The most endangered of the endemic birds, the Seychelles Magpie Robin Copsychus sechellarum or Pi Santez in Creole, came close to extinction in the late twentieth century; in 1970 there were only about 23 surviving birds on one island (Fregate Island).
Through an active conservation programme coordinated by BirdLife International and later Nature Seychelles, which involved moving predators, improving habitat, providing nest boxes on Fregate, and moving birds to other predator-free islands to start new populations, the total number of birds has risen significantly, although it remains one of the rarest birds in the world. Its conservation status has greatly improved, but it still relies on conservation management and implementation of the Seychelles Magpie Recovery Team (SMART), which was formed to take conservation actions to save this species. SMART is coordinated by Nature Seychelles. The species was downlisted from being Critically Endangered to Endangered in 2005 after great efforts to increase its population. As the population has risen to 500 birds, there’s hope for its reclassification to a lower threatened status.
Facts
Scientific name: Copsychus sechellarum
Conservation status: Endangered
Population in Seychelles: 500 birds
Distribution in Seychelles: Fregate, Cousin, Cousine, Denis and Aride
Habitat: Forests
Nest: Build from grasses, and firbres, usually in next boxes or natural cavities in trees, sometimes in the top of coconut palms. A single egg is laid.
Diet: Insects and other invertebrates, baby mice, fish dropped by seabirds
Identification: Long-tailed, glossy black and white bird with black bill
See more:
Seychelles Bird of Pride Established on a ‘New’ Island
Species Fact Sheet on BirdLife Data Zone
(Photo credit: Peter Chadwick)