Justification The rapid population decline of this megapode through over-exploitation is projected to continue which, combined with its small, declining and increasingly fragmented population, qualifies it as Vulnerable.

Family/Sub-family Megapodiidae

Species name author Gray, 1860

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

Synonyms Megapodius wallacei Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Megapodius wallacei Collar et al. (1994), Megapodius wallacei Collar and Andrew (1988)

Identification c.30 cm. Small, brown-and-grey megapode with distinctively patterned upperparts. Dark reddish mantle, greater and median covert feathers, contrastingly tipped grey. Grey underparts with striking white undertail-coverts. Variably bluish-grey to whitish bill, dark olive legs and feet. Similar spp. Dusky Scrubfowl Megapodius freycinet and Orange-footed Scrubfowl M. reinwardt are both larger and darker with prominent crests and orange-red facial skin, the former having uniform dark grey plumage, the latter uniform dark brown upperparts and orange or pinkish-red legs and feet. Voice Pairs give loud territorial duet. Feeding and burrowing birds give various noisy contact calls. Hints Rather secretive, visiting communal nesting grounds nocturnally.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

20,000-49,999

decreasing

50,000 km²

Yes

Range & population Eulipoa wallacei is endemic to the Moluccan Islands of Buru, Seram, Haruku, Ambon, Bacan, Halmahera, Ternate, and Misool off Irian Jaya (from where there is only one old record), Indonesia. The vast majority of the population nests at two sites: Galela on Halmahera (c.26,000-28,000 individuals in 1997) and on Haruku Island (c.8,600 individuals in 1997)⁶. The coastal strip of North Seram held c.3,000-5,000 individuals in 1997⁶. It is probably extinct on Ambon, Ternate, Bacan and Kasiruta, while the situation on Obi is unclear. Buru still has nesting grounds, but numbers have been greatly reduced since the beginning of the 20^th century.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It inhabits dense, evergreen rainforest, also occurring in degraded forest and coastal scrub, from sea-level to 2,000 m although perhaps more typically above 750 m, except when nesting. It lays and buries its eggs (which average at least 20% of adult body weight) nocturnally at communal nesting-grounds, chiefly on solar-radiated sandy beaches or other loose, unvegetated substrates. Egg-laying occurs year-round but timing, spacing and depth of burrows and behaviour at nesting sites are influenced by lunar cycles¹. The birds have been recorded switching to new nesting sites when traditional sites are unsuitable³.

Threats Over-harvesting of its highly nutritious eggs is the main reason for its decline, even in some areas where traditional regulatory management is practiced. Civil unrest in the Moluccas has prevented conservation efforts over the past five years. However, on Haruku nesting success increased from the late 1990s onwards apparently because egg-collection virtually ceased owing to political unrest³. Since 2005 the political situation has stabilised and uncontrolled harvesting has resumed³. Natural predation of eggs and chicks by Varanus lizards, snakes and birds of prey poses an increasing threat as colonies decline. Predation by introduced cats⁵, dogs and pigs has also served to reduce the number of egg-laying birds³. Sand extraction for local road construction and other small-scale development projects potentially threaten nesting grounds. Deforestation (through logging and agricultural encroachment) is presumed to be a threat in its non-breeding habitats.

Conservation measures underway It has been legally protected since 1979. Traditional management regimes for sustainable egg-harvesting have been observed for at least 80 years at the two main nesting grounds, reputedly without serious detriment to the species. Surveys of nesting grounds on all Moluccan islands and Misool took place between 1994 and 1997, including a biological study at the Kailolo nesting ground on Haruku island. Translocation of eggs from this site to the nearby Desa Haruku nesting ground helped to replenish the number of nesting adults returning in subsequent years³. Kailolo nesting ground has been monitored continuously since 1994, involving local people⁴.

Conservation measures proposed Determine the impact of recent civil unrest on population status, particularly at Haruku Campaign for full legal protection of nesting habitats and corridors at and around viable nesting grounds, particularly at Galela and Haruku. Conduct education programmes and work closely with local people to achieve and maintain sustainable egg-harvest regimes. Monitor breeding success at selected key nesting grounds. Determine the dispersal, range and movement of adults and chicks through the use of radio-tracking and genetic studies.

References Dekker et al. (2000). BirdLife International (2001). 1. Baker & Dekker (2000) 2. G. Baker in litt. (2004). 3. Heij (2005a). 4. Heij (2005b). 5. Heij (2001). 6. Heij et al. (1997).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001), together with new information collated since the publication of the Red Data Book

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Pete Davidson (BirdLife International), Aidan Keane (World Pheasant Association)

Contributors Gillian Baker (Megapode Specialist Group), Rene Dekker (Megapode Specialist Group), C. J Heij (Natural History Museum, Rotterdam), C. W Moeliker (Natural History Museum, Rotterdam), Ria Saryanthi (BirdLife Indonesia)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Rene Dekker (Megapode Specialist Group), Phil McGowan (World Pheasant Association)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Eulipoa wallacei. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

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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