Success in the Seychelles

Forest and Bird, Issue 282, 1 November 1996, Page 8

Success in the Seychelles

Richard Cuthbert

ENDEMIC ISLAND species do not provide many success stories, but in the Seychelles, east of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean, at least one endangered bird — the magpie-robin — has recovered to record high numbers. In 1965 only 14 magpierobins remained — all on the

A small island of Fregate. Despite increased trapping of feral cats, there was still only a precarious population of 17 birds in 1990. Working with New Zealand’s Don Merton, of black robin fame, wildlife managers started a programme of supplementary feeding and habitat management to provide suitable foraging sites for the magpierobins. Breeding success improved immediately and numbers rose to over 40 (see Forest & Bird May 1994). Being restricted to just one island, however, the species was extremely vulnerable. After two unsuccessful reintroduction attempts, small populations have now been established on Cousin — owned and managed as a nature reserve by BirdLife International — and Cousine Islands. With three separate populations and a total of 60 birds, the future is more encouraging. However the magpie-robin is not yet out of trouble, as a population of Norway rats has very recently been discovered on Fregate Island — a timely reminder of the importance of ensuring more than one population of any endangered species. Another interesting New Zealand connection with the Seychelles has recently come to light. A sooty tern with a New

Zealand band was discovered earlier this year breeding on Aride Island. Most seabirds return to their colony of birth to breed, so this was unusual. The tern had originally been banded in 1961 in the Kermadecs, over 13,000 kilometres from Aride. Whilst the distance is impressive, it would only be a small fraction of the total kilometres the bird has travelled in its 35 years — in itself a remarkably long life and the maximum recorded for any tern species.