one male and one female gered Madagascar Eagle (Hali­ Olivier Langrand's "Guide to the help in the raising of the chicks. Just aeetus vociferoides) has, however, Birds of Madagascar" (1990) should as ornithologists are starting to suffered from hunting as well as from attract more people to the study of uncover some of the fascinating degradation of the lakes and rivers it Malagasy birds. This guide should stories these birds have to tell, how­ frequents (Langrand, 1987). Only 50 also attract additional birdwatchers ever, we are faced with the prospect pairs of this eagle are thought to and nature tours from around the oflosing them. survive. world to the poor country of Mada­ While the plight of many of Mada­ gascar. Such an influx of eco-tourism in Madagascar gascar's unique birds is serious, sev­ could help support Malagasy conser­ In addition to the early losses of eral encouraging actions are taking vation efforts and demonstrate that species the island suffered, many place. Madagascar is the first African native birds have economic value in species of plants and are nation to negotiate a debt-for-nature the wild. suffering from the continuing loss of swap. In these swaps, conservation The future ofthe Brown Mesite and habitat. The major threat to the east­ groups bUY-Up, at a discount, a por­ the rest of Madagascar's avifauna ern rainforests is the cutting and tion of the country's foreign debt depends on protecting sufficient hab­ burning of trees to clear land for sub­ from banks in developed countries. itat throughout the island. Simply set­ sistence agriculture. In the west, fires In exchange, the country then issues ting aside reserves for birds without to clear more land for farming and to bonds in local currency to cover this addressing the causes of deforesta­ burn dead grass offrangeland destroy debt and the earnings from these tion will not proVide lasting results. the remaining forest. Forests are also bonds go to support local conserva­ Assistance must be prOVided to the converted directly into charcoal for tion efforts. In Madagascar, these people living in and near the forests cooking. Little other fuel is available debt-for-nature swaps are being used so that they can live in a way that in the countryside or affordable in to hire and train additional guards to minimizes forest disturbance. The the cities. In addition, the conversion better protect the already existing establishment of reserves must help of marshes to rice paddies has threat­ protected areas. The govenment has the local inhabitants who obtain fuel, ened species such as the Slender- established several new national food and medicines from these for-

For the Life of your Bird ROUDYBUSH * Handfeeding Formulas for Baby Birds. -Psittacines -Nectivores -Squab -Wildlife Rehab. * Maintenance Pellets and Crumbles. * Nectars * Breeder Pellets and Crumbles. * Medicated Pellets and Crumbles. These convenient foods have been formulated based on data from university research. The handfeeding formulas just mix with warm water. With pellets and crumbles there is no expense and mess due to hulls, and there is good nutrition in every bite. All of our products exclude and fish byproducts to eliminate potential sources of gram negative bacteria. Let Tom Roudybush, one ofthe world's leading pet bird nutritionists, be your bird's nutritionist. For more information, please contact us: P.O. Box 908, Templeton, CA 93465-0908 Phone (805) 434-0303 or 1 (800) 326-1 726

afa WATCHBIRD 39 ests. Insuring the survival of the for­ address these conservation chal­ tive drugs yet known against child­ ests insures the availability of these lenges. Much of the funding for this hood leukemia and Hodgkin's disease products to the people as well as work will have to come from outside (Rubin, 1983). It seems only fair that habitat for birds. In a poor country sources. Tropical ecosystems pro­ if we want to reap this harvest then such as Madagascar, the government vide many important services and we should help preserve it. Groups is unable to adequately address all of products, such as plants of known such as the American Federation of its social and conservation needs and potential value as crops or Aviculture play an important role by despite a commitment to its people sources of medicinal drugs (Myers, supporting conservation efforts in and its natural heritage. Critical 1983). We in the developed coun­ the financially poor, but biologically choices must be made soon as to tries have already benefitted from rich countries ofthe tropics. which areas will be preserved and Madagascar's biological bounty. which will disappear. Research by Compounds from Madagascar's Rosy Acknowledgements Malagasy and foreign scientists and Periwinkle have provided modern Additional funding for this reserch has been conservationists is beginning to medicine with two of the most effec- provided by the World Wildlife Fund-U.S., the Chicago Zoological Society, Conservation International, the World Nature Association, and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. The Missouri Botanical Garden, especially Dr. G.E. Schatz and P.P. Lowry, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Zoology Department have provided encouragement and other forms of support. T. Ives, D. Mason and T. Moermond CA made valuable comments on this article. To the people at these institutions, as well as those of the American Federation of Avicul­ ture, I am nl0st grateful. I would especially like to thank the members of the Tripartite Com­ mission, and in particular, Madame Berthe ~ Rakotosaminlanana of the Ministere We stake our reputation on your satisfaction. de I'Enseignement Superieur, for permitting this work in Madagascar.

References Amadon, D. 1947. An estimated weight of the rought Iron Construction. largest known bird. Condor 49: 159-164. Collar, N. J., and S. Stuart. 198. Threatened birds of Africa and its neighboring islands. 'Z)~ TIle ICBPjlUCN Red Data Book, Part 1, 3rd Long-lasting powder-coat finish. ed. ICBP, Canlbridge, UK. Dee, T.]. 1986. TIle endemic birds ofMadagas­ car. ICBP, Cambridge, UK. Evans, M. I. 1991. The Red-tailed Newtonia 1'~ (Newtoniafanovanae) in the Ambatovaky Over 30 styles to fit your needs. Reserve, north-east Madagascar. Bird Con­ servation International 1:47-52. Goodman, S.M., and T. S. Schulenberg. 1991. TIle rediscovery of the Red-tailed Newtonia (Newtonia fanova1lae) is south-eastern As close as your phone for over 10 years. Madagascar with notes on the natural his­ tory of the Newtonia. Bird Conserva­ tion International 1:33-45. Langrand, O. 1987. Distribution, status and conservation of the Madagascar fish-eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) Desmurs 1845. Biological Conservation 42:73-77. ---. 1990. Guide to the birds of Madagascar. Yale University Press, New Haven. Myers, N. 1983. A wealth of wild species. Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado. Robiller, F., and H. Meier. 1989. Zucht des grossen vasapapageis. Gefiederte Welt 113 (3):77-79. Roles, D. G., and D. Cracroft. 1989. Breeding attempts of the greater vasa parrot (Cora­ copsis vasa). AFA Watchbird 17(3):47-49. Rubin, P., ed. 1983. Clinical oncology for medical students and physicians, 6th ed. • American Cancer Society. eaaOll-~~~~: Wilme, L. 1991. Capture d'un individu vivant de Fuligule de Madagascar (Aythya in­ INGLEBROOK CAGES llotata). Working Group on birds in the 151 North San Dimas Canyon Road Madagascar region Newsletter 1(1):5-6. Wilme, L., and O. Langrand. 1990. Rediscovery San Dimas, California 91773 of Slender-billed Flufftail (Sarothura (714) 599-0933 watersi) (Bartlett, 1879), with notes on the genus Sarothura in Madagascar. Biological Conservation 51:211-223.•

40 April / May 1992