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The mangrove finch (Mangrove finch), the rarest of "Darwin's finches", has an estimated population of only 80 individuals with less than 20 breeding pairs population. Research shows that the parasitic fly introduced, (Philornis downsi) is a major cause of the high mortality of this species, with no less than 95% of the chicks dying during the first months of the breeding season under natural conditions .
An intensive conservation management to increase the number of chicks produced each year began in 2014 for the first time in the Galapagos Islands, eggs were collected from the wild and transferred to Puerto Ayora, where the chicks born were bred in captivity. Fifteen of them were successfully released into the wild in May 2014. Due to the small size of the population of the mangrove finch, without viable technique today to protect wild nests of parasitic fly, the collection of eggs and captive breeding chicks is a strategy that has given successful results, which should be replicated.
After successful results last year, this season the team of scientists and rangers faced unexpected challenges in the field. Francesca Cunninghame, an official of the CDF and leader of Project mangrove finch, explained that "was exceptionally dry in Playa Negra Tortuga and mangrove finches reproduced slower than normal, therefore, only 12 pairs were identified nesting . We also had two days of gusty winds that climb trees up to 18 meters, it became an overwhelming and dangerous experience. "
The incubation equipment and captive breeding, led by San Diego Zoo personnel Global (SDZG) with the support of Ecuadorian fellows, put the eggs in incubators, located within the quarantine facilities in the CDRS. The eggs have hatched during the last two weeks. The chicks are fed 15 times a day on a diet of scrambled eggs and papaya, wasp larvae introduced, bowels of moth and concentrate passerines.
Nicole LaGreco, leading parenting expert SDZG Wild Bird acknowledged that "the success of last season, we were excited and anxious to be invited to participate again this year. Although this time there have been more challenging than the previous year, we hope that this will be another successful season. "
Once the hatch, and care experts, chicks is expected that these birds come to feed themselves, with the goal of being returned to their natural habitat in Playa Tortuga Negra.
Project Mangrove Finch is a bi-institutional project implemented by the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park in collaboration with San Diego Zoo Global and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. The project is supported by Galapagos Conservation Trust, the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust, Galapagos Conservancy, the British Embassy in Ecuador. Also thank Lindblad Expeditions and Metropolitan Touring who have provided their tourist boats to help transport the eggs to the hatchery.
Learn more
Conservation Project Mangrove Finch
Controlling Philornis downsi
[Photo: © Liza Diaz Lalova, CDF]
SOURCE: http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b081d523df974d6485da1fd9f&id=c42ef8d...
For more information visit: www.stellamaris.com.ec
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