STATUS OF THE MADAGASCAR FISH EAGLE HALIAEETUS-VOCIFEROIDES IN 1995

Surveys for the Madagascar Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides were con ducted each breeding season (May through October) from 1991 through 19 95 between Morondava and Antsiranana, western to northwestern Madagasc ar, to estimate the population size of this endangered species. Suitab le habitat including lakes, rivers, estuaries, mangroves, and marine i slands was searched and at least 222 adult Madagascar Fish Eagles were observed including 63 breeding pairs, 36 probable pairs, 24 single ad ults and 18 immature birds. Assuming that all probable pairs were bree ding, we estimated the Madagascar Fish Eagle breeding population was 9 9 pairs (95% confidence interval = 78 to 120) in the area searched. Th is estimate is about twice the number previously estimated in the peri od 1980-1985, due mainly, we believe, to our greater search effort, al though we cannot discount an increase in the breeding population. The number of breeding pairs has declined since 1985 in some localities, s uggesting a population decline or movement of pairs away from these si tes. We recommend annual monitoring of a random sample of known breedi ng pairs until causes for the species' rarity have been limited and no evidence of population decline is detected, followed by monitoring at least every five years until the species can be removed from the enda ngered list.