Conservation measures providing food-rich habitats through agri-environment schemes (AES) have the potential to affect the demography and local abundance of species limited by food availability. The European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur is one of Europe’s fastest declining birds, with breeding season dietary changes coincident with a reduction in reproductive output suggesting food limitation during breeding. In this study we provided seed-rich habitats at six intervention sites over a 4-year period and tested for impacts of the intervention on breeding success, ranging behaviour and the local abundance of territorial turtle doves. Nesting success and chick biometrics were unrelated to the local availability of seed-rich habitat or to the proximity of intervention plots. Nestling weight was higher close to human habitation consistent with an influence of anthropogenic supplementary food provision. Small home ranges were associated with a high proportion of non-farmed habitats, while large home ranges were more likely to contain seed-rich habitat suggesting that breeding doves were willing to travel further to utilize such habitat where available. Extensively managed grassland and intervention plot fields were selected by foraging turtle doves. A slower temporal decline in the abundance of breeding males on intervention sites probably reflects enhanced habitat suitability during territory settlement. Refining techniques to deliver sources of sown, natural, and supplementary seed that are plentiful, accessible, and parasite-free is likely to be crucial for the conservation of turtle doves.

Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis is considered Vulnerable to extinction as its native grassland habitat is converted to agricultural land. However, there are virtually no life history data available to allow the impact of these changes on the species to be assessed. Thirteen birds were radio-tracked during the breeding season on agricultural land near Dudwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh, northern India. The study area was dominated by sugar-cane fields, but also contained other crops and natural wet grassland. Home range size varied from 273 m2 to 2,687 m2 and was significantly correlated with tracking duration. We did not detect significant patterns in overall use of habitats at either the home-range level (P = 0.14) or at the radio-location level (P = 0.13). However, some individual habitats appeared to be used in proportions that differed from random expectations. At the home range level, birds appeared to favour tall sugar-cane and grassland whilst at the individual location level, grassland and wet areas were most used. Radio-tagged birds made six nests, of which only two hatched young. One was in an old sugar-cane field and the other on grassland. Although we did not detect statistical significance, we believe that developing an appropriate management regime for this species is so urgent that the results are sufficient to manage adaptively the species' habitat at least on an experimental scale. These data suggest that a matrix of habitats, including agricultural land, can supply the necessary components to satisfy the various requirements of Swamp Francolin. However, some natural grassland habitat associated with wet areas appears to be critical. The crucial challenge is to make sure that agricultural landscapes have these habitats present in the right proportions and spatial arrangements to support viable populations of Swamp Francolin.

The Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitiensis is a rare shorebird that breeds in western Alaska and winters on oceanic islands in the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean. Before human colonization, the islands on which curlews winter were devoid of terrestrial predators, allowing curlews to evolve a rapid moult during which about 50% of adults become flightless. Especially when flightless, these birds are vulnerable to harvest by humans and to predation by introduced mammals such as dogs and cats. On atolls where they are harvested by humans, curlews tend to occur only on uninhabited islets. Consequently, human encroachment in Oceania has probably reduced Bristle-thighed Curlew numbers and altered winter distribution of the species. Future studies should (1) identify concentrations of wintering curlews, focusing in the Tuamotu Archipelago; (2) determine whether migratory stopover sites exist in the central Pacific between Hawaii and the southern end of the wintering grounds; and (3) establish a monitoring programme to assess population trends in several parts of the winter range. A comprehensive plan is needed to provide for the existence of predator-free islands throughout key portions of the winter range.

Delimiting the distribution of a species is a complex task because many determining factors are difficult to assess in the field. This is important because distribution is a key factor in the decision-making process for conservation. One example is the Bearded Wood Partridge Dendrortyx barbatus, a species endemic to the temperate forests of the Sierra Madre Oriental (SMO) mountain range in Mexico. Lack of knowledge of its distribution has generated confusion over the assignment of the correct risk category. With the aim of predicting the distribution area of the Bearded Wood Partridge and contributing to strategies for its conservation, we updated and extended the knowledge of its distribution by modelling its ecological niche using GARP and MaxEnt algorithms. We also analysed its environmental distribution using principal components analysis, and contrasted the two most important environmental variables with the species’s distribution based on vegetation type. We found that the area potentially occupied by this species covers 17,956 km2 according to GARP and 12,974 km2 according to MaxEnt. We suggest that there is a biogeographic barrier which limits the distribution of this species in the southern part of its range. The abiotic variables that best explain its distribution are average annual precipitation and elevation, both of which coincide well with the distribution of cloud forest. A redefinition of the current range as recognised by IUCN is proposed along with the need to change its national risk category.

