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Population monitoring for the flightless rail Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2010

C. Hambler ,
J. Newing  and
K. Hambler
C. Hambler
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX13PS, U.K.
J. Newing
Affiliation:
11 Spring Road, Watlington, Oxfordshire OX75QL, U.K.
K. Hambler
Affiliation:
14 Yew Tree Avenue, Bradford BD8 oAD, U.K.
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Summary

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The last flightless bird of the western Indian Ocean, Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus survives only on Aldabra. Its population numbered some 8,000 in 1973–1976. Surveys suggest numbers remained roughly constant between 1968 and 1988 (with a fluctuation of only 4% in responses to call playback between 1983 and 1988), but distribution continued to contract. Longevity can reach over 8.5 years (but is probably lower on average), and some birds remain within 100 m of the site of ringing for at least five years. Feral predators remain a threat, and captive populations are recommended. The monitoring procedure may have value for other Gruiformes.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bird Conservation International , Volume 3 , Issue 4 , December 1993 , pp. 307 - 318
Copyright
Copyright © Birdlife International 1993

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