DISTRIBUTION STUDIES ON THE FOREST-LIVING NATIVE PASSERINES OF MAURITIUS

Of the six forest-living native passerines of Mauritius, Jive are larg ely restricted to native vegetation. These are the Mauritius cuckoo-sh rike Coracina typica, Mauritius black bulbul Hypsipetes olivaceus Masc arene paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone bourbonnensis, Mauritius olive w hite-eye Zosterops chloronothus and Mauritius fody Foudia rubra. Their distributions are concentrated on the escarpment south of the central plateau, and most species are absent from the forests near the east c oast. Populations in 1993 were of the order of 100-300 pairs for all J ive species. Since the last census in 1975, the cuckoo-shrike and blac k bulbul appear to have at least maintained numbers; the former may ha ve increased its population by expanding its range. The flycatcher, ol ive white-eye and fody have all declined more seriously than could hav e been expected from the fraction of their former area of occupancy de stroyed. Most species are restricted to a small fraction of the availa ble native habitat, because of nest predation and perhaps also reduced food supply, disease and, in the past, organochlorine pesticide use. Three habitat management strategies applicable to their long-term cons ervation are introduced. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.