Threatened bird species and globally important habitats in the tsunami zone

The following is a preliminary assessment of threatened bird species, Endemic Bird Areas and key habitats for threatened birds that might be affected by the tsunami:

Main area affected by tsunami

Endemic Bird Areas

• Andaman Islands Endemic Bird Area (EBA 125): Eight bird species are endemic to the Andaman Islands, and an additional four restricted-range species are shared with the Nicobar Islands. One of the endemic species is globally threatened, Narcondam Hornbill Aceros narcondami, which is confined to the tiny island of Narcondam (<7 km2). All of the restricted-range species are forest birds, and, given that most of the islands are hilly and these islands are several hundred kilometres from the epicentre of the earthquake, it is probably unlikely that these birds will be seriously affected. However, the status of Narcondam Hornbill needs to be quickly assessed, given the very small size of the island and its potential vulnerability. In addition, Andaman Teal Anas (gibberifrons) albogularis, endemic to the Andamans, is scarce and has recently declined, and is likely to have been affected by the tsunami because of its coastal distribution. This duck is usually treated as a subspecies of Sunda Teal Anas gibberifrons, but it has been proposed that it should be treated as a full species (this proposal is currently under review by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group).
• Nicobar Islands Endemic Bird Area (EBA 126): Five bird species are endemic to the Nicobar Islands, and an additional four restricted-range species are shared with the Andaman Islands. Three of the endemic species are globally threatened, Nicobar Sparrowhawk Accipiter butleri, Nicobar Megapode Megapodius nicobariensis and Nicobar Bulbul Hypsipetes nicobariensis; of these, Nicobar Megapode is of particular concern because the greatest concentrations are found in coastal forest. The other two endemic species, South Nicobar Serpent-eagle Spilornis klossi and Nicobar Parakeet Psittacula caniceps (both Near Threatened), are confined to the southern islands, and may have been affected because their ranges are very close to the epicentre of the earthquake. Surveys will be needed to assess the impact of the tsunami on these species.
• Enggano Endemic Bird Area (EBA 159): Two bird species are endemic to the small Indonesian island of Enggano, Enggano Scops-owl Otus enganensis and Enggano White-eye Zosterops salvadorii. Both are forest birds, and given that the island is hilly and it is several hundred kilometres from the epicentre of the earthquake, it is probably unlikely that they will be significantly affected.
• Simeulue Secondary Area (s105): One bird species is endemic to Simeulue Island, Simeulue Scops-owl Otus umbra, and another restricted-range species occurs, the globally threatened Silvery Wood-pigeon Columba argentina. Parts of this island are low-lying, and it lies close to the epicentre of the earthquake, so the forest habitat of these birds could have been significantly affected by the tsunami.
• Mentawai Islands Secondary Area (s106): One bird species is endemic to the Mentawai Islands, Mentawai Scops-owl Otus mentawi, and another restricted-range species occurs, the globally threatened Silvery Wood-pigeon Columba argentina. Parts of these islands are low-lying, and they are within a few hundred kilometres of the epicentre of the earthquake, so the forest habitat of these birds might have been affected by the tsunami.

Mark Edwards/BirdLife Brown-winged Kingfisher is a specialist mangrove species Zoom In

Key habitats for globally threatened birds

• Sundaic (or Sundaland) lowland forests: the lowland forests on the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Java and the Thai-Malayan Peninsula are one of the richest but most threatened habitats in the world. The lowland forests on Sumatra support 14 globally threatened bird species (including three forest waterbirds mentioned below). Although only limited areas of these forests are likely to have been directly damaged by the tsunami, it is possible that additional areas could be affected during the reconstruction process on Sumatra and associated islands.
• Mangrove forests: mangroves are the natural habitat along many of the coasts in the tsunami zone, although large areas have been cleared or degraded. High proportions of the global ranges of two near threatened mangrove specialist species, Brown-winged Kingfisher Pelargopsis amauropterus and Mangrove Pitta Pitta megarhyncha, are largely confined to the Indian Ocean coastlines affected by the tsunami. They may have suffered some direct mortality during the tsunami or through damage to their mangrove habitat.

Otto Pfister Spot-billed Pelicans nest in trees adjacent to wetlands Zoom In

Globally threatened birds

• The following globally threatened waterbird species occur in some of the wetlands affected by the tsunami – Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis, Milky Stork Mycteria cinerea, Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus, Spotted Greenshank Tringa guttifer, Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus and Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis.
• Three threatened waterbirds, Storm's Stork Ciconia stormi, White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata and Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata, occur in swamp forests (and sometimes mangroves) including at some localities near the coast.
• Two threatened seabirds occur in this part of the Indian Ocean, Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti and Christmas Island Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi, although these species are unlikely to have been affected.
• A few of the threatened waterbird species will have been nesting at the time of the tsunami, including Spot-billed Pelican on Sri Lanka, and it is possible that there will have been some mortality of chicks at their nesting colonies. Otherwise, although many wetlands will be somewhat changed in character by the tsunami, it appears unlikely that there will be significant negative effects on any of the species listed above.
• Indeed, some wetlands (including shrimp ponds and salt pans) might revert to more natural ecosystems, which could (at least in the short term) be of benefit to some waterbirds.
• Colonies of some nesting seabirds, for example terns and noddies in the Maldives, are likely to have suffered complete loss of chicks and eggs, and some nesting islands may be gone altogether, but these species are generally able to adapt to such losses and can be expected to re-nest or seek out new nesting sites.