A highly endangered species of bird called the Bahama nuthatch (Sitta insularis) has been rediscovered by two international teams of ornithologists searching the island of Grand Bahama. The finding is significant because the species had been feared extinct following the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in 2016. But it is feared that there could only be two individuals left — placing the species on the verge of extinction.
The Bahama nuthatch (Sitta insularis). Image credit: Matthew Gardner, University of East Anglia.
The Bahama nuthatch is a species of nuthatch endemic to the pineyards of the Grand Bahama island. This bird has a long bill, a distinctive high-pitched squeaky call, and nests only in mature pine trees.
There had been a sharp decline in its population crashing from an estimated 1,800 in 2004 to just 23 being seen in a survey in 2007. The decline likely began in the 1950s due to habitat loss due to timber removal, and more recently due to hurricane damage, storm surges having killed large areas of native forest.
A team of ornithologists from the University of East Anglia, together with experts from Birdlife International and the Bahamas National Trust, set out on a three-month expedition to find this and other endemic Caribbean pine forest bird species.
Meanwhile a second team of scientists, led by Dr. Zeko McKenzie of the University of The Bahamas-North and supported by the American Bird Conservancy, also searched for the bird.
The researchers made nuthatch sightings in May 2018, and the University of East Anglia team was lucky enough to capture the elusive bird on film.
“The Bahama nuthatch is a critically endangered species, threatened by habitat destruction and degradation, invasive species, tourist developments, fires and hurricane damage,” said Dr. Diana Bell, from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia.
“We looked for the bird across 464 survey points in 34,000 hectares of pine forest. It must have been like looking for a needle in a hay stack. We played out a recording of the bird’s distinctive call in order to attract it.”
“As well as searching for the elusive bird, we also collected environmental data to better understand its habitat preferences and surveyed the extent of hurricane and fire damage.”
“We were the first to undertake such an exhaustive search through 700 km of forest on foot,” said University of East Anglia masters student Matthew Gardner.
“We had been scouring the forest for about six weeks, and had almost lost hope. At that point we’d walked about 400 km. Then, I suddenly heard its distinctive call and saw the unmistakable shape of a nuthatch descending towards me. I shouted with joy, I was ecstatic!”
The University of East Anglia team made six nuthatch sightings in total, and Dr. McKenzie’s team independently made five sightings, using different methods, in the same small area of forest — including a sighting of what they believe to be two birds together.
The Bahama nuthatch was spotted in a small area known as Lucaya Estates. During the research project, birds were seen and heard in three distinct but nearby locations within this area.
“Although the Bahama nuthatch has declined precipitously, we are encouraged by the engagement of conservation scientists who are now looking for ways to save and recover the species,” Dr. McKenzie said.
University of East Anglia researchers, however, are less optimistic as the exact drivers of the precipitous decline of the bird are still unclear.
“Sadly, we think that the chances of bringing this bird back from the brink of extinction are very slim — due to the very low numbers left, and because we are not sure of the precise drivers for its decline,” Dr. Bell said.
“But it is still absolutely crucial that conservation efforts in the native Caribbean pine forest do not lapse as it is such an important habitat for other endemic birds.”
