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Low productivity in the Critically Endangered Mauritius Olive White-eye Zosterops chloronothos

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 October 2005

RINA K. NICHOLS
Affiliation:
Present Address: Wildlife Preservation Trust Canada, 120 King Street, Guelph, Ontario,Canada, N1E 4P8. Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Avenue Bois des Billes, Black River, Mauritius, Indian Ocean
LANCE G. WOOLAVER
Affiliation:
Present Address: Wildlife Preservation Trust Canada, 120 King Street, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1E 4P8. E-mail: lancewoolaver@hotmail.com Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Avenue Bois des Billes, Black River, Mauritius, Indian Ocean
CARL G. JONES
Affiliation:
Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Avenue Bois des Billes, Black River, Mauritius, Indian Ocean
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Abstract

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Productivity of the endemic Mauritius Olive White-eye Zosterops chloronothos, the least known of the Mauritian land-bird species, was studied for three consecutive breeding seasons. Fifteen White-eye territories were monitored in 1998–1999 and 1999–2000, and 18 in 2000–2001. Although respectively 67%, 73% and 78% of pairs in these territories exhibited signs of breeding, the annual proportion of pairs that successfully produced a fledgling was found to be extremely low at 7%, 7% and 17% respectively. Only five fledglings were observed during the 3 year period. None of the pairs was observed to have more than one successful nesting episode per season, and no pair produced more than a single fledgling over the 3 years. The extremely low productivity of this declining population is of critical concern. Species-specific conservation management is urgently required for this species.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
BirdLife International 2005