In March 1993, a survey of dry forest along the Río Machariapo, northern La Paz department, Bolivia, resulted in seven new bird species for the department, including some range extensions of several hundred kilometres: Coccyzus erythropthalmus, Otus guatemalae, Poecilurus scutatus, Formicivora melanogaster, Empidonax traillii alnorum, Nemosia pileata and Conirostrum speciosum. A probable new Herpsilochmus antwren was collected. These discoveries are of high conservation interest, especially as the La Paz - Cobija road is to be constructed through the Machariapo Valley, with work resuming in May 1993 and already very close to the head of the valley. Thus several new plant and bird taxa may be lost through deforestation even before they can be described.

Un estudio del bosque seco a lo largo del Río Machariapo en el norte del Departamento de La Paz, Bolivia, realizado en marzo de 1993, trajo como resultado el descubrimiento de siete nuevas especies de aves en este departamento, incluyendo algunas ampliaciones, de unos cien kilómetros, del área de distribución conocida: Coccyzus erythropthalmus, Otus guatemalae, Poecilurus scutatus, Formicivora melanogaster, Empidonax traillii alnorum, Nemosia pileata y Conirostrum speciosum. También se recolectó un Herpsilochmus sp. que es probablemente una nueva especie. Estos nuevas descubrimientos son de alto interés para la conservación, especialmente porque se está construyendo una carretera desde La Paz a Cobija por el Valle Machariapo. La construcción va a continuar en mayo de 1993 y actualmente esta se encuentra muy cerca del principio del valle. De esta manera nuevos taxa de plantas y aves podrian desaparecer a causa de deforestación, incluso antes de que se pudieran describir totalmente.

No published information is available on the foraging ecology and choice of feeding habitat of New Zealand’s rarest breeding bird: the New Zealand Fairy Tern (NZFT) Sternula nereis davisae. To address this gap, we conducted an assessment of the largest remaining breeding population at Mangawhai Harbour, Northland, New Zealand, during the chick-rearing period of the 2010/2011 breeding season. We combined visual tracking of birds with prey surveys and stable isotope analyses, and we present the first quantitative assessment of NZFT foraging. We recorded 405 foraging dives that show NZFT foraging habitat includes the water edges, shallow channels, and pools on the tidal flats of mangrove-lined (Avicennia marina var. resinifera) parts of the estuary; tidal pools on mud- and sandflats in the mid-estuary and lower harbour; the shallow margins of the dredged main channel in the lower harbour; the oxbow lagoons on the sand spit; and coastal shallows. Our study identifies the mangrove-lined highly tidal and shallow mid-estuary and the lagoon on the sand spit as foraging hotspots for the Mangawhai breeding population of the NZFT. The prey survey employed a seine-net sampling method at identified NZFT foraging sites and yielded 4,367 prey-sized fish of 11 species, two of which had not previously been reported in Mangawhai Harbour, as well as numerous shrimps. The most abundant fish were gobies of the genus Favonigobius. Our stable isotope results highlight gobies as the most important prey for NZFT chick rearing, also indicating that flounder Rhombosolea sp. contribute to NZFT diet. We raise the possibility that shrimps may also constitute a substantial diet component for NZFT, potentially providing up to 21% of diet mass for adult birds. While our results provide a first basis to understanding the feeding ecology of NZFT during their breeding season in order to facilitate conservation planning, further research is required to address inter-annual variation and to identify key foraging grounds for this Critically Endangered bird at other breeding sites.

Three different methods (visual detection on transects, call-playback and territory mapping) were used to estimate the densities of the White-breasted Mesite Mesitornis variegata in western Malagasy deciduous forest. The species is threatened and belongs o t an endemic family of uncertain affinities. The population in the Menabe region, central-west Madagascar, surveyed using call-playback (the most efficient survey method), is estimated at 3,000-19,000 individuals; that of Ankarafantsika, north-west Madagascar, 6,000-26,000 individuals. Other western populations may be relicts. The White-breasted Mesite occurs at highest densities and with highest productivity in logged forest near rivers in the south of its range and in undisturbed sand-forest in the north, and is present at low density or absent from some areas of apparently suitable habitat, as well as forest that is secondary or has been severely damaged by burning. It is probably not immediately at risk from rats, dogs or selective exploitation, but hunting and forest burning through accidental bushfires or clearance for agriculture are locally important threats.

