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This species has always had an extremely small range, but recent volcanic eruptions have caused an extremely rapid population decline and extirpated it from all but two disjunct areas. Deposits of volcanic ash have seriously damaged the habitat of the remaining population, and further deposits or an increased frequency of hurricanes could have devastating effects. The future of this species in the wild is extremely uncertain, and it consequently qualifies as Critically Endangered.
Taxonomic source(s)
AOU. 1998. Check-list of North American birds. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.
Stotz, D. F.; Fitzpatrick, J. W.; Parker, T. A.; Moskovits, D. K. 1996. Neotropical birds: ecology and conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Identification
20-22 cm. Medium-sized, black-and-yellow icterid. Adult male, mostly black with yellowish lower back, rump, shoulder, lower breast, belly and undertail. Female, dull yellowish-green above and yellowish below. Immature duller. Voice Loud whistles and harsh chuur.
This species inhabits an extremely small area on Montserrat (to UK) in the Lesser Antilles. By the early 1990s, it occurred throughout the three main forested hill ranges on the island (the Centre, Soufrière and South Soufrière hills), but volcanic activity in 1995-1997 entirely destroyed two-thirds of remaining habitat (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003). Initially, only the Centre Hills (c.14 km2) population was thought to have survived the pyroclastic flows (although even this area was heavily ashed) (P. Atkinson in litt. 1998, 1999, Arendt et al. 1999), but a remnant population was later discovered in a 1-2 km2 forest patch in the South Soufrière hills, just 1 km from the summit of the volcano (Bowden et al. 2001, Cotinga 17 2002: 7). In December 1997, the estimated population was c.4,000 birds (Arendt et al. 1999), but intensive monitoring between 1997-2003 indicated that the Centre Hills population declined by 40-50%, despite reduced volcanic activity (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003, Hilton et al. 2003). In 2001, 2003 and 2006, further major volcanic eruptions caused heavy ash falls on large areas of the Centre Hills, destroying several nests and curtailing breeding (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003, Cotinga 17 2002: 7, Anon 2006). Recent evidence suggests that the downward fluctuation noted between 1997-2003 may have been reversed and the population is recovering. In 2005 (post-recovery), using point-counts calibrated by territory mapping and the Extent of Occurrence defined by positive census records the population was estimated at 930-3,000 individuals in the Centre Hills (depending on method of extrapolation) and 150-300 individuals in the South Soufrière population (Bierley et al. in prep.). Confidence limits remain relatively wide, and the total population could conceivably be as low as 260 pairs or as high as 1,190 pairs (Bierley et al. in prep.).
Population justification
Bealey et al. (in prep.) estimate a total population within the range 460-590 pairs (260-1,190 95% CI) or 920-1,180 mature individuals, though based on 2004 survey data Hilton (2008) had previously estimated 5,200 individuals.
Trend justification
A variety of monitoring and analytical techniques indicate annual declines of 8-52% during the period 1997-2000 (Hilton et al. 2003) following a rapid one-off event when a volcanic eruption caused a 60% decrease in range and population in 1996. However, recent trends suggest the 1997-2000 declines were merely a downward fluctuation and the population may now be increasing (Hilton in litt. 2007).
Ecology
It occurs in most forest types between c.150-900 m, but reaches highest densities in wetter, higher altitude forests, and is absent from areas of very dry forest (Jaramillo and Burke 1999, G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003). It is found in all successional stages, and sometimes at the edges of cultivated areas and banana plantations but appears to be an obligate forest species (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003). Nesting occurs in March-August, but the exact timing probably depends on the rainy season (P. Atkinson in litt. 1998, 1999, Jaramillo and Burke 1999). Nests are mainly suspended from the leaves of Heliconia caribbaea, although banana and other broad-leaved trees are also used (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003). Its clutch-size is typically two or three. Unsuccessful pairs may attempt up to five clutches; successful pairs can very rarely rear three broods per year (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003). It forages at all levels, but particularly in the understorey, feeding mainly on insects, but occasionally also on fruit and possibly nectar (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003).
