A recent focus of the terrestrial conservation team has been the Príncipe Thrush (Turdus xanthorhynchus) – one of the rarest and most threatened birds on the island. During our recently completed project we gathered lots of new information about its biology and behaviour and conducted outreach and awareness raising activities to make the species a flagship for terrestrial conservation in Príncipe.

Two adult thrush observed building their nest on the Pico Príncipe trail, at an altitude of 311 m, on May 10, 2021.

The first footage of a Príncipe Thrush feeding on Andim - the fruit of the palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) - recorded in the Príncipe Natural Park.

Context:

Príncipe island is home to at least 8 bird species that occur nowhere else in the world. The Príncipe Thrush is the most threatened of these and is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to its limited distribution and tiny population, with as few as 250 adult individuals remaining.

A Conservation Action Plan for the species was first produced in 2014 but implementation was initially impeded by lack of funding and local capacity. Our project addressed key aspects of the first plan – such as gathering information about the thrush’s distribution and potential threats – and then updated the Action Plan for the period 2021-2025.

Main activities included:

Conducting questionnaires with forest users to better understand what they know about the Príncipe Thrush;
Development and implementation of a monitoring program for this species;
Field research to understand breeding habits and habitat use, using camera traps to assess threats;
Integration of the Príncipe Thrush ecological research in a master's thesis;
Environmental awareness and education actions in schools and local communities;
Review of the IUCN Red List status of the Thrush and provision of data for the assessment of other endemic bird species;
Update of the Príncipe Thrush Conservation Action Plan for the period 2021-2025