Trois méthodes différentes (détection visuelle sur transect, réémission de chant, et délimitation du territoire) ont été utilisées pour faire des estimations de la densité de la Mésite Variée Mesitornis variegata dans la forêt sèche de l'ouest de Madagascar. L'espèce est considérée comme menacée et appartient à une famille endémique de relations obscures. La population dans la region du Menabe, centre-ouest Madagascar, estime avec la réémission de chant (la méthode la plus efficace) est entre 3,000-19,000; celle de l'Ankarafantsika, nord-ouest Madagascar, est entre 6,000-26,000. Les autres populations occidentales sont probablement des vestiges. L'habitat ou l'espece se trouve le plus commune est à côté des rivières dans la foret exploitée, dans la partie méridionale de son aire de distribution, et dans forêt intacte sur sable dans le partie septentrionale. L'espece parait etre absente dans d'autres régions, meme où l'habitat est similaire. Elle existe rarement ou pas du tout dans les forêts sécondaires ou brulees. Les rongeurs introduits et Sexploitation forestiere selective ne posent pas probablement un grand problème pour l'espece, mais la chasse et le defrîchement pour l'agriculture sont localement importante.

Ritenbenk/Innaq in Disko Bay is the only remaining Thick-billed Murre colony in central West Greenland. It has declined by 72% since 1980 and now (2012) holds c.1,100 breeding pairs. In 2005–2006 and 2011–2012, a number of studies were carried out in this colony to improve our understanding of the population decline and its causes. Hunting has previously been identified as a problem for the colony, but local breeding conditions have never been studied and the non-breeding distribution was known only from ringing. Our studies showed that breeding success was moderate to good in the Ritenbenk colony and apparently not limited by food availability. The impact of gull predation was more uncertain, but seemed limited in our study plot. In contrast, estimates of maximum sustainable harvest levels showed that hunting, including illegal activities, was and still is too high and probably can explain much of the population decline. It is puzzling though, that the steepest population decline was observed within the most recent decade when the harvest level was markedly reduced. This may indicate that something else besides hunting mortality affects the colony. The winter distribution of the Ritenbenk birds includes areas in the central North Atlantic, such as the waters around South Greenland, where conditions have been identified as potentially deteriorating due to pronounced oceanographic changes. The potential impact on the Ritenbenk colony, as well as other colonies in the North Atlantic, needs to be studied further.

Land bird abundances on Ngazidja, Comoro Islands, obtained by point counts in September 1985 and November–December 1989 are compared. The overall abundance of most species did not differ significantly. Most differences can be interpreted as normal within-year fluctuations. Some important changes are identified and attributed to shortterm vegetation changes: increase of Columba polleni, Coracopsis vasa, Zoonavena grandidieri, Coracina cinerea in Nioumbadjou after abandonment of forest exploitation; decrease of Coracina cinerea at M'Lima Mani North after replacement of the natural shrub layer by bananas. Genuine long-term population changes occur in Coracopsis nigra (increase) and Corvus albus (decrease).

