EINSE DJAARBERICHT VAN HET NATUURHISTORISCH MUSEUM ROTTERADAM

ISSN 0923-9308

ANNUAL OF THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM ROTTERDAM

3 1997 C.J. Heij, C.F.E. Rompas & C.W. Moeliker

The biology of the Moluccan megapode Eulipoa wallacei (Aves, Galliformes, Megapodiidae) on Haruku and other Moluccan Islands; part 2: final report DEINSEA 3, 1997

ii FOREWORD By a stroke of good fortune the present This final report mixes old, often hardly publication by dr C.J. Heij and his verifiable data with new observations co-workers on the Moluccan Scrubfowl obtained in 1994-1995 and 1996. We or Wallace’s Megapode, Megapodius sincerely hope that this publication (Eulipoa) wallacei, is in a way comple- contributes to a better understanding mentary to two recent works on Mega- of the egg-laying phase in the life- podes by Dutch ornithologists: R.W.R.J. history of this rare Megapode. At the Dekker’s thesis on ‘Conservation and same time we trust that the results lead biology of Megapodes’ (University of to a sustaining management of the only Amsterdam, 1990) and the monograph few known egg-laying sites of this bird ‘The Megapodes’ (1995) by D.N. Jones, in the Moluccan Islands in accordance R.W.R.J. Dekker & C.S. Roselaar . with time-honoured customs (adat), and Dr Heij is advisor to the Faculty of to the conservation of nesting grounds Biology of Pattimura University at elsewhere in this magnificent group of Amboina, Moluccas, Indonesia, since tropical islands. 1988. Although Heij discovered where the The writers of this foreword are both Moluccan Scrubfowl lives when away emeritus-professor of zoology at the from the laying grounds, still nothing is Free University of Amsterdam and were known of their mating system and at various levels involved in Heij’ s courtship. Also the whereabouts of the doctoral thesis, on the House Sparrow highly precocial chicks after fledging is in and around Rotterdam, a study on a mystery that needs study . We further the life-history of a bird species known recommend that crucial habitat sites as all over the world. In contrast, we are well as those egg-laying beaches which now presenting a foreword to a study are threatened or over-exploited, should on the Moluccan Scrubfowl or Wallace’s be placed under legal protection against Megapode, one of the rarest and least disturbance by local inhabitants and known bird species of the world. One of inquisitive ornithological tourists. Let us, L. Vlijm, visited Kees Heij in the these birds, at least in some places, live Moluccas in 1994 and joined him on his their lives undisturbed for years to study grounds in the small and remote come. island of Haruku, of f the much lar ger island of Seram. He participated in the August 1997, thrill of observing egg-laying scrubfowl on a tropical sandy beach at night. Vlijm was impressed by Heij’ s enthusiasm L. Vlijm, Amsterdam and perseverance and his diplomatic and courteous joviality towards the local inhabitants who trusted him and continue to give him useful information on egg-collecting, which apparently has been practiced for generations. K.H. Voous, Huizen, N.H.

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