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Mauritius kestrels. Tom Cade had recently learned how to breed falcons in captivity and had bred
American Kestrels and felt that similar approaches could be used to breed Mauritius Kestrels, and then to release the birds to the wild to bolster the population. Working with international conservation organisations (World Wildlife Fund and the International Council for Bird Preservation) and with the Mauritius Forestry Department a conservation project was hatched for the Mauritius Kestrel in 1973. The initial work was done by one of Cade’s students, Stanley Temple, who studied them in the wild and started the captive breeding project.
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female type plumage. The species has evolved in the evergreen sub-tropical forests of
Mauritius and occupies a niche similar to that of an accipiter. In morphology and behaviour it also shows convergence with accipiters, with short rounded wings and a dashing hunting technique. Considerable attention has been focused on this kestrel because of its extreme rarity and apparent impending extinction. In 1974 the world population was stated to be only six individuals, including two in captivity. Since then the kestrel is thought to have increased slightly in the wild, but it still remains critically endangered at fewer than 15 individuals.
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513:- after the species had stood at the very brink of extinction. Today, apart from routine monitoring to be able to assist individual couples that fail to establish breeding territories for lack of nesting facilities - a major limiting factor, the ongoing control of introduced predators is basically all that is being done to assist the species' survival (BirdLife International 2006a,b).
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Manipulation of the nesting biology with captive
American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) had been shown to be successful in the U.S. whereby if first clutches were removed, the bird would usually lay a second clutch. This 'double clutching' had demonstrated that young from second clutches do not differ
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was maybe 5 individuals during the mid-1970s. It is known that several genetic lineages of
Mauritius kestrels have disappeared entirely during the 20th century population decline. However, the debilitating effects of DDT accumulation on the birds' health, and not inbreeding, are considered to have
885:
The
Mauritius Kestrel (Falco punctatus) had been studied since early 1973 and its life history is now fairly well known. It is a distinctive island form, the males averaging 130-140g and the females 160-170g. There is no readily detectable difference between adults and immatures, as all have the
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The classification as an endangered species is due to the same fact: on an island as small as
Mauritius, chance events like volcanic eruptions (hardly likely in our time) or storms (common and possibly increasing in frequency and strength) can always wipe out major parts of a species' population
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island, and although the colonization of the island by kestrels cannot be dated with high precision, it was almost certainly some time before volcanic activity died down. The
Mauritius kestrel population seems to have survived a prolonged period of volcanic activity, which must have kept the
402:
The quasi extinction of the kestrel was noted by
Mauritian naturalists Jean Vinson and France Staub, and it came to the attention of the American falcon expert Tom Cade, who, in the early 1970s, corresponded with the Conservator of Forests Leo Edgerly and they explored the idea of saving the
414:
studied this species for two years and the first attempt in 1973 to breed the birds in captivity failed because the hatchling died when the incubator had a breakdown. Though conservation measures were immediately undertaken with the help of a breeding program by the Jersey Zoo (now
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Although at least 71% of ringed birds attempted to breed in their first year, only 38% of the nests of first-year females successfully fledged young, averaging 1.7 per successful nest. Older females fledged young from 64% of nests, fledging an average of 2.0 per successful
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and small falcon conservation. The captive breeding programme was scaled back in the early 1990s as a self-sustaining population was established. Since 1994, the programme serves only as a safeguard, should some catastrophe befall the wild population, and other rare
314:
It can reach a size between 26 and 30.5 cm (10.2 and 12.0 in). It weighs up to 250 g (8.8 oz). Males are slightly smaller than the females. Wingspan is approximately 45 cm (18 in) and the wings are rounded, unlike those of other
286:
In 1974 the
Mauritius kestrel was close to extinction, with only five or, possibly, six known birds of which two in captivity and a solitary breeding female. In 1985, numbers were estimated to have increased slightly in the wild, but it remained
703:; Bayes, Michelle K.; van Zyl, Anthony J.; Carrillo, José; Nichols, Richard A. & Bruford, Michael W. (2002): A molecular phylogeny of African kestrels with reference to divergence across the Indian Ocean.
613:
601:
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Following del Hoyo and Collar (2014), we recognize
Reunion Kestrel Falco duboisi, with range "Extinct. Formerly occurred on RĂ©union Island; may have survived until the 1670s" (Cowles 1994).
