Sephanoides fernandensis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	APODIFORMES	TROCHILIDAE

Scientific Name:

Sephanoides fernandensis

Species Authority:

(King, 1831)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Juan Fernandez Firecrown, Juan Fernández Firecrown
Spanish	–	Colibrí de Juan Fernández

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2009

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Symes, A., Butchart, S., Bird, J.

Contributor/s:

Hodum, P., Torres-Mura, J.

Justification:
This species has an extremely small range, restricted to fragmented habitat on a single island, where habitat loss, predation by introduced mammals and possibly competition are causing continuing declines. It consequently qualifies as Critically Endangered.

History:

2008	–	Critically Endangered
2004	–	Critically Endangered
2000	–	Critically Endangered
1996	–	Critically Endangered
1994	–	Critically Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Sephanoides fernandensis is endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands, Chile, where the nominate race is confined to c.11 km² on Isla Robinson Crusoe. The race leyboldi is believed extinct on Isla Alejandro Selkirk, where it has not been recorded since 1908. Historical records indicate that densities on Robinson Crusoe were formerly much greater than the 684 individuals (varying between 804 birds in the austral summer and 445 in autumn) estimated in 1988-1989. Direct count surveys in 1995-1997 indicated that the population is in the low hundreds². However, more thorough surveys conducted in 2005 and repeated in 2006, coupled with quantitative modelling, estimated population densities in different habitats and concluded that the global population is considerably larger: c.2,500-3,000 individuals⁸.
Countries:	Native: Chile
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Hodum in litt. (2007).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits remnant native forests, on which it appears to be completely dependent for breeding (there is a strong negative correlation between the presence of non-native vegetation and the location of nests⁸), but also utilises non-native plant communities during the non-breeding season, feeding on introduced plants, such as Eucalyptus globulus and garden flowers. This usage of non-native plants is especially common in the austral autumn and winter when only one native species (Raphithamnus venustus) flowers². It is mostly nectarivorous, but small insects are taken from leaves or in flight. The proportion of insects in the diet increases during the chick-rearing period. The sex ratio is heavily skewed, with three males to every female². It may experience competition with S. sephaniodes, especially over access to Dendroseris litoralis flowers post-breeding⁵.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It inhabits remnant native forests, on which it appears to be completely dependent for breeding (there is a strong negative correlation between the presence of non-native vegetation and the location of nests⁸), but also utilises non-native plant communities during the non-breeding season, feeding on introduced plants, such as Eucalyptus globulus and garden flowers. This usage of non-native plants is especially common in the austral autumn and winter when only one native species (Raphithamnus venustus) flowers². It is mostly nectarivorous, but small insects are taken from leaves or in flight. The proportion of insects in the diet increases during the chick-rearing period. The sex ratio is heavily skewed, with three males to every female². It may experience competition with S. sephaniodes, especially over access to Dendroseris litoralis flowers post-breeding⁵.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The clearance and degradation of vegetation by humans since the late 16th century and the impacts of herbivorous mammals (especially rabbits introduced in the 1930s) has limited the availability, quantity and quality of food resources. Habitat quality is also being degraded by the spread and dominance of invasive plants, most prominently by elm-leaf blackberry Rubus ulmifolius, maqui Aristotelia chilensis and murtilla Ugni molinae⁶. Introduced predators, such as rats, cats and coatis, have been implicated in the mortality of some birds and may be responsible in part for its decline^2,4. Cats have been documented killing firecrowns in town during the non-breeding season⁸. As is true with many island species, firecrowns are easily approached, thus rendering them highly susceptible to predation. Additionally, during its nocturnal torpor, this species is presumed to be very vulnerable to predation⁴. Males are able to defend territories with highly productive resources, but the smaller females are possibly being indirectly outcompeted by S. sephaniodes^2,9. Preliminary analyses of the population have revealed some genetic variation, but significantly less than in S. sephaniodes². Early indications are that the devastating tsunami of February 2010, which destroyed the only town on Robinson Crusoe, did not have any significant impact on the species: although seasonally important populations of an endemic plant Dendroseris in the coastal zone were lost, the disaster likely also reduced cat predation.

