IUCN SSC Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group

2019 Report

David Jeggo

Chair Mission statement Targets for the 2017-2020 quadrennium

David Jeggo (1) The IUCN Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group Assess (ASTSG) exists to prevent the imminent extinc- Research activities: (1) conservation of Teng- Vice-Chairs tion of songbirds threatened by unsustainable gara Hill Myna (Gracula venerata); (2) field study Stuart Marsden (2) (Field research) trapping and the trade in wild-caught passer- of Black-winged Myna (Acridotheres mela- Frank Rheindt (3) (Genetics) ines. In addition, it seeks to address the impact nopterus) and Bali Myna (Leucopsar roth- Andrew Owen and Luis Neves (4) (Ex situ breed- of the trade and to find solutions through which schildi); (3) conduct socio-economic research ing and reintroduction) the growing threat to an ever increasing number on cagebird keeping in Java; (4) re-survey Javan Chris Shepherd (5) (Trade and legislation) of songbird species can be reversed and White-eye (Zosterops flavus); (5) survey Java Anuj Jain and Novia Sagita (6) (Education and improve the conservation status of all species mountains targeting Critically Endangered community engagement) involved. songbirds; (6) survey Mt. Slamat for Critically Endangered subspecies of the Rufous-fronted Red List Authority Coordinator Projected impact for the 2017-2020 Laughingthrush (Garrulax rufifrons slamat- BirdLife International quadrennium ensis); (7) publish papers that provide data on the trade in Asian songbirds and its effects; The ASTSG gained official approval in mid-2017. (8) conduct Blue-crowned Laughingthrush Location/Affiliation This gave additional impetus to activities aimed (Garrulax courtoisi) status survey; (9) conduct (1) Jersey, Chanel Islands, British Isles at addressing the threat faced by a number of Sangkar White-eye (Zosterops melanurus) (2) Manchester Metropolitan University, species as a result of the caged trade. As status survey; (10) conduct Bare-throated Whis- Manchester, UK an outcome of the Songbirds Crisis Summits, tler (Pachycephala nudigula) survey and trade (3) Department of Biological Sciences, hosted by Wildlife Reserves Singapore in monitoring; (11) White-eye from Wangi Wangi National University of Singapore, Singapore October 2015 and February 2017, the Group had (Zosterops spp.) taxonomic and population (4) Chester Zoo, UK and Wildlife Reserves an existing framework allowing it to target and status; (12) conduct Collared Laughingthrush Singapore, Singapore prioritise activities. The up-listing in the 2016 (Trochalopteron yersini) surveys; (13) analyse (5) Big Lake Ranch, B. C., Canada Red List of a number of the songbirds within genomics of Straw-headed ( (6) Birdlife Asia and Planet Indonesia the Group’s focus, several to Critically Endan- zeylanicus); (14) study of genomics of - gered, underlined the urgency of implementing robins; (15) of West Sumatran Islands Number of members measures to address their conservation needs. Hill Mynas; (16) Straw-headed Bulbul historic 50 In September 2017, the European Association decline; (17) Straw-headed Bulbul population of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) launched a new survey Singapore; (18) conduct surveys in North conservation campaign, “Silent Forest” (https:// Sumatra to establish more precisely the status www.silentforest.eu/), which will raise much of a number of songbirds, including Suma- needed awareness and funding in support tran Laughingthrush (Garrulax bicolor), Suma- of the Asian Songbird Crisis. We, along with tran Mesia (Leiothrix laurinae), Aceh Bulbul TRAFFIC and Birdlife, have signed as part- (Pycnonotus snouckaerti), Ruby-throated Bulbul ners to the campaign. The resulting funds will ( dispar) and Sunda Laughingthrush go directly to projects that the group sees as (Garrulax palliatus); (19) understand hobbyists: priorities and therefore will directly support our songbird owners and drivers of joining songbird activities. competitions in Java. Aerial view of PCBA Songbird Conservation Breeding Centre, Prigen, West Java Photo: ASTSG archives