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in 1994 as releases of captive-bred birds became unnecessary. Little conservation action was deemed necessary only two decades - in Mauritius kestrel terms, a long lifetime or maybe 4-5
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569:. The phenomenon that effective population sizes as low as 4-5 can be tolerated without pronounced inbreeding depression is also known from other small-island birds, such as
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The recorded population subsequently dropped to an all-time low of only 4 individuals in the wild in 1974 and it was considered the rarest bird in the world.
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supplemented their diet to enable the laying a new egg after the first one had been removed, thereby averting any negative impact on the wild population.
438:. He climbed on the trees and removed the eggs from the nests. This time the eggs were fertile, and Jones was able to rear the hatchlings in incubators.
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the numbers had increased to circa 400 birds in 2019. This conservation achievement is regarded as one of the most successful and best documented bird
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in the world. It was proclaimed the national bird of Mauritius in March 2022 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Republic of Mauritius.
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In pre-colonial time the population was estimated between 175 and 325 breeding pairs. This small population was caused most likely by
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Slowly the population increased and during a census in 1984 50 individuals were estimated. Techniques for breeding, release, and "
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due to a decline in a once increasing population. It is believed that there are less than 400 mature birds alive in the wild.
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of circa 50-150 more (BirdLife International 2006a,b). They occur in the remaining forests of the island, especially in the
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During the 1981/82 breeding season, we removed first clutches of eggs from wild kestrels for artificial incubation.
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465:" of young birds were improved, the captive breeding center becoming a pioneering research institution for tropical
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and his team in Mauritius removed first clutches from wild kestrels for artificial incubation. In addition,
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The Mauritius kestrel hunts by means of short, swift flights through forests. It is carnivorous, eating
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The great rarity of the kestrel was noted by Mauritian naturalists Jean Vinson and France Staub
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900:"The Mauritius Kestrel: A Conservation Success Story | Wildlife Preservation Canada Blog"
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which killed the kestrels and their eggs. What was probably this species' closest relative in
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was noted in the captive birds, it was certainly lower than might be expected given that the
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In 2005, there were at least 800 mature birds; the remaining habitat allows for an estimated
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in size or survival rates from those of first clutches (Bird 1978; Bird & Rehder 1981).
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Diamond, Anthony W.& Roger Tory Peterson Institute (RTPI) (1989): Save the Birds
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The evolutionary history of the birds seems to hold clues as to why (Groombridge
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864:(2002) for a thorough discussion of this species' recent evolutionary history.
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914:"The Mauritius Kestrel officially proclaimed National Bird of the Republic"
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994:"The restoration of the Mauritius Kestrel Falco punctatus population"
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been the major cause for the failure of Temple's breeding program.
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251:'s forests, cliffs, and ravines. It is the most distinct of the
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THE STATUS, ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF THE MAURITIUS KESTREL
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THE STATUS, ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF THE MAURITIUS KESTREL
271:). It is the most distant living species among the western
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Mauritius kestrel at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
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Mauritius Kestrel born in Kestrel Valley Mauritius, 2011
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Mauritius Kestrel born in Kestrel Valley Mauritius, 2011
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In 1979 a new attempt was undertaken. With the help of
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Ferguson-Lees, James & Christie, David A. (2001):
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After considerable pioneering conservation efforts by
953:
The Mauritius Kestrel, The Story of the National Bird
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No Turning Back: The Life and Death of Animal Species
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page (addition 2019), Reunion Kestrel Falco duboisi'
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are now being cared for at the station (such as the
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769:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T22696373A226885309.en
667:Erritzoe, Johannes & Erritzoe, Helga (1993):
557:conditions were sustained for many generations,
647:Mauritius Kestrel - BirdLife Species Factsheet
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631:Mauritius Kestrel in Kestrel Valley Mauritius
595:Mauritius Kestrel in Kestrel Valley Mauritius
247:, where it is restricted to the southwestern
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669:The Birds of CITES and How to Identify Them
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319:. The lifespan is 15 years in captivity.
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725:Birds of the Mascarenes and Saint Brandon
1021:Mauritius kestrel at the Peregrine Fund
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549:, food, and kestrels were destroyed by
832:. New York: Harper Perennial. p.
501:region. The species was downlisted to
705:Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
517:In 2014, the species was uplisted to
7:
1343:0C07869E-3D57-4119-9FF9-8FCE720B9638
545:population small and fluctuating as
450:During the 1981/82 breeding season,
434:established a wildlife sanctuary on
755:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
583:(BirdLife International 2006a,b).
