Otus siaoensis

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	STRIGIFORMES	STRIGIDAE

Scientific Name:

Otus siaoensis

Species Authority:

(Schlegel, 1873)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Siau Scops-owl, Siau Scops Owl

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:

Brickle, N.

Justification:
This species has not been recorded since the type specimen was collected in 1866, and it was not found during recent surveys since 1998. Very little forest remains and habitat destruction has been extensive and is continuing. However, it cannot be assumed to be Extinct, because there have been some local reports, a thorough survey is required, and some Asian scops-owls survive even in secondary habitats. 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
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Otus siaoensis is only known from the holotype collected on the island of Siau, north of Sulawesi, Indonesia, in 1866. Given the small size of this island, and its generally unvegetated volcanic upper reaches, the original population was probably always modest in size, and any surviving population must be tiny, given that little forest remains. There is some suggestion that the species might survive on the basis of accounts given by local people; however, a recent survey of nocturnal birds in northern Sulawesi spent 32 days on Siau Island and failed to confirm that the species still occurs on the island, but semi-structured interviews revealed that small owls do occur and one unidentified call was heard; these reports remain unconfirmed¹, but a recent sound recording possibly relates to this species, and further searches are planned². Several further searches in 2009 failed to locate the species, and the origin of an 'owl-like' call recorded in several forest fragments remain uncertain³.
Countries:	Native: Indonesia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate based on analysis of recent searches and reports and extent of habitat destruction within its range and conclusion that 'it seems likely that...any surviving population will prove minute' (BirdLife International 2001)

Population:

Population estimate based on analysis of recent searches and reports and extent of habitat destruction within its range and conclusion that 'it seems likely that...any surviving population will prove minute' (BirdLife International 2001)

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	There are no ecological data, although it is reasonable to assume that the species is a forest dweller in common with its close congeners.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Siau is currently experiencing rapid deforestation. In 1995, there was some lowland forest around Lake Kepetta in the south of the island, but this had been felled by 1998. In August 1998, the island was judged to have been largely converted to mixed plantation and scrub, but small patches of low trees survived. In October 1998, a five-day survey determined that only 50 ha of forest remained, all above 800 m on Gunung Tamata, in the centre of the island.

Major Threat(s):

Siau is currently experiencing rapid deforestation. In 1995, there was some lowland forest around Lake Kepetta in the south of the island, but this had been felled by 1998. In August 1998, the island was judged to have been largely converted to mixed plantation and scrub, but small patches of low trees survived. In October 1998, a five-day survey determined that only 50 ha of forest remained, all above 800 m on Gunung Tamata, in the centre of the island.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix II. In October 1998, five days were spent on the island of Tagulandang, just south of and almost as large as Siau, but only a few hectares of forest were found to remain, all above 600 m. The Wildlife Conservation Society is providing financial and technical support to the North Sulawesi local NGO 'PALS' to conduct extensive surveys of Siau Island to locate the species. If found, immediate conservation measures will be implemented². Conservation Actions Proposed Survey the remaining forest on Siau and Tagulandang at different times of year, investigating any patch of trees, however remote the possibility of success may seem. In the event of its survival, initiate conservation measures at the site of rediscovery.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. In October 1998, five days were spent on the island of Tagulandang, just south of and almost as large as Siau, but only a few hectares of forest were found to remain, all above 600 m. The Wildlife Conservation Society is providing financial and technical support to the North Sulawesi local NGO 'PALS' to conduct extensive surveys of Siau Island to locate the species. If found, immediate conservation measures will be implemented².

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey the remaining forest on Siau and Tagulandang at different times of year, investigating any patch of trees, however remote the possibility of success may seem. In the event of its survival, initiate conservation measures at the site of rediscovery.

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