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The status of the avifauna of Loru Protected Area, Santo, Vanuatu

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2010

Jennifer Bowen
Jennifer Bowen
Affiliation:
Fir Close, Tubney, Nr. Abingdon, Oxon. OX13 5QQ. U. K.
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Summary

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Loru Protected Area covers 220 ha and is situated on the east coast of Espiritu Santo, the largest island in the archipelago of Vanuatu. Despite its small size, 23 of the 64 breeding land and freshwater birds of Vanuatu were sighted in Loru and 10 of the 23 restricted-range species, including two Vulnerable, one Near-threatened and five species endemic to the archipelago. Transects were used to estimate the densities of populations which were either easy to see or had distinctive calls. Variable circular plots were also used to estimate density and to examine the relationship between bird populations and habitat. Plots were allocated to one of two categories, undisturbed, mature lowland forest or disturbed, secondary growth forest. Populations of three species differed significantly between the two habitats: Red Jungle Fowl Gallus gallus, Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis and Vanuatu Flycatcher Neolalage banksiana. All had higher densities in undisturbed forest. More protected areas need to be established on Santo and other islands in the archipelago to ensure the future survival of the Vanuatu avifauna.

Loru Protected Area s'étend sur 220 hectares sur la côte est d'Esprirtu Santo, la plus grande île de l'archipel de Vanuatu. Malgré sa petite taille, 23 des 64 oiseaux de terre et d'eau douce de Vanuatu ont été observés à Loru lors de la reproduction, ainsi que 10 des 23 espèces peu nombreuses, dont deux sont “Vulnerable”, une est “Near-threatened” et cinq sont endémiques à l'archipel. Des lignes imaginaires furent tracées pour estimer les densités de populations qui étaient faciles à voir ou qui avaient un cri distinctif. Différentes parcelles de terre circulaires furent aussi utilisées pour estimer la densité et examiner les relations entre les oiseaux et leur habitat. Les parcelles furent allouées à l'une des deux catégories suivantes, soit à la forêt de plaine intacte et adulte, soit à la forêt issue d'une deuxième pousse. Selon l'habitat, le nombre d'oiseaux recensé appartenant aux trois espèces: Coq Bankiva Gallus gallus, Siffleur d'Or Pachycephala pectoralis et Gobe-mouches de Vanuatu Neolalage banksiana, fut très différent. Toutes avaient une densité plus importante dans la forêt intacte. Il est nécessaire d'établir de plus grandes réserves sur l'île de Santo ainsi que sur d'autre îles de l'archipel afin d'assurer la survie des oiseaux de Vanuatu.

Loru Protected Area i kavremap 220 ha mo i stap klosap long solwota long is Santo, wan aelan we i moa big long ol narafala aelan blong Vanuatu. Loru i smol be hemi gat 23 blong 64 kin pijin we i stap long Vanuatu ol yea nomo, mo 10 blong 23 kin pijin blong Vanuatu we i gat plente long narafala kontri tu. Long ol pijin ia, tu kin i “Vulnerable” (numba blong hem i stap ko doan kwiktaem), wan i “Near-threatened” (i stap klosap long “Vulnerable”) mo faef i stap long Vanuatu nomo. Long ol pijin we i esi long lukluk o i singaot strong, i makem wan spesel sove blong rod blong bus long faenemaot hamas pijin i stap long wan eria. I stap makem wan narafala kin sove tu we man i stap kwaet long plente difren ples long faenemaot hamas pijin i stap mo wanem kin bus i likem. Evri ples we man i stap kwaet long sove ia, i givem spesel nem long wanem kin bus i stap: wan kin we ol bigfala wud i stap mo wan kin we man o hurican i spolem. I gat tri pijin wea ol i difren tumas long tu kin bus ia: Wael Faol Gallus gallus, Nosor (es Santo langwis) Pachycephala pectoralis mo Kowboe Pijin Neolalage banksiana. Long pijin ia i gat moa long kin bus we bigfala wud i stap. I nidim plente moa protected area long Santo mo ol narafala aelan blong Vanuatu sipos i no wantem lusen samfala pijin blong Vanuatu long fiuja.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bird Conservation International , Volume 7 , Issue 4 , December 1997 , pp. 331 - 344
Copyright
Copyright © Birdlife International 1997

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