Major Threat(s):

The clearance and degradation of vegetation by humans since the late 16th century and the impacts of herbivorous mammals (especially rabbits introduced in the 1930s) has limited the availability, quantity and quality of food resources. Habitat quality is also being degraded by the spread and dominance of invasive plants, most prominently by elm-leaf blackberry Rubus ulmifolius, maqui Aristotelia chilensis and murtilla Ugni molinae⁶. Introduced predators, such as rats, cats and coatis, have been implicated in the mortality of some birds and may be responsible in part for its decline^2,4. Cats have been documented killing firecrowns in town during the non-breeding season⁸. As is true with many island species, firecrowns are easily approached, thus rendering them highly susceptible to predation. Additionally, during its nocturnal torpor, this species is presumed to be very vulnerable to predation⁴. Males are able to defend territories with highly productive resources, but the smaller females are possibly being indirectly outcompeted by S. sephaniodes^2,9. Preliminary analyses of the population have revealed some genetic variation, but significantly less than in S. sephaniodes². Early indications are that the devastating tsunami of February 2010, which destroyed the only town on Robinson Crusoe, did not have any significant impact on the species: although seasonally important populations of an endemic plant Dendroseris in the coastal zone were lost, the disaster likely also reduced cat predation.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix II. The Juan Fernández Islands were designated as a national park in 1935 (protected from 1967) and an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977. The Chilean government began restoring habitat in 1997³, and the islands have been nominated for World Heritage listing¹. Conservation is being led by the Juan Fernández Islands Conservancy, with support from the American Bird Conservancy, Conservation International, the Hummingbird Society, the Jeniam Foundation, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Key activities which have already taken place are⁸: the hiring of two island residents as project coordinators; control of invasive plants and herbivores⁷ (including volunteer programmes for island residents to participate in invasive plant removal), which appears to increase nesting success of the species; invasive predator control (including cat control in the town on Robinson Crusoe); habitat restoration in native forest; a community outreach programme aimed at engaging local people⁶ and including environmental education programmes for local schoolchildren; as well as population surveys and monitoring of active nests, phenology and reproductive success. Conservation Actions Proposed Continue to monitor the population using a quantitative census methodology that allows for statistical comparisons between surveys. Remove all introduced mammals, initially within an intensively managed, fenced, feasibility study area². Replant native flora (including a 10 ha plot with shrubs that flower throughout the year) in areas free of introduced rabbits and cattle, initially within the feasibility study area but also at forest edges². Enforce grazing restrictions on national park land². Evaluate feasibility of establishing feeding stations in native forest. Replant fast-growing, soil-binding trees along highly eroded slopes for short-term relief². Implement systematic introduced plant control zonally². Continue to support ongoing efforts to remove alien invasive plants and mammalian predators, and increase awareness.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. The Juan Fernández Islands were designated as a national park in 1935 (protected from 1967) and an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977. The Chilean government began restoring habitat in 1997³, and the islands have been nominated for World Heritage listing¹. Conservation is being led by the Juan Fernández Islands Conservancy, with support from the American Bird Conservancy, Conservation International, the Hummingbird Society, the Jeniam Foundation, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Key activities which have already taken place are⁸: the hiring of two island residents as project coordinators; control of invasive plants and herbivores⁷ (including volunteer programmes for island residents to participate in invasive plant removal), which appears to increase nesting success of the species; invasive predator control (including cat control in the town on Robinson Crusoe); habitat restoration in native forest; a community outreach programme aimed at engaging local people⁶ and including environmental education programmes for local schoolchildren; as well as population surveys and monitoring of active nests, phenology and reproductive success.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue to monitor the population using a quantitative census methodology that allows for statistical comparisons between surveys. Remove all introduced mammals, initially within an intensively managed, fenced, feasibility study area². Replant native flora (including a 10 ha plot with shrubs that flower throughout the year) in areas free of introduced rabbits and cattle, initially within the feasibility study area but also at forest edges². Enforce grazing restrictions on national park land². Evaluate feasibility of establishing feeding stations in native forest. Replant fast-growing, soil-binding trees along highly eroded slopes for short-term relief². Implement systematic introduced plant control zonally². Continue to support ongoing efforts to remove alien invasive plants and mammalian predators, and increase awareness.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2009. Sephanoides fernandensis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 February 2012.
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