As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Tuesday 12 April 2016

Bird species native to Flores at risk of extinction

Markus Makur
Posted: Sat, April 9 2016 | 02:32 pm

Excessive hunting has put a bird species native to the Ndora-Aegela forests in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, at risk of extinction. Local people still hunt protected birds in forests across the island, despite a ban on such practices. Located in Ulupulu village, Nangaroro district, Nagekeo regency, the forests are currently managed by the Nagekeo Forestry Agency. 

A profile of the Wallacea ecosystem, compiled by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), has determined that the Ndora-Aegela forests are a key biodiversity area. Apart from its function as a water catchment area, a number of birds native to Flores are found in the forests.     

On March 14, Burung Indonesia staff member Samuel Rabenak conducted a short survey in the Ndora-Aegela forests.

Rabenak said it did not take him long to spot two birds native to Flores, namely the Flores crow and the Wallace hanging parrot, locally known serindit Flores. Serindit Flores is listed as an endangered species.

Rabenak said the discovery of serindit Flores was good news for bird lovers and conservation activists overall. He said the Burung Indonesia team had also discovered several other bird species such as the Flores green pigeon, which is listed as a vulnerable species.

Many other bird species were found including the Flores lorikeet, the russet-capped tesia, the chestnut-capped thrush, Flores minivet, the yellow-ringed white-eye.

Rabenak said the discoveries could offer an alternative destination for bird watchers in Flores. To date, Ndora-Aegela has not received much attention from bird watchers, who tend to focus their attention on the Mbeliling forests and the Ruteng Ecotourism Park in West Flores.



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