An assessment on the status and distribution of endemic and threatened birds of Siquijor Island, Philippines

Abstract

An assessment on the status and distribution of endemic and threatened birds of Siquijor Island, Philippines: A progress report
This paper presents the results of an on-going study on the avifauna of Siquijor Island utilizing point counts, transect walks, and MacKinnon Lists with ethnobiological surveys. The study covered the four major forest patches remain-ing on Siquijor and was visited during October — December 2007. A total of 44 species were recorded. Four of the five endemic subspecies were confirmed, namely: Streak-breasted Bulbul (Ixos siquilorensis siquilorensis), Yellow-bellied Whistler (Pachycephala phillppensis siquijorensis), Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma best') and Everett's White-eye (Zosterops everetti siquliarensis). The Philippine Hanging-Parrot (Loriculus siquijorensis) was not sighted at all and is presumed to be extinct. Of all the threatened species known to inhabit the island in the past, only the Streak-breasted Bulbul was sighted; it was found in all sites with relative indices of abundance of 1.0 in Bandilaan, Canghaling, and Liloan; and 0.92 in Salagdoong. Bandilaan Natural Park .harbors the highest num-ber of bird species (35) followed by Canghaling (33), Liloan (28) and Salagdoong (20). Habitat destruction due to firewood extraction and slash-and-burn farming as well as hunting were the observed threats to the island's avifauna and its unique biodiversity.