Zoo people help ensure survival of NMI birds

We all have heard about the Brown treesnake or BTS, the 28-SNAKE hotline, and the “Don’t give snakes a break” slogan. But why all the fuss about BTS? Consider the case of Guam, and you’ll understand why we don’t want BTS in the CNMI. Since the BTS was accidentally introduced to Guam in the 1940’s, the snakes have caused several million dollars of power outages annually, negatively impact public health (snake bites), and are responsible for the extinction of 10 of Guam’s 13 native forest birds.

After the BTS was introduced to Apra Harbor, Guam, it quickly spread over the entire island within 40 years. Experts believe that the BTS could colonize the entire island of Saipan within 10 years, since Saipan is approximately one quarter the size of Guam. After reviewing the BTS sighting and capture records for the CNMI (75 credible sighting and 13 documented captures over the past 22 years) environmental scientists believe that a small population of BTS exists on Saipan, but there are few enough snakes that they do not show up in our traps. Several programs in the Federal and CNMI Governments have been tasked to address this problem.

Remote islands such as the Marianas often host unique and endemic species, meaning that they are found nowhere else in the world. The CNMI has eight endemic forest bird species. For example, the Canario, or Golden White-eye, is only found on Saipan and Aguigan (Goat Island). The Tinian Monarch is only found on Tinian. Other species like the Mariana Swiftlet used to occur on Saipan, Tinian, Aguigan, and Rota but now only occur on Saipan and Aguiguan. Local extinctions are not uncommon, and if the BTS becomes established, we would lose our endemic species in a very short time. Therefore, the Division of Fish and Wildlife is taking steps to save our unique birds. Fortunately, a couple of factors are working in our favor. First, since the Marianas has other islands not currently infested with snakes, we have the opportunity to relocate our birds in order to save our biological heritage for future generations. Our northern islands typically only have about 4 species of birds, Collared Kingfisher, Micronesian Honeyeater, Micronesian Starling, and White-throated Ground Doves. All the other birds species found in the southern islands are absent. However, the habitat on those islands is similar enough to Saipan that it could support populations of our endemic southern birds.

Secondly, the extinction of endemic species is a problem faced by all island groups, and we can learn from experiences gained in similar projects in Guam, Hawaii, New Zealand and the Seychelles. Guam developed captive programs for two species of their birds (Guam Kingfisher and Guam Rail) that were facing certain extinction. These populations were taken into captivity and are being bred and raised as a source population so they can be reintroduced to Guam once the BTS problem is under control. The Guam Rail is now also being introduced on Rota in hopes of developing a wild population once again. Most importantly we want to begin working with our birds now while there are still genetically healthy populations. Most of the problems encountered in captive breeding programs in Guam and Hawaii is that they waited too long before taking endangered species into captivity. By then, only a handful of species were left. Without larger numbers of individuals, inbreeding becomes a problem. The work we do here will also serve as a model for other islands that face similar extinction problems.

Recently a dedicated group of professionals from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association came to Saipan to assist in establishing a captive breeding and translocation program for our native birds called the Mariana Avifauna Conservation Project. The group of zoos, including St. Louis Zoo, Louisville Zoo, Memphis Zoo, Honolulu Zoo and the Sedgewick Zoo These zoos raised their own money to help the CNMI save our unique bird species. During their three-week stay, the group captured 40 nosa (Saipan Bridled White-eye), 20 totot (Mariana Fruit Dove), and 13 paluman apaka. (White-throated Ground Dove). These birds were taken back to the zoos where zoo professionals will develop techniques to care for the birds in captivity and for captive breeding. It is the first time the nosa and the paluman apaka have been taken into captivity. This was the first year of what we hope will be many years of a great collaboration

One benefit of the project is education and awareness for mainland residents. When people see the birds in zoos, they also read about the project. They can learn about the Marianas and our BTS problem.

The main goal of the project, however, is to develop trapping, holding, and transporting techniques, and to establish protocols for the care and husbandry for these birds. That way, if they begin to disappear we will already know how to trap them, take care of them and even breed them so they can be released back into the wild if the BTS is ever eradicated. While we are developing these techniques we will also use them to translocate birds to the northern islands. This idea is not a new one. Ten years ago biologists from DFW began discussing relocation programs. But they found that the habitat in the northern islands had been severely degraded by feral goats and pigs, and would not support birds. Thanks to USFWS, DFW and the Navy, Sarigan is now free of feral animals and the forest is coming back. Anatahan is also almost free of feral animals and the forest will also be able to recover. Although the captive breeding program will benefit these birds in the short-term, the best chance they have for long-term survival is to live in the wild.

As a pilot study, a small number of nosa were released on Managaha. Managaha has a similar habitat and bird species to Sarigan, although it is much smaller. We can monitor the nosa on Managaha relatively easily to see how they adapt to their new environment so we can better understand what will be needed for the translocation to Sarigan. Stay tuned to this page for updates on the survival of the nosa on Managaha. (DFW)