Falco punctatus
The Mauritius kestrel is one of just nine surviving bird species that are found only on the tiny island of Mauritius. Conservation efforts to help endangered Mauritian bird species began in the mid-1970′s. The kestrel was the initial focus of the rescue program, followed by the pink pigeon, and since 1987, the Echo Parakeet and finally the Mauritius Fody. The populations of these endangered birds are still at very low levels, but have been brought back from the brink of extinction.
The success of this recovery project is a good example of how intensive management techniques can bring a species back from the brink of extinction. The recovery project for the Mauritius kestrel started in 1973 and has utilized captive breeding, supplemental feeding of wild birds, provision of nest-boxes and improved natural cavities, forced double-clutching by harvesting eggs for captive rearing, release of captive-bred birds, and control of introduced predators. With the release of the 300th kestrel in 1994, the captive breeding and release program was stopped. The project now consists of monitoring the more than 100 wild breeding pairs. In 1998 the kestrel was removed from the endangered species list, making this one of the most successful species reintroduction and recovery programs ever undertaken.
The island of Mauritius and its endangered bird species have been a training ground for our Canada’s New Noahs for over 20 years.
Description
The Mauritius kestrel is a small falcon adapted to living in forests. It has short rounded wings and a relatively long tail and legs. Lacking some of the colour of its North American cousin, its plumage is brown, barred with black on its back, upper wings and tail. Its chest is white, spotted with dark brown and black. Kestrels measure 15-18 cm from beak to tail, and weigh 135 to 165 g. Males are slightly smaller than females.
The kestrel occupies territories of about three square kilometres in both upland and lowland native forest. About 90% of a kestrel’s diet consists of Phelsuma geckos, augmented by other lizards, insects and shrews. Typically, the kestrel breeds once each year between September and November. It will lay a second clutch of eggs, usually within 14 days, if the first clutch is lost. Clutches are two to four eggs, primarily incubated by the female.
Habitat
Native only to Mauritius, the Mauritius kestrel was historically found throughout the island. By the early 1970s, its range was reduced to the mountainous Black River Gorges in southwestern Mauritius. A successful re-introduction program has boosted kestrel populations in western and eastern Mauritius.
Distribution and Population Size
At one point, the kestrel population dropped to four to six birds. Today, thanks to an intensive breeding and re-introduction program, there are now an estimated 650 kestrels in the wild. Most importantly, this includes 100 breeding pairs.
Threats to Survival
The original threats – pesticides (DDT) and habitat degradation – are now largely mitigated. The limited amount of original habitat that remains in protected parks and reserves means the population will probably never grow large. Although the species is adapting to new habitats, the small population size will leave the kestrel vulnerable to natural disasters such as cyclones. The pre-colonial kestrel population was never large, estimated between 175 and 325 breeding pairs.
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