Seychelles Magpie Robin
Encyclopedia
The Seychelles Magpie Robin (Copsychus sechellarum) is a medium-sized endangered bird from the granitic Seychelles
in the Indian Ocean
.
This species of magpie robin is approximately 25 cm in length. It has a glossy coal-black plumage with a white-colored bar on each wings. It is considered a long-lived species whose lifespan is over 15 years of age. Its habitat is woodlands, plantations and the vicinity of gardens. Their range on the island of Fregate was limited by the area of open ground with leaf litter.
Historically it is believed to have existed on most of the granitic Seychelles islands. Destruction of habitat and introduced predators (domestic cats) greatly reduced its numbers. By 1970, it was on the brink of extinction with only 16 individuals remaining, all on Frégate Island
. Over the next two decades it had managed to stave off extinction, but its population in 1990 was still only 23 individuals. In 1990 BirdLife International
began preservation efforts to save the magpie robin. In the 1990s several birds were translocated to Cousin
and Cousine
Islands. In 2002, Nature Seychelles translocated a few birds to Aride Island
.
Today there's an established small population of magpie robins on four islands of the Seychelles, and plans to reintroduce the species to Denis Island
. As of 2005, the total population was 178 birds (Frégate- 82), (Cousin- 46), (Cousine- 32), (Aride-18) and the IUCN has downlisted its status from Critically Endangered to Endangered.
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
.
This species of magpie robin is approximately 25 cm in length. It has a glossy coal-black plumage with a white-colored bar on each wings. It is considered a long-lived species whose lifespan is over 15 years of age. Its habitat is woodlands, plantations and the vicinity of gardens. Their range on the island of Fregate was limited by the area of open ground with leaf litter.
Historically it is believed to have existed on most of the granitic Seychelles islands. Destruction of habitat and introduced predators (domestic cats) greatly reduced its numbers. By 1970, it was on the brink of extinction with only 16 individuals remaining, all on Frégate Island
Fregate Island
Frégate Island or sometimes Frigate Island is a private island and is the easternmost of the granitic Inner Islands of the Seychelles. It is only and is primarily known as a secluded, private luxury resort and its Anse Victorin beach was voted "The World's Best Beach" by The Times. It was named...
. Over the next two decades it had managed to stave off extinction, but its population in 1990 was still only 23 individuals. In 1990 BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
began preservation efforts to save the magpie robin. In the 1990s several birds were translocated to Cousin
Cousin Island
Cousin Island is a small granitic island of the Seychelles, lying 2 km SSW of Praslin. It is a nature reserve protected under Seychelles law as a Special Reserve and is run by Nature Seychelles, a national non-profit organization and Partner of BirdLife International .Until 1968, Cousin...
and Cousine
Cousine Island
Cousine Island is a small granitic island in the Seychelles 6 km west of Praslin Island. It is a combination luxury resort and since 1992 a nature preserve....
Islands. In 2002, Nature Seychelles translocated a few birds to Aride Island
Aride Island
Aride Island is the northernmost granitic island in the Seychelles and is 10 km north of Praslin. It is 68 hectares in area and is a nature reserve. Aride is leased and managed by the Island Conservation Society of Seychelles. The only human inhabitants are the reserve's staff; currently four...
.
Today there's an established small population of magpie robins on four islands of the Seychelles, and plans to reintroduce the species to Denis Island
Denis Island
Denis Island is the second northeasternmost Island in the Seychelles. It is 60 miles north of Mahé and lies at the northern edge of the Seychelles bank, along with the nearby Bird Island, which is the northernmost Seychelles island. The 1.31 km² coral island was named after the French explorer...
. As of 2005, the total population was 178 birds (Frégate- 82), (Cousin- 46), (Cousine- 32), (Aride-18) and the IUCN has downlisted its status from Critically Endangered to Endangered.