Justification This species has been downlisted to Endangered because its extremely small population has been stable since the early 1990s and is now increasing following an island translocation. If current trends continue it will warrant downlisting to Vulnerable in the future.

Family/Sub-family Ploceidae

Species name author (Gmelin, 1789)

Taxonomic source(s) Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 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. 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. Voice Various chip chip notes plus harsher calls. Hints Solitary and arboreal, foraging from the canopy to ground level.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

216 - 328

stable

13 km²

Yes

Range & population Foudia rubra, restricted to south-west Mauritius, suffered rapid population declines since 1975, descending from 247-260 pairs to c.108-122 pairs in late 2001¹³; no doubt following long-term historic population declines owing to heavy predation by invasive mammals. Between 1975 and 1993, a 55% decline in both population size and Area of Occupancy occurred⁹, and the number of locations fell from six in 1975 to three¹², with the main population covering a range of just 15km² in 1993. However, since 1993, the population has been stable¹⁸, and an increase in range has been recorded in the main breeding subpopulation^4,5 which probably represents dispersing juveniles setting up new territories¹³. The tiny Mare aux Vacoas subpopulation has remained stable (four pairs), but numbers and range have continued to decline in the Bel Ombre subpopulation (five pairs)¹³. The long term viability of these small subpopulations is in doubt¹². In 2005, 45 hand reared chicks were released onto Ile aux Aigrettes where two pairs from previous releases have raised chicks¹⁵. Following that success, in 2006, c.40 young fledged on Ile aux Aigrettes and the total population on the island now stands at 140 individuals^16,17, including 47 pairs in late 2008¹⁷. The population is expected to increase further in the coming years as it expands on Ile aux Aigrettes, and a second translocation to Round Island is planned¹⁹.

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

Ecology: It holds territories in all types of native forest, including degraded forest, and it shows an increasing reliance on non-native plantations that afford some protection from nest predators^4,20; its use of exotic vegetation (pine and Cryptomeria) increased markedly during the recent increase in range between 1994 and 2003²⁰. Its diet is comprised primarily of insects, but also fruit and nectar¹.

Threats Historically, clearance of upland forest, particularly for plantations in the 1970s, catastrophically affected this species. Introduced predators, notably black rat Rattus rattus and crab-eating macaque Macaca fascicularis, have caused almost total breeding failure in most areas^6,8 and nest predation is regarded as the major cause of present-day decline in this species¹⁴. Introduced Madagascar Red Fody Foudia madagascariensis may restrict its range². It has unexpectedly disappeared from areas of apparently intact habitat, possibly 'sink' regions of severe nest-predation, previously sustained by relatively predator-free 'source' areas which have now been degraded and can no longer supply new recruits^7,9. The species also suffers from the general degradation of native habitats on Mauritius caused by introduced animals and plants¹³.

Conservation measures underway Rats and macaques are controlled as part of a programme to rehabilitate plots of native vegetation¹⁰. A captive-rearing programme implemented by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, the Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Santuary and the National Parks and Conservation Service is proving highly effective and in 2005 produced 47 individuals from captive parents (25) and hand reared wild born chicks (22)¹⁵. Protocols for captive husbandry and artificial propagation were developed to facilitate the translocation objectives¹⁴. The Black River National Park partly covers its range, and the habitat around Bassin Blanc, not originally included within the boundary, is a priority for compulsory government purchase in the future^3,11. Research into the species's ecology is ongoing and prospective surveys to assess the suitability of Round Island for translocation have been conducted¹⁶; a reintroduction is planned for late 2009.

Conservation measures proposed Study fecundity differences between pine plantations, Cryptomeria and native forest. Develop a Conservation Management Area at Combo, stocked with favoured nectar-producing plants and with predator controls. Increase breeding productivity by supplemental feeding, double clutching and captive-rearing of harvested wild clutches⁴. Continue releases on offshore islands and monitor the population on Ile aux Aigrettes. Advocate for the compulsory purchase of land separating Bassin Blanc from the Black River National Park and ensure that the national park boundary is extended and appropriate management activities implemented.

References 1. Cheke (1987b). 2. Cheke (1987c). 3. Jones and Hartley (1995). 4. C. Jones in litt. (2000). 5. R. Nichols per C. Jones in litt. (2000). 6. Safford (1997e). 7. Safford (1997b). 8. Safford (1997d). 9. Safford (1997c). 10. Safford and Jones (1998). 11. R. Safford in litt. (1999). 12. R. Nichols in litt. (2003). 13. Nichols (2002). 14. R. Switzer in litt. (2003). 15. Anon (2005). 16. L. Garrett in litt. (2007). 17. Cristinacce et al. (2009a). 18. Cristinacce (2007). 19. V. Tatayah in litt. (2009). 20. Cristinacce et al. (2009b)

Text account compilers Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Ben Warren (BirdLife International)

Contributors Andrew Cristinacce (Massey University), Lucy Garrett (University of East Anglia), Carl Jones (Mauritian Wildlife Foundation), R. Nichols (Queen Mary University of London), Roger Safford (BirdLife International), R. Switzer, Vikash Tatayah (Mauritian Wildlife Foundation)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Foudia rubra. 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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