The Near-threatened Orinoco Goose Neochen jubata is a poorly known South American sheldgoose with a declining population and range distribution. In this study, we surveyed the Orinoco Goose population along the middle reaches of the Rio Juruá, western Brazilian Amazonia, and its first-order tributaries. We quantified the seasonal abundance of geese, pinpointed their approximate breeding season, and examined their habitat associations and the potential effects of human activities on their abundance. Hunting by local villagers was also monitored to assess the offtake rate of this species. Orinoco Goose occurrence in the region was highly seasonal and restricted to the dry season. We estimated a mean dry-season encounter rate of 7.18 ± 2.45 adult individuals per 4-km section along this river. Immature individuals were seen along the river margins from August to December. The species showed a strong preference for sandy beaches and was primarily restricted to the main river channel, with few individuals occurring along tributaries. The encounter rate of this species was also significantly related to fluvial distance from the municipal urban centre and to the level of protection from hunting. Hunting of Orinoco Goose was reported in 12 of the 26 villages monitored. The seasonal appearance of the Orinoco Goose in the region indicates that this is a migratory population. Our study indicates that strict protection of the river margins, and sandy beaches in particular, along the main river channel is likely to be positive for the conservation of this species along the Rio Juruá. However, further knowledge of migration routes is critical for effective protection of both breeding and non-breeding populations.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are useful tools in ornithological studies. Importantly, though, UAV-caused disturbance has been noted to vary among species. This study evaluated guidelines for UAVs as a tool for researching geese. Twenty-four flocks of foraging geese were approached at an altitude of 50–100 m with a quadcopter UAV and disturbance effects were analysed across different horizontal distances between the UAV and the flocks. Geese were increasingly disturbed when approached by a UAV, with birds showing increased vigilance behaviour within approximately 300 m. Increasing UAV flight altitude as well as increasing take-off distance from the flocks both decreased the risk of bird flocks flushing. In conclusion, when monitoring geese using UAVs, flight altitudes of 100 m and take-off distances of ideally ∼500 m are recommended, to minimise initial disturbance and reducing the risk of birds flushing.

Habitat preferences of the Rufous-fronted Antthrush Formicarius rufifrons were studied along the Rio Tambopata in south-eastern Peru. All territories of this threatened species, endemic to lowland forests in the department of Madre de Dios, Peru, contained the near-juxtaposition of two distinct vegetation types: tall floodplain forest with shaded understorey, and more open, second-growth vegetation with a very dense layer of vegetation close to the ground. The latter habitat type was closely associated with disturbances, such as river erosion, tree falls, or human clearings. Two measures of antthrush density were calculated for the study area. A satellite photograph was used to identify appropriate habitat along the upper Rio Tambopata, and using the antthrush density figures, a population size of 100-500 pairs was estimated for this area. This estimate was then used to calculate a global population of 700-3,500 pairs. Approximately 207c of the global population occurs within currently protected areas. The habitat and diet of this species are discussed in relation to two othercongeners.

Las preferencias de hábitat de Formicarius rufifrons fueron estudiadas a lo largo del Tambopata en el sureste del Perú. Los territorios de esta amenazada especie, endémica de los bosques tropicales en el depto. de Madre de Dios, están compuestos por dos formaciones vegetales distintas: bosque alto de llanura y vegetación secundaria con un estrato inferior tupido. La vegetación secundaria se debe a los trastornos ecológicos, tales como la erosión fluvial, las caidas de árboles, y también a la tala de bosques. Los limites inferior y superior de densidad (tasa de población) fueron calculados en el área de estudio; los habitats apropriados se identificaron a lo largo del rio a través de imágenes de satélite y se pudo calcular un total de 100-500 parejas para la zona. Se empleó la tasa poblacional, entonces, para calcular la supuesta población global de 700-3,500 parejas. Hoy en dia, aproximadamente 20% de la población global de la especie ocurre dentro de áreas protegidas. Se trata, ademas, el hábitat y la dieta de F. rufifrons en relatión a dos especies congenéricas.

The accurate estimation of key demographic parameters is invaluable for making decisions about the management of endangered wildlife but such estimates are often difficult to obtain. Parameters such as species-specific apparent survival rates are an important component in understanding population ecology and informing management decisions. The Maui Parrotbill Pseudonestor xanthophrys is a ‘Critically Endangered’ Hawaiian honeycreeper endemic to the Island of Maui. We used an 18-year encounter history dataset comprising 146 marked individuals to estimate apparent survival between sexes and age classes (juvenile, adult). A difference in survival rates between sexes was strongly supported; 0.72 ± 0.04 for adult females and 0.82 ± 0.03 for adult males. This difference may be a reflection of either reproductive costs or additional risks of incubation and brooding, such as depredation. We also found support for age-biased survival, but limited information for juveniles did not provide a well-supported model fit for our data (juvenile survival = 0.17 ± 0.15; adults = 0.78 ± 0.02). However, apparent adult survival was similar to that of other Hawaiian passerines (mean 0.78 ± 0.03, n = 16). These results suggest that efforts to prevent the extinction of this species may benefit from future management strategies focused on increasing female survival such as predator reduction.