Plan programme for Javan Pied Starling (Gracupica Activities and results 2019 jalla); (7) engage songbird breeders and compe- Communication: (1) compile best practice Assess guidelines for Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush; tition event organisers. Research activities (2) compile best practice guidelines for Bali Research activities: (1) conduct captive i. Work conducted on status of the Tenggara Myna. breeding trials on Greater Green Leafbird (Chlo- Hill Myna, including the impact of collection for Planning: hold biennial meeting of ASTSG. ropsis sonnerati); (2) alternative livelihoods: cagebirds. (KSR #12) Policy: raise awareness of the significance of remove social barriers that can reduce song- ii. Field study of Black-winged Myna and Bali international trade in songbirds in the CITES bird trapping pressure; (3) alternative liveli- Myna: Data collection undertaken in Bali Barat arena. hoods: close down songbird shops and move traders onto new sources of income via micro National Park on Bali Myna; two data collections Act finance; (4) understand hobbyists: songbird undertaken in Baluran National Park on Grey- Capacity building: citizen science: promote bird owners in Singapore; (5) explore perceptions backed Myna (Acridotheres tricolor); three PhD watching as an alternative to bird keeping. towards bird keeping in Singapore; (6) alterna- write ups commenced. (KSR #12) Communication: engage in school education tive livelihoods: engage local community in Bali iii. Paper published in Biological Conserva- programmes. Myna conservation; (7) conservation genomic tion: Marshall, H., et al. (2020). Spatio-tem- Conservation actions: (1) establish captive study of Javan Pied Starling; (8) study on the poral dynamics of consumer demand population of Javan Green Magpie ( thalas- conservation genomics of Black-winged Myna; driving the Asian Songbird Crisis. Biological sina); (2) support conservation breeding centres (9) study the conservation genomics of Rufous- Conservation 241:1082372. [DOI: 10.1016/j. in-country; (3) Blue-crowned Laughingthrush, fronted Laughingthrush; (10) Big Month citizen biocon.2019.108237]. Harry Marshall and Global Species Management Programme science event; (11) citizen science: promote bird colleagues at Manchester Metropolitan Univer- (GSMP); (4) conservation of endemic Hill Mynas watching as an alternative to bird keeping. sity (MMU) undertook the first large-scale and Shamas (Kittacincla spp.) in the West Suma- Synergy: partner the European Association investigation of consumer demand for cage- tran (Barusan) Islands; (5) community engage- of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) conservation in Indonesia, since 2007. The headline ment to save the Straw-headed Bulbul in Singa- campaign “Silent Forest” to raise awareness pore; (6) establish a conservation breeding and funds in support of the Asian Songbird Crisis. White-eyes, Zosterop melanurus buxtoni, for sale in a market. In 2019, research showed that this widely traded White-eye, previously considered to be the Least Concern Oriental White-eye, Z. palpebrosus, is a separate species, the Sangkar White-eye, Z. melanurus, which was then listed as Vulnerable Photo: Andrew Owen, Chester Zoo

