Gallinula silvestris

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	GRUIFORMES	RALLIDAE

Scientific Name:

Gallinula silvestris

Species Authority:

(Mayr, 1933)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Makira Moorhen, Makira Woodhen, San Cristobal Moorhen, San Cristobal Mountain Rail

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered D ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2009

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

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

Contributor/s:

James, R., Dutson, G., Harker, C., Collins, C., Filardi, C., Waihuru, J., Diamond, J., Wilson, T.

Justification:
This species has not been recorded since 1953 despite recent surveys lasting several weeks, and hunters no longer report the species in areas close to the type locality from where it was known to hunters in 1974. It is likely to have declined as a result of depredation by introduced mammalian predators. However, it cannot be presumed to have gone Extinct because there have been recent credible reports, and further surveys are needed in the Wainoni hills and in the swamps of north Makira. Any remaining population is likely to be tiny, and for these reasons it is treated as Critically Endangered.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Gallinula silvestris is known only from the type-specimen collected in 1929, and a subsequent observation of one in 1953 on Makira (= San Cristobal), Solomon Islands. The 1929 collectors failed to secure more specimens and concluded that the species was already rare⁷. In 1953, it was reported to be well-known to guides from Ghoghe village and to be not uncommon². Hunters in hill villages close to the type locality reported it in 1974, but not in 1990 or subsequently^1,3,5,6,8. Several weeks have been spent surveying this area without any evidence of the species's survival^1,5, but two unconfirmed reports of birds caught by dogs, in 2001 and 2002, suggest it may still be extant⁹. Furthermore, unidentified calls heard in 2004 were reported to belong to this species by local people who claimed to see it rarely, while apparently credible reports from the western part of the island in 2008 indicated that villagers were familiar with the species but did not encounter it regularly¹².
Countries:	Native: Solomon Islands
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Any surviving population assumed to be tiny, with no confirmed recent reports, despite several weeks of surveys.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Population:

Any surviving population assumed to be tiny, with no confirmed recent reports, despite several weeks of surveys.

Population Trend:

Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The specimen was taken at 600 m and the 1953 sighting was at c.450 m in the central ranges of Makira. Hunters reported that it was flightless but climbed into bushes to escape dogs. These records are from rainforest on steep, rocky hills with many small rivers but no standing water^2,7. It has been suggested that it may also inhabit the largely unexplored swamps of north Makira¹, but no evidence of it was found there in a very brief survey in 1998⁴.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

The specimen was taken at 600 m and the 1953 sighting was at c.450 m in the central ranges of Makira. Hunters reported that it was flightless but climbed into bushes to escape dogs. These records are from rainforest on steep, rocky hills with many small rivers but no standing water^2,7. It has been suggested that it may also inhabit the largely unexplored swamps of north Makira¹, but no evidence of it was found there in a very brief survey in 1998⁴.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It is likely to have declined owing to predation by introduced mammalian predators. Birds were also caught by village hunting-dogs but this was probably an uncommon and unplanned result of hunting for pigs^2,7,8. Although most of the lowlands of Makira have been logged or are under logging concessions, forests on steep, rocky slopes are likely to be safe from commercial logging.

Major Threat(s):

It is likely to have declined owing to predation by introduced mammalian predators. Birds were also caught by village hunting-dogs but this was probably an uncommon and unplanned result of hunting for pigs^2,7,8. Although most of the lowlands of Makira have been logged or are under logging concessions, forests on steep, rocky slopes are likely to be safe from commercial logging.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Surveys and interviews with local hunters between 400 m and 1,000 m elevation around Hauta in the central mountain ranges, most recently in 2006, have failed to find evidence of this species¹¹. The forests of the Hauta region are presently protected under a community sustainable use programme. A local NGO is collaboratively searching for the bird and spreading awareness of its identification, through distribution of pictures and awareness sessions in the provincial capital of Makira-Ulawa, Kirakira¹¹. Conservation Actions Proposed Circulate coloured paintings to hunters in inland Makira to gather any information on its survival. Survey uninhabited inland mountains. Encourage tighter controls of commercial logging. Support the continuation and extension of community-based sustainable use programmes in the mountains.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Surveys and interviews with local hunters between 400 m and 1,000 m elevation around Hauta in the central mountain ranges, most recently in 2006, have failed to find evidence of this species¹¹. The forests of the Hauta region are presently protected under a community sustainable use programme. A local NGO is collaboratively searching for the bird and spreading awareness of its identification, through distribution of pictures and awareness sessions in the provincial capital of Makira-Ulawa, Kirakira¹¹.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Circulate coloured paintings to hunters in inland Makira to gather any information on its survival. Survey uninhabited inland mountains. Encourage tighter controls of commercial logging. Support the continuation and extension of community-based sustainable use programmes in the mountains.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2009. Gallinula silvestris. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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