Establishing the specific habitat requirements of forest specialists in fragmented natural habitats is vital for their conservation. We used camera-trap surveys and microhabitat-scale covariates to assess the habitat requirements, probability of occupancy and detection of two terrestrial forest specialist species, the Orange Ground-thrush Geokichla gurneyi and the Lemon Dove Aplopelia larvata during the breeding and non-breeding seasons of 2018–2019 in selected Southern Mistbelt Forests of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A series of camera-trap surveys over 21 days were conducted in conjunction with surveys of microhabitat structural covariates. During the wet season, percentage of leaf litter cover, short grass cover, short herb cover, tall herb cover and saplings 0–2 m, stem density of trees 6–10 m and trees 16–20 m were significant structural covariates for influencing Lemon Dove occupancy. In the dry season, stem density of 2–5 m and 10–15 m trees, percentage tall herb cover, short herb cover and 0–2 m saplings were significant covariates influencing Lemon Dove occupancy. Stem density of trees 2–5 m and 11–15 m, percentage of short grass cover and short herb cover were important site covariates influencing Orange Ground-thrush occupancy in the wet season. Our study highlighted the importance of a diverse habitat structure for both forest species. A high density of tall/mature trees was an essential microhabitat covariate, particularly for sufficient cover and food for these ground-dwelling birds. Avian forest specialists play a vital role in providing ecosystem services perpetuating forest habitat functioning. Conservation of the natural heterogeneity of their habitat is integral to management plans to prevent the decline of such species.

Call counts of Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra were conducted in the Singhalila National Park, Darjeeling, India, for three years (1995–1997). Twenty-eight groups of calling birds were recorded in 1995, 19 in 1996 and 24 in 1997 with mean density estimates (groups/km2) of 6.19/km2, 4.52/km2 and 5.46/km2 respectively. During the three years, the number of calling groups varied only on one trail. Birds called early (04h45–05h00) and the calling frequency varied from 33% to 88%. Calling peaked in April and there were significant differences in the number of groups calling in April and May in 1995 and 1996. Adverse weather conditions and wind affected calling and the audibility of calls. During spring, the Satyr Tragopan was found to be associated with both open and closed habitats. The main possible threats to this species were grazing and tree lopping. Despite some shortcomings this survey method appears to be most suitable for monitoring Satyr Tragopan.

Chinese Grouse Bonasa sewerzowi is threatened by human activity, especially during the breeding season, in the Lianhuashan Mountains, Gansu Province, north-western China. We conducted a series of simulations on the viability of this population using the computer program VORTEX. The simulations suggested that the population had an extinction probability of 17% in 100 years using data gathered from current field work. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the predicted population trend was most sensitive to chick mortality, offspring per female per year, and adult male mortality. The first two parameters are correlated with human activity such as nest loss due to egg collecting by local people. When we set initial population size to the same size as carrying capacity, 2,500 individuals would constitute a minimum viable population (MVP). This would require a forest area of about 3,780 ha, which is smaller than the size of the Lianhuashan reserve, but the current population does not constitute an MVP due to the small initial population size. Furthermore, we found that if chick mortality declined by 5% or the number of offspring produced per female increased by 5% (i.e. reducing nest loss) under the current situation, local reserve size and current population would constitute an MVP. Therefore, the most practical and simple conservation management tool would be to increase the breeding success of Chinese Grouse, especially by limiting human activity during the incubation period.

The Brown-banded Antpitta was last recorded in the Central Andes of Colombia in 1942 but a population of the species has been rediscovered in the Ucumarí Regional Park.

Grallaria milleri era una especie conocida de solo diez especímenes colectados en dos localidades de la vertiente occidental de la Cordillera Central de Colombia. Nueve de los especímenes fueron colectados en la cuenca del Río Quindío, a elevaciones entre 2, 745 y 3,140 m, en 1911 y 1942. El décimo especimen fue colectado en 1918, a 3 km de la ciudad de Manizales. Durante trabajo ornitológico realizado en el Parque Regional Ucumarí desde 1994, individuos de esta especie han sido capturados en redes y observados, lo cual revela la presencia de una población en este sitio intermedio entre las dos localidades originales. El Parque Ucumarí tiene 4,240 ha y protege la cuenca alta del Río Otún entre 1,800 y 2,600 m. G. milleri ha sido registrada solamente en un estrecho rango entre 2,400 y 2,600 m, en donde se han contado 93 individuos a lo largo de 6.3 km de transectos en tres tipos de hábitat: rastrojos de regenración temprana, plantaciones de aliso (Alnus acuminata) y bosques de regeneratión de treinta años. En esta localidad G. milleri es simpátrica con otras cuatro especies de Grallaria (squamigera, nuchalis, ruficapilla y rufocinerea) y con Grallaricula nana, por lo cual Ucumarí es un sitio de gran interés para la conservatión de este grupo de aves neotropicales.

