Mauritius Paradise Flycatcher: A hidden gem of Mauritius
The Mauritius paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone desolata) is a passerine bird endemic to Mauritius and is one of the five extant species of forest-living passerines native to Mauritius. This small (c.11 gram) insectivorous, territorial passerine was previously considered similar to the sub-species found in Reunion Island, but molecular evidence has shown that they significantly diverge from each other.
This finding encouraged further research on this hidden gem that survives in some of Mauritius’s most degraded forested habitats. A monitoring and translocation program was initiated in 2014 involving local and international partners. The primary program’s goal was to contribute to the Mauritius paradise flycatcher’s conservation by increasing their range and numbers by re-establishing a self-sustaining population in a new area. This research opportunity was also an opportunity to unveil the mechanism behind this species survival in highly degraded habitats hence developing its own genetic story.
Additional Details
Webinar link - https://zoom.us/j/99061842877?pwd=SkFQbWFQc3lCeHE5SlQ0K3RaMDNhQT09
Meeting ID - 990 6184 2877
Passcode - 246186
Check my time zone - https://www.starts-at.com/e/?t=1900&d=2021-06-03&tz=Africa/Johannesburg
Event platform - zoom
Interaction
Ask the speakers anything you want about their topic. For webinars, due to the large numbers, it is best to place your questions in the chat so that the moderator can pick them up to ensure that they get answered by the speaker. Interaction is important!
Organizer
Véronique Couttee is from the tropical island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Her island is also where she started her journey as a conservation biologist and birder. Through a Fulbright scholarship, she left her small tropical paradise to embark on a master’s degree in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy at the University at Albany in New York. As a Dangermond Fellow based in upstate New York, she currently works on mapping solutions focusing on climate, coastal conservation, and bird-friendly communities. She creates a wide array of GIS tools that empower historically marginalized communities in outdoor spaces while addressing complex and transboundary environmental issues.