Justification This species has an extremely small range confined to mixed tree-fern forest on one small island, where recent surveys have shown it to have an extremely small population which may be declining. It is therefore listed as Critically Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Furnariidae

Species name author (Philippi & Landbeck, 1866)

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 16 cm. Small, distinctive furnariid. Generally dull greyish-buff. Dusky brown crown and auriculars. Dull buff throat and eyebrow. Blackish wings with two cinnamon-buff bars across remiges. Black tail with pale rufous central feathers and broad tip to outer rectrices. Slender bill. Voice Often delivers churring trrrt call.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

250-999

decreasing

11 km²

Yes

Range & population Aphrastura masafuerae is endemic to Alejandro Selkirk (Más Afuera) in the Juan Fernández Islands, Chile. The population was estimated at c.500 individuals in the mid-1980s⁶, and at c.200 individuals in 1992-1993⁷, with a repeat survey in 2001-2002 giving an estimate of c.140 individuals⁸. If confirmed, this would represent a decline of 30% in just under a decade, indicating that the population as a whole underwent a decline of 72% since the mid-1980s. However, surveys in 2006 and 2007 recorded 248 individuals occupying one third to one quarter of all available suitable habitat¹⁴. These figures indicate that the global population may not have declined significantly in recent years and that variation is due to sampling methodology.

Ecology: This gleaning insectivore is found primarily in Dicksonia externa fern forest, and has a strong association was with canelo Drimys confertifolia. It is most common along stream courses where luxuriant Dicksonia grows to a height of 5 m. There are records at elevations as low as 600 m, but it occurs primarily at 800-1,300 m in the austral summer². The species has a minimum territory size of 4 ha per pair in optimal habitat, although most are larger due to poorer habitat quality, and it nests in natural and man-made cavities, particularly in small natural holes in steep rocks^10,14. Nesting occurs from early December to late January¹² and fledglings have been noted in February¹¹. It is typically skulking and found in pairs.

Threats It is probably secure as long as mature tracts of the ferns Dicksonia and Lophosauria remain intact, but a large proportion of natural vegetation on the island has been degraded and fragmented by goat-trampling, fire and timber-cutting^9,10,13. Mature trees are probably important for foraging, roosting and provision of nesting cavities¹⁴. Introduced mammalian predators are thought to have a significant impact on the population, with rats (Rattus spp.) and possibly mice (Mus musculus) impacting on brood survival, and feral cats impacting on juvenile and adult survival⁵. Significantly, it is absent from the lowlands, where the forest understorey has already been destroyed. An unusual increase of native Red-backed Hawks Buteo polyosoma exsul during the last decade, as illegal hunting of this species by fishermen has ceased and the hawk population has benefited from preying upon introduced mammals¹², may have contributed modestly to any recent declines with several cases noted of hawks preying on rayaditos^9,10.

Conservation measures underway The Juan Fernández Islands were designated as a national park in 1935 (protected from 1967) and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977. Sheep were removed from the island in 1983¹. A goat control programme was undertaken from 1998-2003 but has only continued on a sporadic basis since¹⁴. The Chilean government began a habitat restoration programme in 1997⁴, but that effort concluded in 2003. The islands have been nominated for World Heritage listing³. There is one ranger posted on Alejandro Selkirk⁴, but there are plans to begin having two rangers working on the island. Eighty-one nest boxes were installed in a variety of habitats in 2006¹¹, with at least three having been used during the 2006-2007 breeding season. Other monitoring work is ongoing and efforts continue to improve current population estimates and knowledge of the species's ecology and habitat requirements, to quantify threats and to develop a conservation plan for the species¹¹. Educational materials including posters and community talks have been produced by Juan Fernandez Islands Conservancy¹⁴.

Conservation measures proposed Eradicate goats from Alejandro Selkirk. Establish a continuous monitoring scheme of the species's population and its reproductive success⁵. Compare with the ecological requirements of Thorn-tailed Rayadito A. spinicauda on the mainland, and other Juan Fernández Islands endemics to develop management strategies¹². Eradicate feral cats and rats from the island (this action has the potential to benefit all bird species breeding on the island). Continue educational programmes to increase awareness of the species, both in the islands and more broadly to the general public. Extend control programme and fully eradicate three important invasive plant species: murtilla Ugni molinae, elm-leaf blackberry Rubus ulmifolius and maqui Aristotelia chilensis (unlike on Robinson Crusoe, the populations of these three species are still quite manageable on Selkirk and could realistically be eradicated).

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Carboneras (1992d). 2. Hahn and Römer (1996). 3. Hulm (1995). 4. J. C. Torres-Mura in litt. (1999). 5. Hahn and Römer (2002). 6. Brooke (1988). 7. Hahn (1998). 8. I. Hahn, P. Hodum and M. Wainstein in litt. (2003). 9. I. Hahn in litt. (2004). 10. Hahn et al. (2004). 11. P. Hodum in litt. (2006). 12. Hahn et al. (2004). 13. Anon. (2007). 14. P. Hodum in litt. (2007, 2008).

Text account compilers Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division), Rob Pople (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Michael Brooke (University of Cambridge), Ingo Hahn, Peter Hodum (Oikonos), J. C. Torres-Mura, M. Wainstein

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Aphrastura masafuerae. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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