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Parotia wahnesi

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
ANIMALIA CHORDATA AVES Passeriformes Paradisaeidae

Scientific Name: Parotia wahnesi
Species Authority: Rothschild, 1906
Common Name/s:
English – Wahnes's Parotia

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable   C2a(i)   ver 3.1
Year Assessed: 2008
Assessor/s BirdLife International
Evaluator/s: Butchart, S. & Mahood, S. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)
Justification:
This species is categorised as Vulnerable on the basis of an estimated small population suspected to be declining through habitat loss. However, it is very poorly known and more data on its population, trends, subpopulation structure and fragmentation are needed.

History:
2004 – Vulnerable
2000 – Vulnerable
1994 – Vulnerable
1988 – Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description: Parotia wahnesi is known from the mountains of the Huon Peninsula and the Adelbert Mountains in Papua New Guinea. Its abundance varies from locally common in the Cromwell range1,3 to rare in the Adelberts4,6. Most recent records are from Satop where three birds were seen in three days in 1994 (compared to 16 A. rothschildi)4.

Countries:
Native:
Papua New Guinea
Range Map:
(click map to view full version)
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Population [top]

Population: Population estimate = 1-10 individuals/km2 x 856 km2 (20% EOO) = 856-8,560 individuals, but probably more likely to fall in upper half of this range - and hence best placed in the band 2,500-10,000 - as described as "locally common" in one area (Population density extrapolated from review of similar-sized montane frugivores in BirdLife Population Densities Spreadsheet).

Population Trend: Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology: It is found in mid-montane forest between 1,100-1,700 m on the Huon and between 1,300-1,600 m in the Adelberts. It forages actively and noisily in the subcanopy, probing ephiphytes and moss for arthropods, and also feeds on fruit. One or more adult males display on a cleared arena on the forest floor.

Systems: Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): These mid-montane altitudes are favoured by local people for settlement and agriculture. Whilst this region does not have a high population density, the human population is expanding rapidly and clearing increasing areas of forest in this species's narrow altitudinal belt1,2. It is known to forage near active gardens and appears to be tolerant of human activities1, as is the better-known Lawes's Parotia P. lawesii. However, these observations may just represent feeding excursions from nearby undisturbed forest. There is no evidence that it is hunted for plumes or food1,5.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: Conservation actions underway:

CITES Appendix II. It is protected by law in Papua New Guinea. The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Project is working in and proposing a large conservation area in northern Huon1.

Conservation actions proposed:

Survey other mountain ranges on the Huon peninsula which have not been visited recently. Estimate population densities and sizes at known sites. Investigate tolerance of secondary habitats for both foraging and breeding. Assess forest clearance rates between 1,100-1,700 m. Investigate population trends through interviews with local villagers. Discuss creation of locally-managed forest reserves. Run awareness and education programmes for landowners.
Citation: BirdLife International 2008. Parotia wahnesi. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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