565:were steadily removed by means of
489:Bird awaiting reintroduction, 1989
255:. It colonized its island home to
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1366:IUCN Red List endangered species
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744:BirdLife International (2023).
291:at fewer than 15 individuals.
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717:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00254-3
856:Possibly to be moved to the
687:. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.
654:. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.
363:in the 18th century and by
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1386:Endemic fauna of Mauritius
243:endemic to the forests of
762:: e.T22696373A226885309.
530:effective population size
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92:Scientific classification
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553:time and again. As near-
38:Ebony Forest, Mauritius
1381:Birds described in 1821
649:. Retrieved 2007-MAR-1.
723:Staub, France (1976):
643:BirdLife International
540:2002): Mauritius is a
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1286:Paleobiology Database
977:. 1985. p. 211.
882:. 1985. p. 211.
699:Groombridge, Jim J.;
671:. Lutterworth Press.
563:inbreeding depression
526:inbreeding depression
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417:Durrell Wildlife Park
300:Abdool Wahab Owadally
289:critically endangered
273:Indian Ocean kestrels
253:Indian Ocean kestrels
221:Showing tail feathers
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791:"Appendices | CITES"
685:Raptors of the World
524:While some apparent
385:crab-eating macaques
304:restoration projects
263:probably during the
45:Conservation status
1376:Birds of Mauritius
860:. See Groombridge
551:volcanic eruptions
499:Black River Gorges
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412:Cornell University
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24:Mauritius kestrel
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1273:Open Tree of Life
1037:Taxon identifiers
1000:: 173-180. 2008.
858:Early Pleistocene
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572:Petroica traversi
567:natural selection
561:that might cause
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18:
1182:iNaturalist
1069:Wikispecies
577:Laysan duck
511:generations
476:pink pigeon
391:times, the
341:cockroaches
333:dragonflies
310:Description
1360:Categories
1325:Xeno-canto
800:2022-01-14
637:References
519:endangered
503:vulnerable
432:Carl Jones
430:biologist
241:Falconidae
159:Falconidae
78:Appendix I
60:Endangered
795:cites.org
731:Footnotes
645:(2006b):
555:panmictic
395:, became
381:mongooses
323:Behaviour
279:2002, qv
245:Mauritius
177:Species:
115:Kingdom:
109:Eukaryota
1299:Species+
1226:22696373
1200:11168058
1115:22696373
1110:BirdLife
1054:Wikidata
951:(2022).
932:. 2024.
824:(2004).
542:volcanic
472:endemics
371:use and
365:cyclones
345:crickets
269:Pliocene
265:Gelasian
208:Temminck
155:Family:
129:Chordata
125:Phylum:
119:Animalia
105:Domain:
65:IUCN 3.1
1338:ZooBank
1174:2481005
1151:maukes1
1125:maukes1
1097:Avibase
1060:Q843346
575:or the
559:alleles
547:habitat
505:by the
478:or the
463:hacking
397:extinct
337:cicadas
317:falcons
261:species
249:plateau
235:) is a
165:Genus:
145:Order:
135:Class:
80: (
63: (
1291:371706
1278:624974
1252:148596
1213:175650
1158:ECOS:
1084:ARKive
862:et al.
840:
775:20 May
692:
676:
659:
538:et al.
467:raptor
426:, the
389:Recent
329:geckos
277:et al.
267:(Late
257:evolve
210:, 1821
1265:73353
1195:IRMNG
1146:eBird
1138:3DTGM
1122:BOW:
1004:nest.
975:(PDF)
880:(PDF)
428:Welsh
410:from
375:like
349:birds
170:Falco
82:CITES
76:CITES
1317:6964
1304:3922
1247:NCBI
1221:IUCN
1208:ITIS
1187:4679
1169:GBIF
1161:4238
998:Ibis
838:ISBN
777:2024
760:2023
690:ISBN
674:ISBN
657:ISBN
507:IUCN
383:and
377:cats
298:and
225:The
139:Aves
1312:TSA
1234:NBN
1133:CoL
834:279
764:doi
713:doi
482:).
369:DDT
283:).
1362::
1340::
1327::
1314::
1301::
1288::
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1262::
1249::
1236::
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1210::
1197::
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1171::
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1099::
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996:.
836:.
809:^
793:.
758:.
752:.
708:25
579:.
379:,
351:.
343:,
339:,
335:,
331:,
916:.
902:.
846:.
803:.
779:.
766::
750:"
746:"
715::
229:(
84:)
67:)
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