Seychelles White-eye

Mahe Island White-eye, above

The Mahe Island White-eye ( Zosterops modestus ), also known as the Seychelles White-eye, a rare warbler -like songbird of the family of white-eyes is ( Zosteropidae ). It is endemic to the Seychelles.

Description

This 10-11 cm bird has a plumage with a olivgrauen top and a pale colored underside. It is further characterized by a white, narrow eye ring, in a rather long, dark gray tail and a small sharp beak.

Way of life

Its diet consists of insect larvae, locusts and grasshoppers, as well as berries and seeds. The breeding season is from September to April and in the cup-shaped nest two to seven eggs are laid. The incubation period is 13-15 days and the young fledge after 11 to 16 days. Then they are cared for another two months by the parents. His melodic and complex song consists of nasal sounds. Due to its way of life in the canopy of tall trees it is difficult to observe.

Endangering

The Mahe Island White-eye was 1935-1960 to be extinct until it was rediscovered in the highlands of Mahé. In 1996 he was a known population of 25 to 35 individuals as one of the rarest birds in the world. This dramatic decrease was mainly due to the clearing of forests, due to competition from imported birds such as the Common Myna and rats. 1997 about 250 copies were rediscovered the Seychelles on the Conception. In 1998, the stock on Mahé was again increased to 50. Today the population is at Conception 244-336 copies. In the years 2001 and 2003 a reintroduction campaign was launched on Fregate. On this island is now home to a population of 60 birds.