Foudia rubra

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	PASSERIFORMES	PLOCEIDAE

Scientific Name:

Foudia rubra

Species Authority:

(Gmelin, 1789)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Mauritius Fody
French	–	Foudi de l'Ile Maurice

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered D ver 3.1

Year Published:

2009

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Bird, J., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Jones, C., Nichols, R., Cristinacce, A., Garrett, L., Tatayah, V., Safford, R., Switzer, R.

Justification:
This species has been downlisted to Endangered because its extremely small population has been stable since the early 1990s and is now increasing following an island translocation. If current trends continue it will warrant downlisting to Vulnerable in the future.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Foudia rubra, restricted to south-west Mauritius, suffered rapid population declines since 1975, descending from 247-260 pairs to c.108-122 pairs in late 2001¹³; no doubt following long-term historic population declines owing to heavy predation by invasive mammals. Between 1975 and 1993, a 55% decline in both population size and Area of Occupancy occurred⁹, and the number of locations fell from six in 1975 to three¹², with the main population covering a range of just 15km² in 1993. However, since 1993, the population has been stable¹⁸, and an increase in range has been recorded in the main breeding subpopulation^4,5which probably represents dispersing juveniles setting up new territories¹³. The tiny Mare aux Vacoas subpopulation has remained stable (four pairs), but numbers and range have continued to decline in the Bel Ombre subpopulation (five pairs)¹³. The long term viability of these small subpopulations is in doubt¹². In 2005, 45 hand reared chicks were released onto Ile aux Aigrettes where two pairs from previous releases have raised chicks¹⁵. Following that success, in 2006, c.40 young fledged on Ile aux Aigrettes and the total population on the island now stands at 140 individuals^16,17, including 47 pairs in late 2008¹⁷. The population is expected to increase further in the coming years as it expands on Ile aux Aigrettes, and a second translocation to Round Island is planned¹⁹.
Countries:	Native: Mauritius
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The population was estimated at 216-244 individuals in 2002 (Nichols et al. 2002) with a minimum of 108 breeding pairs. It has since increased following the release of birds on Ille aux Aigrettes in 2006 with 43 breeding pairs established in late 2008, but the pre-release population estimate will be retained until the population has sustained itself above 250 mature individuals for five years.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It holds territories in all types of native forest, including degraded forest, and it shows an increasing reliance on non-native plantations that afford some protection from nest predators^4,20; its use of exotic vegetation (pine and Cryptomeria) increased markedly during the recent increase in range between 1994 and 2003²⁰. Its diet is comprised primarily of insects, but also fruit and nectar¹.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It holds territories in all types of native forest, including degraded forest, and it shows an increasing reliance on non-native plantations that afford some protection from nest predators^4,20; its use of exotic vegetation (pine and Cryptomeria) increased markedly during the recent increase in range between 1994 and 2003²⁰. Its diet is comprised primarily of insects, but also fruit and nectar¹.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Historically, clearance of upland forest, particularly for plantations in the 1970s, catastrophically affected this species. Introduced predators, notably black rat Rattus rattus and crab-eating macaque Macaca fascicularis, have caused almost total breeding failure in most areas^6,8 and nest predation is regarded as the major cause of present-day decline in this species¹⁴. Introduced Madagascar Red Fody Foudia madagascariensis may restrict its range². It has unexpectedly disappeared from areas of apparently intact habitat, possibly 'sink' regions of severe nest-predation, previously sustained by relatively predator-free 'source' areas which have now been degraded and can no longer supply new recruits^7,9. The species also suffers from the general degradation of native habitats on Mauritius caused by introduced animals and plants¹³.

Major Threat(s):

Historically, clearance of upland forest, particularly for plantations in the 1970s, catastrophically affected this species. Introduced predators, notably black rat Rattus rattus and crab-eating macaque Macaca fascicularis, have caused almost total breeding failure in most areas^6,8 and nest predation is regarded as the major cause of present-day decline in this species¹⁴. Introduced Madagascar Red Fody Foudia madagascariensis may restrict its range². It has unexpectedly disappeared from areas of apparently intact habitat, possibly 'sink' regions of severe nest-predation, previously sustained by relatively predator-free 'source' areas which have now been degraded and can no longer supply new recruits^7,9. The species also suffers from the general degradation of native habitats on Mauritius caused by introduced animals and plants¹³.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Rats and macaques are controlled as part of a programme to rehabilitate plots of native vegetation¹⁰. A captive-rearing programme implemented by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, the Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Santuary and the National Parks and Conservation Service is proving highly effective and in 2005 produced 47 individuals from captive parents (25) and hand reared wild born chicks (22)¹⁵. Protocols for captive husbandry and artificial propagation were developed to facilitate the translocation objectives¹⁴. The Black River National Park partly covers its range, and the habitat around Bassin Blanc, not originally included within the boundary, is a priority for compulsory government purchase in the future^3,11. Research into the species's ecology is ongoing and prospective surveys to assess the suitability of Round Island for translocation have been conducted¹⁶; a reintroduction is planned for late 2009. Conservation Actions Proposed Study fecundity differences between pine plantations, Cryptomeria and native forest. Develop a Conservation Management Area at Combo, stocked with favoured nectar-producing plants and with predator controls. Increase breeding productivity by supplemental feeding, double clutching and captive-rearing of harvested wild clutches⁴. Continue releases on offshore islands and monitor the population on Ile aux Aigrettes. Advocate for the compulsory purchase of land separating Bassin Blanc from the Black River National Park and ensure that the national park boundary is extended and appropriate management activities implemented.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Rats and macaques are controlled as part of a programme to rehabilitate plots of native vegetation¹⁰. A captive-rearing programme implemented by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, the Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Santuary and the National Parks and Conservation Service is proving highly effective and in 2005 produced 47 individuals from captive parents (25) and hand reared wild born chicks (22)¹⁵. Protocols for captive husbandry and artificial propagation were developed to facilitate the translocation objectives¹⁴. The Black River National Park partly covers its range, and the habitat around Bassin Blanc, not originally included within the boundary, is a priority for compulsory government purchase in the future^3,11. Research into the species's ecology is ongoing and prospective surveys to assess the suitability of Round Island for translocation have been conducted¹⁶; a reintroduction is planned for late 2009.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Study fecundity differences between pine plantations, Cryptomeria and native forest. Develop a Conservation Management Area at Combo, stocked with favoured nectar-producing plants and with predator controls. Increase breeding productivity by supplemental feeding, double clutching and captive-rearing of harvested wild clutches⁴. Continue releases on offshore islands and monitor the population on Ile aux Aigrettes. Advocate for the compulsory purchase of land separating Bassin Blanc from the Black River National Park and ensure that the national park boundary is extended and appropriate management activities implemented.

