New witch bird chicks are born in Galapagos; The bird’s population is very small on several islands of the archipelago

As part of an experimental project carried out by the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park (DPNG) and the Charles Darwin Foundation (FCD), in 2022 seven new witch bird chicks were born in a forest area of Scalesia pedunculata intervened by these institutions since 2018, in which scientists and park rangers implement actions to control two of the most threatening invasive bird species: the blackberry and the avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi).

These seven new witch-birds are encouraging news for the survival of this species, which at the beginning of the project only had 30 breeding pairs. In 2021 there were eight fledglings and in 2020 six were incorporated into the ecosystem thanks to the efforts invested by the DPNG and CDF in the area, which is considered the last refuge of the witch bird in Santa Cruz.

For the second consecutive year, individuals of the witch bird are born, an encouraging fact since the bird is in danger of extinction in the Galapagos

Almost all of the nests built this year were within managed areas, suggesting that birds prefer these areas that have been cleared of invasive species.

The witch bird, endemic to the Galapagos Islands, is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN (2022). Although some islands have stable populations, on others, such as Floreana or Santiago, this species has disappeared or decreased considerably in the last 20 years.

The area in the upper part, around the red granillo mine, is the last refuge of the witch bird in Santa Cruz. Historically, birds have had difficulty producing nestlings due to a variety of factors, including restricted access to their food sources, the dense walls of mulberry that the area is invaded by, and nestling mortality caused by vampire flies. avian and rats.

In response to this, the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park Directorate, with the support of the University of Vienna, developed an integrated management plan that includes habitat restoration and protection against larvae. Philornis downsi and other invasive species. This intensive work has been carried out since 2018.

Birth of six witch bird chicks brings hope to the species in Galapagos

“Encouragingly, this year we observed a pair of witch-birds in an area where the GPNG has just begun restoration of the Scalesia forest, near the Los Gemelos tourist site. This pair had two successful nests, which led to them becoming celebrities to many of the park rangers working on this project,” says Birgit Fessl, Principal Investigator of CDF’s Land Birds project. (YO)