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Details
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Identification
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14 cm. Medium-sized, brown forest weaver. Vermilion-red
head, neck and breast with black loral area. Dark brown
back, wings and tail streaked with buff. Reddish rump and
uppertail-coverts.
The sexes are different, the female being rust-brown, the
male basically grey.
Similar spp. Non-breeding male, female and juvenile separated
from Madagascar Red Fody F. madagascariensis by darker,
less streaked plumage, plumper body and relatively shorter
tail.
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Voice
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Various chip chip notes plus harsher calls.
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Habitat
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The preferred habitat includes native scrub vegetation
with a few scattered taller trees, but the species also
inhabits low native scrub and native forest.
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Diet
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Its diet is comprised primarily of insects, but also fruit
and nectar.
Occasionally robs nests of other birds, such as the Pink
Pigeon, sucking the eggs
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Threats
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Clearance of upland forest has catastrophically affected
this species. Introduced predators, notably black rat Rattus
rattus and crab-eating macaque Macaca fascicularis and mongoose,
have caused almost total breeding failure in most areas.
Introduced F. madagascariensis may compete and restrict
its range.
It has unexpectedly disappeared from areas of apparently
intact habitat, possibly regions of severe nest-predation,
previously sustained by relatively predator-free areas which
have now been degraded and can no longer supply new recruits.
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Range & Population
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It was already becoming fairly rare at the turn of the
twentieth century, although it was still not considered
uncommon as late as the 1950s.
Between 1971 to 1974, the clearing of an upland forest
at Les Mares on Plaine Champagne had a devastating effect
on the species, decreasing its population by more than 50%.
Since then, its habitat has been better protected, as remaining
native forest habitat received almost complete protection
with the creation of the Macabe/Bel Ombre Nature Reserve
in 1974.
Foudia rubra has suffered rapid population declines since
1975, descending from 247-260 pairs to c.105-125 pairs in
late 1999. From 1975 to 1993, a 55% decline in both population
and area of occupancy occurred. However, since 1993, the
decline rate has slowed, and an increase in range has been
recorded in the main breeding subpopulation.
The tiny Mare aux Vacoas subpopulation has remained stable
(four pairs), but numbers and range have continued to decline
in the Bel Ombre subpopulation (seven pairs). Research indicates
that there is no population fragmentation during winter.
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Reproduction
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Two or three pale-green spotted eggs laid in a rough, cup-shaped
nest of thin plant parts bound by cobwebs and placed high
in trees. Both parents sit on the eggs. Nest predated by
rats.
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Conservation
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On January 12, 1995, the Mauritius fody was designated
as Endangered in the Entire Range. Within the area covered
by this listing, this species is known to occur in: Mauritius.
The U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service (null) is the lead region for
this entity.
An attempt was made to introduce the species to the island
of Reunion, but it was unsuccessful it is uncertain whether
further attempts will be made. The introduction and establishment
of two species of nectar-producing shrubs on the high plateau
has been suggested.
In 2003, the Mauritius Wildlife Fund started a program
of captive breeding at the Black River Aviaries. 14 birds
were released in the Île aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve.
but in early 2004 only 9 survived. No trace was found of
the other 5. For the next release, the implant of chips
is planned to follow their movements.
The main goal should be to eliminate the introduced rats
and mice that plague the species.
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In 1993, Roger Safford completed an intensive four-year
PhD study on all of the Mauritian passerine species.
Since 1993 some work has been done on a volunteer basis
since we have not yet been able to secure funding to help
save our passerines. Volunteers and students have been conducting
population surveys on all the critically endangered species
to gain knowledge of the ecology of each species for future
conservation.
Conservation efforts to help passerines will be more difficult
than for the larger, more resilient birds MWF is working
with.
Only one other research station in the world, Hawaii, is
attempting to restore highly endangered passerine populations
through captive breeding. Hawaii’s passerine program is
still in the preliminary stages and much remains to be learned
to develop strategies that will best help conserve these
tiny birds. Interestingly, the methods used by conservationists
in Hawaii have been adapted from MWF’s work on Pink Pigeons.
The story will come full circle if we can learn from them
on how to care for our passerine species.
In 1999, 21 new territories of Olive White-eyes, 8 new pairs
of Paradise Flycatchers and 3 new pairs of Mauritius Fody
were found near newest MWF field station at Combo. In addition
to many hours of observation resulting in previously unknown
nesting behaviour (male Olive White-eyes were seen to share
in the care of eggs and nestlings), 3 nests of Olive White-eyes
were found and monitored. Previous to this only 2 nests
had ever been recorded for this species. Unfortunately,
all 3 nests were predated by Ship
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Remarks
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Illustrated on a 10 cent stamp and a calendar published
by the State Commercial Bank.
Bird
Stamps
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Description
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Scientific Name
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Foudia rubra
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English Name
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Mauritius Fody
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Local English Name
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French Name
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Foudi de Maurice, Fodie
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Local French Name
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Cardinal Mauricien
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Creole Name
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Kardinal / Zwazo banane
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Habitat
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native scrub and forest
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Geographic Range
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Mauritius
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Status
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CITES I - PROTECTED
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First Description
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Gmelin, 1789
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References
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Safford, RJ.
The annual cycle and breeding behaviour of the Mauritius
Fody, Foudia rubra.
Ostrich, 68, 58-67.
Safford RJ.
Nesting success of the Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra in relation
to its use of exotic trees as nest sites.
Ibis, 139, 555-559.
Safford, RJ.
The destruction of source and sink habitats in the decline
of the Mauritius Fody, Foudia rubra, an island-endemic bird.
Biodiversity and Conservation, 6, 513-527.
Safford, RJ. A survey of the occurrence of native vegetation
remnants on Mauritius in 1993.
Biological Conservation, 80,181-188 and 84, 197.
Safford, RJ. Distribution studies on the forest-living
native passerines of Mauritius.
Biological Conservation, 80, 189-198.
Safford RJ and Jones CG.
Did organochlorine pesticide use cause declines in Mauritian
forest birds?
Biodiversity and Conservation, 6, 1445-1451.
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Acknowledgements
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My
thanks go to Mr. Vikash Tatayah of the Mauritius Wildlife
Foundation for letting me have access to the Conservation
Area where I was able to take photographs of the endemic
birds held at the Black River aviaries.
I
thank particularly Mrs. Frédérique Koenig,
Aviararies Manager, who was a helpful, friendly and competent
guide.
Peter
M.C. Werner
February 2004
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