Threats
Volcanic eruptions in 1995-1997 all but extirpated the species from the Soufrière and South Soufrière hills. Although volcanic activity was reduced in 1998-2000, the population continued to decline (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003, Hilton et al. 2003). Potential causes are low insect availability (Marske et al. 2007) and/or chronic ill-health of birds resulting from ash fall on remaining forest, and other unknown and indirect knock-on effects of volcanic activity (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003). Research into reproductive success, using nest cameras, has also revealed high rates of nest predation by rats and native Pearly-eyed Thrashers Margarops fuscatus, both of which occur at high but fluctuating densities (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003, Bowden et al. 2001, Cotinga 17 2002: 7). In 2001 and 2003, drought appeared to cause reduced laying frequency and clutch-size, and this may be an increasing problem now that that species is confined to lower, drier areas (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003). Conversely, excessive rainfall can also have a negative impact. A feral pig population is spreading fast and could cause serious damage to the forest habitat if not eradicated. Having a montane distribution that is close to the maximum altitude within its range, this species is also potentially susceptible to climate change (BirdLife International unpublished data). Despite being previously proposed as a threat, there is no nest parasitism by Shiny Cowbird because this species does not currently occur on Montserrat (P. Atkinson in litt. 1998, 1999), contra (Raffaele et al. 1998).
Conservation actions underway
There is a comprehensive programme to monitor the population and breeding success (Gibbons et al. 1998, G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003), and in 2001 a new research programme into the causes of the continuing decline was begun (Cotinga 17 2002: 7). During 2003, preliminary tests of management interventions were made, aimed at boosting reproductive success (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003). In June 1999, eight birds were taken to Jersey Zoo to enable the development of husbandry techniques; initial attempts at captive breeding proved successful (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003, Owen 2000) and captive birds are now also present at several other locations in the UK, but there are currently no plans to augment the wild population with birds from captive stock (G. Hilton in litt. 2007, 2008). The Centre Hills has been designated a protected area and development is not permitted within its marked boundaries (P. Atkinson in litt. 1998, 1999). A Species Action Plan was published in 2005. Experimental rat control in the Centre Hills commenced in 2006 and work to compare nest success in an area with experimental rat control with nest success in adjacent areas with high rat density was scheduled for 2008 (G. Hilton in litt. 2007, 2008). A pig eradication programme is also planned for the island.
Conservation actions proposed
Continue the existing programme and research into the causes of the decline. Develop potential management interventions to boost reproductive success (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003). Continue the close monitoring of the population (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003). Investigate the reasons for the high densities of nest predators in the Centre Hills (G. Hilton in litt. 2000, 2003).
References
Raffaele, H.; Wiley, J.; Garrido, O.; Keith, A.; Raffaele, J. 1998. Birds of the West Indies. Christopher Helm, London.
Gibbons, D. W.; Smith, K. W.; Atkinson, P.; Pain, D.; Arendt, W. J.; Gray, G.; Hartley, J.; Owen, A.; Clubbe, C. 1998. After the volcano: a future for the Montserrat Oriole? RSPB Conservation Review, pp. 97-101. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Sandy, UK.
Jaramillo, A.; Burke, P. 1999. New World blackbirds: the icterids. Christopher Helm, London.
Arendt, W. J.; Gibbons, D. W.; Gray, G. 1999. Status of the volcanically threatened Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi and other forest birds in Montserrat, West Indies. Bird Conservation International 9: 351-372.
Owen, A. 2000. The collection of eight Montserrat Orioles Icterus oberi and their establishment at Jersey Zoo. Dodo: Journal of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust 36: 51-61.
Bowden, C. G. R.; Fenton, C.; Gray, G. A. L.; Mackley, L.; Hilton, G. M.; Atkinson, P. W. 2001. The Monstserrat Oriole: in trouble again. Dodo: Journal of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust 37: 100.
Hilton, G. M.; Atkinson, P. W.; Gray, G. A. L.; Arendt, W. J.; Gibbons, D. W. 2003. Rapid decline of the volcanically threatened Montserrat oriole. Biological Conservation 111: 79-89.
Anon. 2006. "Ash in de air" - impacts on the Centre Hills.
Marske, K. A.; Ivie, M. A.; Hilton, G. M. 2007. Effects of volcanic ash on the forest canopy insects of Montserrat, West Indies. Environmental Entomology 36: 817-825.
Further web sources of information
Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.
Click here for more information about the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE)
RSPB International Research - Montserrat Oriole
View photos and videos, and hear sounds of this species from the Internet Bird Collection
Text account compilers
Bird, J., Calvert, R., Isherwood, I., Pople, R., Sharpe, C J, Symes, A., Wege, D.
Contributors
Atkinson, P., Hilton, G.
IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Icterus oberi. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013.
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.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
Additional resources for this species
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| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Critically Endangered |
| Family | Icteridae (New World blackbirds) |
| Species name author | Lawrence, 1880 |
| Population size | 920-1180 mature individuals |
| Population trend | Decreasing |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 10 km2 |
| Country endemic? | Yes |
| Links to further information | |
| - Additional Information on this species | |
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