Justification This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it has a small population which is likely to be declining owing to unsustainable egg-collecting and loss of lowland forest. However conservation action is currently focussed on controlling egg-collecting and reversing this decline.

Family/Sub-family Megapodiidae

Species name author Tristram, 1879

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 32 cm. Small, black megapode with naked red face. Chicks plain brown, becoming blacker as they develop bright red facial skin and yellow legs. Similar spp. Introduced Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus chicks and females differ from immature megapodes in patterned brown plumage and grey-brown legs. Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio has dark blue plumage, red legs and white undertail. Voice Disyllabic wail followed by series of chuckles lasting 4-5 seconds. Hints Listen for birds calling or scratching in leaf-litter of Big Bay and Loru protected areas.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

6,500 km²

Yes

Range & population Megapodius layardi is endemic to Vanuatu, being recorded from most islands north of Efate⁴. In 1995, it was surveyed on north-west Ambrym where 148 burrows were counted in three breeding grounds - local villagers reported a decline in numbers¹. Surveys in 2001 estimated the population density to be c.7 birds per km² around Lake Fantang¹⁰. The population density was estimated at c.10 birds per km² in the Loru Protected Area on Espiritu Santo^2,10, but birds appear less common in other forests on the island⁷. There are 1970s records from Vanua Lava, Aoba, Malo, Malakula, Lopevi, Paama, Epi, Tongoa and Emae islands and records from 2000 onwards from Vanbirds has recent records from the Torres Islands (Loh), Reef Islands (coral atoll between Ureparapara and Mota Lava), Mota Lava, Vanua Lava, Mere Lava, Santo, Ambae, Pentecost, Ambrym, (up to about 500 m above sea level), Malekula, Epi, Tongoa (breeding at geothermal sites near sea level), Nguna and Emau islands (north Efate); it is also probably still present on Gaua^6,12. On Tanna, its status is uncertain, it may never have occurred on the island¹² or it may be extinct there⁷.

Ecology: It inhabits lowland hill forest and has been recorded up to c. 800m on Ambrym¹⁰. It appears to be more tolerant of habitat degradation than previously thought, and has been recorded in gardens and degraded forest¹¹, although at much lower densities in these habitats¹². It nests in volcanically heated areas, on beaches and in decomposing vegetation such as around rotting trees. As with other congeners, it is believed to be a dispersive species, flying to nesting and roosting sites, and not is therefore at risk from population fragmentation. It forages by scratching in the leaf-litter on the forest floor^1,4.

Threats Egg-collection on Ambrym is now restricted by a locally controlled system of taboos, which may have significantly reduced human disturbance¹⁰, although these bans are difficult to enforce¹³. It is hunted by rural communities and killed by feral dogs. Large areas of lowland forest across its range are scheduled for logging or have been cleared for agriculture and the forest understory is degraded by cattle-grazing¹². Coastal forests, where some communal nesting grounds are located, are particularly threatened. Fires and cyclones degrade foraging and nesting grounds^1,4,8,9.

Conservation measures underway Significant contributions have been made recently towards the protection and awareness of this species. On Ambrym, several workshops lead to a 4-month annual taboo on egg-collection in the north and west and a 5 year complete ban in the southeast, controlled by local communities. Wan Smol Bag Theatre and the Vanuatu Protected Areas Initiative have continued to raise awareness in support of the taboos through community theatre, workshops and other initiatives. Protocols for monitoring have been tested, and baseline population data gathered for some areas providing the basis for long term monitoring¹⁰. On Santo the species breeds in the Big Bay and Loru protected areas and is legally protected from hunting between 1 July and 31 March.

Conservation measures proposed Continue to survey little-known islands to establish its distribution, status and threats, leading to the production of a national conservation strategy. Regularly review the effectiveness of existing conservation efforts on Ambrym and repeat surveys and awareness measures as appropriate. Produce a comprehensive management plan for Ambrym Investigate the effects of the existing taboo system on population numbers. Assess the scale of egg-collection in more areas and encourage the adoption of sustainable harvesting regimes where appropriate, focussing on Tongoa where there is a dense human population density and a high number of megapodes. Repeat the successful workshop format for future education and awareness campaigns. Conduct ecological research focussing on productivity, dispersal and survival at nesting grounds.

References Baker et al. (in press). 1. Bowen (1996). 2. Bowen (1997). 3. J. Bowen in litt. (1999). 4. Bregulla (1992). 5. Dekker et al. (2000). 6. J. Diamond in litt. (1999). 7. G. Dutson pers. obs. (1998). 8. Foster (1999). 9. S. Maturin in litt. (1994). 10. O'Brien et al. (2003). 11. R. Dekker in litt. (2004). 12. S. Totterman in litt. (2007). 13. R. Hills in litt. (2007).

Text account compilers Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), Guy Dutson (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Aidan Keane (World Pheasant Association), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Contributors J. Bowen, Rene Dekker (Megapode Specialist Group), J. M. Diamond, Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), S. Maturin, Mark O'Brien (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), Stephen Totterman

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Megapodius layardi. 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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