This species has an extremely small range confined to mixed tree-fern forest on one small island, where recent surveys have shown it to have an extremely small population. In 1859 Sclater, the famous zoologist wrote in the Ibis, the magazine of the British Ornithologists’ Union: “Oxyurus masafuerae seems to be restricted to the island of […]
Category: Passeriformes
Rarest birds in the World: Pohnpei Mountain Starling (Aplonis pelzelni)
This species has only been observed once in the last 50 years (in 1995), and it has declined drastically since 1930, possibly through habitat loss, hunting and predation by introduced rats. However, it may remain extant since there have also been a number of unconfirmed reports, and further intensive surveys are required. Any remaining population […]
The White-breasted Thrasher or a golf course
The White-breasted Thrasher (Ramphocinclus brachyurus) is endemic to the coastal dry forests of St. Lucia, and is currently restricted in its range to two areas along the eastern coast. Recent population estimates from researchers working on this species put the global population around 1,500 birds. Based on recent surveys, it is believed nearly three-fourths of […]
The Yellow-billed Cotinga Sanctuary in Costa Rica
American Bird Conservancy and Osa Conservation have recently secured a key 11.8 ha (29.1 acres) property on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula for the IUCN Endanged Yellow-billed Cotinga. The property, now known as the Yellow-billed Cotinga Sanctuary is located near the town of Rincon on the eastern side of the Peninsula, and on the western shores […]
Rarest birds in the World: Taita Apalis (Apalis fuscigularis)
This species is endemic to the tiny, fragmented forests of the Taita Hills, where it occurs in only four remnant patches, totalling less than 150 ha in area, on a single massif. It is also found in a larger patch of lesser disturbed forest on the adjacent massif of Mbololo. The Taita Hills are a […]
Rarest birds in the World: Nightingale Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus luscinius)
This species qualifies as Critically Endangered because the very rapid rate of decline is expected to increase owing to habitat loss and degradation. This is combined with the impact of introduced predators including brown tree snake on Saipan. It is a 18 cm large, scruffy-looking warbler with long bill and erect head feathers when singing. […]
The Story of the Swallow and Holy Mother Sunday
In this tale the swallow was originally a servant of Holy Sunday. Holy Sunday, going to church, told her servant, whom she had left at home, that she was to prepare the dinner for her, and that she should take care that it should neither be too hot nor too cold, but just as she […]
The Story of the Young Maiden and her Husband the Demon
Once upon a time there was a widow who had one only child. She had a flock of sheep and a magic dog. The widow died, and the girl was left quite alone. So she took the flock of sheep and went to feed them in the mountain, accompanied only by her faithful little dog. […]
The Story of the Sparrow and the Oak Tree
The people regard the sparrow as one of the greatest pests, for he eats up the seeds and the crops. The people believe that the sparrows reach an age of over nine hundred years, and they tell the following tale about it. In a clearing of a huge oak forest, there grew up a tiny […]
The Story of the Princess and her Love for the Sun
A very long time ago, so long indeed that no one can remember when it happened, there lived a king and queen. They had everything which their heart desired, except that they had no children. They were good and charitable people, and distributed alms and prayed, but all in vain. At last, when they had […]