NATURE THE ART OF DISCOVERY 68 The island’s unique geographic location within the Mascarenes has led to the evolution of several endemic species found nowhere else in the world, such as the Pink Pigeon, Mauritius Kestrel and Echo Parakeet to name a few. It is a little-known fact to most however that Mauritius has seen several species extinctions; except for the dodo, which is now sadly famous for being one of the first living organisms lost by the hands of Man. Even today, the rich birdlife of Mauritius is still under threat from habitat destruction and degradation, invasive species and climate change. However, concerted conservation efforts initiated in the 80s and ongoing presently have yielded significant results, bringing several species back from the brink of extinction. In contrast to the dodo’s fate, the Mauritius Kestrel was saved from untimely demise and has since become a flagship species worldwide as an example of conservation success. From four birds left in the wild in 1974 to an estimated 300 individuals today, it stands to reason the Mauritius Kestrel is now the national bird of Mauritius and an iconic representative of the island. This status as a pioneer in species conservation has put the Republic of Mauritius on the conservation world map and as such, this Indian Ocean island state is a signatory to international treaties on the protection of wildlife such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Ramsar Convention. Several locations such as reserves or islets in Mauritius have been designated as Key Biodiversity Areas or Important Bird Areas for the protection of the endemic avian fauna, where conservation work is carried out day-to-day. A wide variety of birds, of all shapes and sizes can be found while exploring Mauritius, Rodrigues and their surrounding islets: from small, enchanting passerines such as the Mauritius Paradise Flycatcher to medium-sized birds like parakeets, pigeons and kestrels to the larger seabirds like the Red-tailed Tropicbird, the island offers enough to cater to everyone’s birdwatching interests. If you are lucky enough to find yourself in Mauritius during summer, birds will be easier to find as mating calls and displays will be in full swing. Exotic birds can be found almost everywhere in Mauritius, but endemic species can only be found in nature reserves. The Black River Gorges National Park, Bras d’Eau National Park, Rivulet Terre Rouge Estuary Bird Sanctuary and Ebony Forest are excellent spots for birdwatchers looking for our endemic species. “MAURITIUS IS A HOTSPOT FOR AVIAN ENTHUSIASTS.” After 16 years’ experience in Mauritian wildlife management gained at the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Dr Nicolas Zuël was appointed head of conservation at Ebony Forest Reserve Chamarel in May 2019, where he manages projects to restore and conserve the forest’s natural habitat. A passionate and renowned wildlife photographer, Jacques de Spéville published a bilingual reference book in 2014, Birds of Mauritius and Rodrigues, documenting the endemic, indigenous, migratory and exotic bird species that still inhabit Mauritius today.
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