Everything about Mauritius

Mauritian Birds

Echo Parakeet

The Echo Parakeet Psittacula eques was once common on Mauritius but began to decline in numbers and range in the mid 1800’s. By 1986 the population was estimated to be between 8 and 12 individuals. The present wild Echo Parakeet population is restricted to an area of less than 40 km2 of remnant native upland forest within the 6800 Ha Black River Gorges National Park, created in 1993.

Since its colonisation, exotic mammals such as Ship Rats Rattus rattus and Crab-eating Macaques Macaca fascicularis have had a devastating predatory effect on the Echo Parakeet. Also, exotic birds such as Indian Mynahs Acridotheres tristis and Ring-neck Parakeets Psittacula kramerii are common and compete with the Echo Parakeet for food and nesting sites.

Conservation efforts to recover the Echo Parakeet were initiated by the Forestry Service and the International Council for Bird Preservation in the early 1970s and intensified by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) and the National Parks and Conservation Service since 1987.

The Echo Parakeet population has increased from the 8-12 birds estimated in 1986 to between 309 and 335 birds in April 2006. The increases in recent years are the result of higher numbers of chicks surviving to fledging due to the intensive management strategies used by the programme and the consequent increase in the number of breeding age birds. The Echo Parakeet Programme is one of the world’s most successful parrot recovery programme.

Mauritius Kestrel - Falco punctatus

The Mauritius Kestrel Falco punctatus was once regarded as the World’s rarest bird; by 1974 only four individuals were known to survive in the Lower Black River Gorges. There is an estimated 800 to 1000 free flying Mauritius Kestrels currently. The Mauritius Kestrel has been saved from extinction by intensive management of the wild population in conjunction with the release of captive bred or captive reared birds.Since their reintroduction into their natural habitat, their natural diet of birds, lizards, beetles and grasshoppers has been supplemented by mice.

Pink Pigeon

The Pink Pigeon was widely distributed throughout Mauritius. Subfossil remains from Mare aux Songes confirm that they were also found in the lowlands. By the 19th century Pink Pigeons were confined to the upland forest and its distribution had become heavily fragmented by the early 1900’s.

The destruction of native forests on a massive scale, the persecution of pigeons and the introduction of a staggering list of mammalian predators have all contributed to the decline of the Pink Pigeon. By the 1950’s there were thought to be only 40 to 60 Pink Pigeons left. By the late 1960’s the Pink Pigeon was confined to the upland forests of the Black River Gorges, Macchabée and Brise Fer ridges. The main reasons for the decline of the Pink Pigeon population have been habitat loss in favour of economic development and degradation caused by invasive exotic weed species, primarily Chinese Guava Psidium cattleianum and the privet Ligustrum robustum var. walkeri. These invade and choke the forest, thus preventing the regeneration of native plant species.

Pink Pigeons are perfectly adapted for foraging on fruits and leaves at the ends of the long, thin branches of native trees. Pink Pigeons also forage on the ground where they turn over leaf litter to pick up leaf fragments, pieces of grit, soil and fallen seeds.

The Pink Pigeon will continue to require supplementary feeding, disease and predator management. Over the longer term, large restored forest areas will have to be created.

The Dodo

Dodos were descendents of a type of pigeon which settled in Mauritius over 4 million years ago. With no predators to attack them, they lost their need and ability to fly. They lived and nested on the ground and ate fruits that had fallen from trees.

Weighing up to 50 pounds, the dodo was a good source of fresh meat for the sailors.

Later, when the Dutch used the island as a penal colony, pigs and monkeys were brought to the island. Many of the ships that came to Mauritius also had uninvited rats aboard, some of which escaped onto the island. Before humans and other mammals arrive the dodo had no fear of predators, however with the introduction of rats, pigs and monkeys the dodo eggs in the ground nests were eaten by them.

The combination of human exploitation and introduced species dramatically reduced the dodo population. Within 100 years of the arrival of humans on Mauritius, the once abundant dodo became a rare bird. The last one was killed in 1681.

Conservation of rare birds

There are some rare birds which are protected under the Captive Breeding Programme. These are:

• Mauritius Kestrel

• Pink Pigeon

• Echo Parakeet

There are also aviaries containing birds and fruit bats.