result reveals that one third of Java’s 36 million households keep approximately 66–84 million cagebirds, over half of which are non-native species. It contributes to conservation efforts by providing estimates of the numbers of birds in households and trends over time to inform conservation priority setting exercises by IUCN or CITES. The paper also demonstrates the importance of understanding variation in consumer demand for cagebirds to inform evidence-based behaviour change interven- tions. It contributes to future demand reduc- tion efforts to decrease the threat posed by bird keeping to wild populations by highlighting regional hotspots where demand for songbirds is high. The paper received extensive media coverage and appeared as an item on the tele- vised BBC news (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ science-environment-49744435). (KSR #43) iv. A survey on Javan White-eye carried out some years ago was repeated. The results of this are being written up. (KSR #12) v. A number of Javan Mountains have been surveyed by a team of researchers. The results of this MMU/Rainforest Trust project are being analysed. (KSR #12) vi. A survey on Mt. Slamat for the Critically Endangered subspecies of the Rufous-fronted Meeting of the Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group’s core Laughingthrush was done as a priority as part of group in Singapore March 2019 a Java Mountain project. The results are as yet Photo: Jess Lee, Wildlife Reserves Singapore unpublished. (KSR #12) vii. The Blue-crowned Laughingthrush status survey is being undertaken as a three-year PhD studentship. The first two years of the PhD are completed. (KSR #12) viii. The Sangkar White-eye recently split as good species. It is heavily traded and therefore there is a need to establish the impact of this trade on its status in the wild, and a survey is required. (KSR #12) ix. The yet undescribed Wangi Wangi White-eye xvii. Research was conducted to understand Act flagged up as extensively in trade. As endemic the economy of songbird competitions and Capacity building to the small island of Wangi Wangi, the popu- assess what is the potential to introduce captive i. Promotion of bird watching as an alternative lation must be small and vulnerable. A brief bred birds. Data was acquired in the latter to bird keeping: Birdwatching activities engaging visit to island found it extant and quite easy to half of 2019 through socio-economic surveys. students and the public were conducted in locate. (KSR #12) Approximately 11,300 participants in the whole Bandung, Bogor and Jakarta. Capacity building x. Trade in Collared Laughingthrush may be at six provinces of Java were interviewed: owners was provided to university students in Java on low level and therefore not of great concern, (not songbird competition goers), songbird bird and biodiversity survey methods. This led but this has not yet been accessed. Link with competition goers, sellers (180 sellers in six to a bird monitoring activity in Bogor Botanical in-country conservationists and BirdLife. (KSR provinces) and around 30 songbird competi- Garden involving university students. tion organisers. With competition organisers, #12) Communication they asked if the competition will be open to xi. A study on detailed population survey of including captive bred birds in their competition. i. Visits to schools are carried out on an ad hoc Straw-headed Bulbul across Singapore is in basis and presentations given about the work review (Chiok et al.). (KSR #12) The participants were generally receptive when talking about the economy and captive bred that Cikananga carries out and why, and about xii. Analyses in conservation genomics of birds. Some in Jakarta were quite closed and ecosystem values of the surrounding area. Both Magpie-robins are ongoing. (KSR #12) unhappy with our presence. (KSR #31) topics cover songbird conservation. xiii. A study on West Sumatran island taxa/ ii. The Education team has undertaken Plan populations of Hill Mynas is in final stages of programmes in all schools in Melinggih Kelod Communication acceptance by Ibis (now with the journal for and Melinggih villages with curriculum ranging typesetting): Ng et al. (2020). (KSR #12) i. Best Practice Guidelines for Rufous-fronted from kindergarten to year 7; the high school Laughingthrush compiled by Anise Tritto and xiv. A study on range-wide historic decline and curriculum includes ecotourism and its benefit. population trajectory of Straw-headed Bulbul in officially approved by EAZA. (KSR #28) Another focus area is about waste management review (Chiok et al.). (KSR #12) ii. Work on Best Practice Guidelines for Bali and recycling. Myna is ongoing. (KSR #28) xv. A study on detailed population survey of Conservation actions Straw-headed Bulbul across Singapore in review Planning i. The European Ex situ Programme (EEP) (Chiok et al.). (KSR #12) i. Biennial meeting of ASTSG: Core group of for Javan Green Magpie was approved. This xvi. No real progress with surveys in North ASTSG held a meeting prior to a three-day includes holdings in Javan conservation Sumatra to establish the status of a number conference. On day 1, each sub-group reported breeding centres. (KSR #25) of songbirds, but the project remains a high on their achievements for the past year. On ii. Conservation breeding centres in-country: priority. The resulting clearer picture of the day 2, each sub-group met separately and The centre at Cikananga has received funds to status of, in particular, Sumatran Mesia and discussed and agreed priorities for the next rebuild several of its aviary blocks. The breeding Aceh Bulbul will be valuable in the planning of year and beyond. On day 3, sub-groups centre at Prigen continues to increase the the actions required to conserve them. Infor- reported back on the previous day’s discus- number of aviaries and develop. Construction mation from the field on other species such as sions. Some 50 members of ASTSG attended. of a block of aviaries at the Haven in Sumatra Sumatran Laughingthrush and Ruby-throated Policy was commenced and the Facility for Hill Mynas Bulbul will also be extremely useful. (KSR #12) i. Jointly with the US and Sri Lanka, we have put on Nias continued to be developed. Much of in a position statement on international trade of the funding for these developments came from songbirds to CITES and held a side event at the EAZA’s Silent Forest Campaign. (KSR #25) Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) to CITES. (KSR #26) iii. Blue-crowned Laughingthrush, Global viii. A captive population of Straw-headed v. Perceptions towards bird keeping in Singa- Species Management Programme (GSMP): The Bulbul is being established. Jurong Bird Park, pore: We investigated the relationships between annual meeting to draw up the management Singapore, now has a number of breeding pairs people’s relationship with nature and pet birds. plan for the following year was held in Prague. and are starting to build an ex situ population. We also asked if songbird keeping was a fun The GSMP manages three regional populations: They are in the process of establishing Best hobby, part of culture and tradition in Singapore Europe, North America and Asia. In 2019, the Practice Guidelines from their experiences. The and perceptions about captive bred or wild- global ex situ population was almost 300 indi- goals of the conservation breeding programme caught songbirds. viduals. (KSR #25) are yet to be set. (KSR #25) vi. Six local breeders were engaged in a iv. Status surveys of endemic Hill Mynas and Research activities community-based conservation programme Shamas have been conducted; two conserva- i. Small captive populations of Greater Green for Bali Mynas. Birds were released through a tion breeding programmes are being planned; Leafbird are now present at both Jurong Bird community release programme. The community some community work is underway, but this Park and the Breeding Centre at Prigen and supports this initiative. A local village resident needs to be ramped up and tailored towards the some breeding activity is taking place. (KSR #32) said, “I like to see the Bali Mynas flying around conservation of these target species. Results and especially when they come to my house! ii. To reduce exploitative activities, such as bird include a study on the extinction-in-progress trapping, which is a major part of the work in I don’t need to buy a bird myself to be put in of Barusan Shama (Rheindt, F., et al. 2019. The all three landscapes, we use a Conservation a cage when I can see them fly.” This demon- extinction-in-progress in the wild of the Barusan Cooperative approach, to secure resilient liveli- strates a shift in mindset whereby locals can Shama Copsychus (malabaricus) melanurus. hoods, improve Community Health and Volun- see that birds can also be enjoyed in the wild, Forktail 35:28-35). We have engagement with tary Family Planning, improve access to educa- not that they have to be kept as pets. the Ecosystem Impact Foundation NGO based tion, hire locals in SMART Patrols, reforestation vii. A study (Baveja et al.) on conservation in Simeulue. (KSR #12, 25) (for Kubu Raya only), sustainable agriculture and genomics and identification of founders for a v. As part of the Straw-headed Bulbul conser- agroforestry (for GNPL and AS landscapes only), Javan Pied Starling breeding programme is now vation planning workshop in May 2019 in Singa- and fisheries management (Kubu Raya only). submitted to a journal. (KSR #25) pore, a local working group was setup in which The programme is underway. (KSR #36) viii. A study (Sadanandan et al.) on conser- community engagement was identified as a iii. A socio-economic study of songbird shop vation genomics and identification of best subgroup. Activities identified include raising owners was completed and published in Journal breeding strategies for Black-winged Mynas is awareness about the beauty of this bird among of Tropical Conservation Science. (KSR #32) now submitted to a journal. (KSR #25) the Singaporean public, conducting walks for iv. Understand hobbyists: songbird owners ix. Results of work on the conservation politicians, and developing citizen science in Singapore: Surveys with songbird owners genomics of Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush are efforts. (n=114) were conducted from November 2018– being written up. (KSR #43) vi. Conservation breeding programme for Javan February 2019 so as to determine their demog- x. Promotion of bird watching as an alternative Pied Starling commenced at Prigen Conserva- raphy and motivational factors for owning song- to bird keeping: Forty Bali Myna were released tion Breeding Ark. (KSR #25) birds and whether they had any preference for in the Bali Safari Park area in April 2019, with vii. We maintained communication with the wild-caught or captive bred birds. A peer-re- bird watching societies, conservation agencies breeders and event organisers of songbird viewed publication is being developed. One in Bali, and communities around Bali Safari Park competition in Java. Some of them already follow up activity is to test out various campaign invited along with the Deputy Governor of Bali. established associations to accommodate the messages to see which ones are the most xi. Promotion of bird watching as an alterna- hobbyists and develop relevant programmes. persuasive. tive to bird keeping: Socialisation activities for (KSR #29) the return and release of the Bali Myna were conducted from January–March 2019 in three villages (Serongga Village, More Village, and Suburban Village) and nine elementary schools located around Bali Safari and Marine Park. A total of 585 people have been targeted for conservation activities and release. Synergy i. Six preselected in-region conservation proj- ects were fully funded to address the Asian Songbird Crisis. Additional funds were raised to Work in progress on the Manchester Metropolitan University/Rainforest Trust Java Mountains Project support further projects. Photo: Gabby Salazar

Acknowledgements ASTSG would like to acknowledge Wildlife Reserves Singapore for the support they give in, among other things, providing a home base and, in 2019 in particular, for hosting its bien- nial meeting in March. The group’s Chair is extremely grateful to the Koln Zoo for the assis- tance he received from it, which is a great help in facilitating his role within the Specialist Group. Also, special mention should go to EAZA’s Silent Forest Campaign for not only helping to raise the profile of the Asian Songbird Crisis, but for money it has raised which is funding vital in situ songbird conservation projects.

Summary of activities 2019

Components of Species Conservation Cycle: 3/5 Assess 17 ||||||||||||||||| Plan 4 |||| Act 23 ||||||||||||||||||||||| Main KSRs addressed: 12, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 36, 43 KSR: Key Species Result