Bibliography [top]

	Anon. 2005. Mauritius Fody being released. MWF Newsletter: 2. Cheke, A. S. 1987. The ecology of the smaller land-birds of Mauritius. In: Diamond, A.W. (ed.), Studies in Mascarene island birds, pp. 151-207. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K. Cristinacce, A. 2008. The release of critically endangered Mauritius Fodies Foudia rubra into native lowland forest. MSc, Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia. Cristinacce, A.; Handschuh, M.; Switzer, R. A.; Cole, R. E.; Tatayah, V.; Jones, C. G.; Bell, D. 2009. The release and establishment of Mauritius Fodies Foudia rubra on Ile aux Aigrettes, Mauritius. Conservation Evidence 6: 1-5. Cristinacce, A.; Swtitzer, R. A.; Cole, R. E.; Jones, C. G.; Bell, D. J. 2009. Increasing use of exotic forestry tree species as refuges from nest predation by the critically endangered Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra. Oryx 43(1): 97-103. Jones, C. G.; Hartley, J. 1995. A conservation project on Mauritius and Rodrigues: an overview and bibliography. Dodo: Journal of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust 31: 40-65. Nichols, R. K.; Phillips, P.; Jones, C. G.; Woolaver, L. G. 2002. Status of the critically endangered Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra in 2001. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 9(2): 95-100. Safford, R. J. 1997. Distribution studies on the forest-living native passerines of Mauritius. Biological Conservation 80: 189-198. Safford, R. J. 1997. Nesting success of the Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra in relation to its use of exotic trees as nest sites. Ibis 139: 555-559. Safford, R. J. 1997. The annual cycle and breeding behaviour of the Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra. Ostrich 68(2-4): 58-67. Safford, R. J. 1997. The destruction of source and sink habitats in the decline of the Mauritius Fody, Foudia rubra, an island-endemic bird. Biodiversity and Conservation 6(4): 513-527. Safford, R. J.; Jones, C. G. 1998. Strategies for land-bird conservation on Mauritius. Conservation Biology 12: 169-176.

Anon. 2005. Mauritius Fody being released. MWF Newsletter: 2.

Cheke, A. S. 1987. The ecology of the smaller land-birds of Mauritius. In: Diamond, A.W. (ed.), Studies in Mascarene island birds, pp. 151-207. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.

Cristinacce, A. 2008. The release of critically endangered Mauritius Fodies Foudia rubra into native lowland forest. MSc, Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia.

Cristinacce, A.; Handschuh, M.; Switzer, R. A.; Cole, R. E.; Tatayah, V.; Jones, C. G.; Bell, D. 2009. The release and establishment of Mauritius Fodies Foudia rubra on Ile aux Aigrettes, Mauritius. Conservation Evidence 6: 1-5.

Cristinacce, A.; Swtitzer, R. A.; Cole, R. E.; Jones, C. G.; Bell, D. J. 2009. Increasing use of exotic forestry tree species as refuges from nest predation by the critically endangered Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra. Oryx 43(1): 97-103.

Jones, C. G.; Hartley, J. 1995. A conservation project on Mauritius and Rodrigues: an overview and bibliography. Dodo: Journal of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust 31: 40-65.

Nichols, R. K.; Phillips, P.; Jones, C. G.; Woolaver, L. G. 2002. Status of the critically endangered Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra in 2001. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 9(2): 95-100.

Safford, R. J. 1997. Distribution studies on the forest-living native passerines of Mauritius. Biological Conservation 80: 189-198.

Safford, R. J. 1997. Nesting success of the Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra in relation to its use of exotic trees as nest sites. Ibis 139: 555-559.

Safford, R. J. 1997. The annual cycle and breeding behaviour of the Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra. Ostrich 68(2-4): 58-67.

Safford, R. J. 1997. The destruction of source and sink habitats in the decline of the Mauritius Fody, Foudia rubra, an island-endemic bird. Biodiversity and Conservation 6(4): 513-527.

Safford, R. J.; Jones, C. G. 1998. Strategies for land-bird conservation on Mauritius. Conservation Biology 12: 169-176.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2009. Foudia rubra. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2012.
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