Globally, vultures are one of the most threatened of all groups of birds. European vulture populations are benefited by several anthropogenic food sources such as landfills. Current European Union directives aim to decrease the amount of organic matter dumped in landfills, reducing this important food source for some vulture species. In this context, we assessed the effect of the reduction of organic waste available and accessible for scavengers in a landfill on the visitation probability and abundance of a local Eurasian Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus population in Central Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula), using a long-term dataset of captured-marked-recaptured individuals in the period 2012–2018. Our results indicated a decrease in the visitation probability due to a significant reduction of organic matter dumped into the landfill after a waste treatment centre was built (0.82 to 0.76) that may cause a permanent emigration of vultures in response to food reduction. However, the estimated annual abundance of vultures tended to grow over time due to the positive trend that regional vulture populations have experienced in recent decades. These results suggest that population processes occurring at regional scales are more relevant to vulture populations than local waste management measures. A reduction in locally available food can make a site less attractive, but species with high dispersal capacity such as vultures may overcome this issue by moving to other suitable sites. Although Griffon Vultures obtain most of the food from domestic and wild ungulates, a regional application of European directives could threaten an important alternative feeding source, especially in food shortage seasons where landfills could be supporting the energetic requirements of the species. Conservation strategies should be planned to counteract the possible negative effects of new European directives on scavenger populations.

The Fennoscandian population of the Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus (LWfG) is on the verge of extinction and migrates from northern Fennoscandia to Greece on a regular seasonal basis. For the first time, diet selection was investigated during two years at Kerkini Lake, a wintering site in Greece. The relative use of LWfG’s feeding habitats was systematically recorded by visual observations of the LWfG flocks. Food availability was measured by the relative cover of available vegetation types while the diet composition was determined by the microhistological analysis of droppings. In addition, we determined crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin content of the most preferred plant species by LWfG and all vegetation categories that contributed to LWfG diet in the middle of the duration of their stay at Kerkini Lake and after their departure from the lake. LWfG feeding habitat was exclusively marshy grassland in water less than 5 cm deep up to 300–400 m away from the shore. LWfG selected a diverse number of plant species (33), however, grass made up the 58% of their diets. The most preferred plant species were Echinochloa crus-galli, Cyperus esculentus, Scirpus lacustris and Ranunculus sceleratus. LWfG departed from Kerkini Lake in mid-December to the Evros Delta (Thrace, eastern Greece), when either food availability falls in very low levels or flooding occurred in their main feeding habitat. Consequently, as long as food and habitat resources are available for LWfG, it is very likely that the birds will winter mainly at Kerkini Lake and not at the Evros Delta, which will contribute to further minimisation of the theoretical risk of accidental shooting of LWfG at the latter wintering habitat. Thus, future conservation actions should primarily focus on the grassland improvement at Kerkini Lake enhancing the availability of food resources for LWfG (mainly grasses) and the protection of the feeding habitat from flooding.

A review by Peterson (2006) claims that a new species-level taxonomy leads to improved conservation insights for Philippine birds. However, it does not report how borderline taxonomic cases were dealt with, how many taxa and specimens were examined, how closely the evaluations were made, why four key museums were omitted from the survey, and why certain taxa were omitted despite their presence in museums visited. It provides no conclusive or accurate diagnoses in more than 40% of taxa on the first two pages of the Appendix, and overlooks another 16% that have already achieved species-level recognition. It unjustifiably asserts that work was hampered by lack of material, and inappropriately calls for the collection of a highly threatened taxon. It employs one unstable diagnostic method but preaches the virtue of another, entirely different but equally unstable. All these shortcomings undermine confidence in the paper's rigour; and reference to the recent conservation literature shows that in any case no new conservation insights have resulted.