Male Juan Fernández Firecrown. Photo: Peter Hodum

With help from American Bird Conservancy, biologists with the Juan Fernández Islands Conservancy (JFIC) have advanced efforts to save the Critically Endangered Juan Fernández Firecrown.

The global population of the firecrown, a beautiful red hummingbird, is restricted to a small part of a single island, Isla Robinson Crusoe, in the Juan Fernández Archipelago off the coast of Chile. The island’s remaining forested habitat has been degraded by the presence of invasive plants and loss of native vegetation; the firecrown’s survival has been further compromised by the spread of feral cats. The species is in such peril that it has been recognized by the Alliance for Zero Extinction as one of the top global conservation priorities.

Thanks to the efforts of JFIC, 23 firecrown pairs nested in 2008, with 16 of these successfully fledging young. JFIC has been engaging volunteers and island residents to remove invasive plants such as elm-leaf blackberry and maqui from key areas, and replant seedlings of native plants. This year, they have restored approximately 4 acres of habitat to benefit the firecrown. JFIC also began a pilot project in the Vaquería watershed to fence in certain areas as a way of better understanding firecrown habitat requirements and replanting techniques, as well as protecting and restoring native vegetation. Some 200 seedlings of native plants have been planted in these fenced-in enclosures.

JFIC has also developed a program to reduce the feral cat problem. Together with the local community, they have introduced a cat registration scheme on the island that will help identify pet cats and engage their owners in voluntary pet spay/neuter programs to help reduce feral populations. It is expected that 92% of cats on the island will have been sterilized by year’s end. In addition, JFIC has devoted considerable effort over the past year to outreach, training, and capacity building with the local community to empower them to participate actively in and support conservation measures on the island.

“It’s hard but rewarding work, and we are particularly encouraged by the level of participation by local residents,” said Erin Hagen, firecrown project leader for JFIC. “We have a long road ahead of us, but we believe that with continued effort, we can save this beautiful bird. We are grateful for the help we have received from American Bird Conservancy and other groups.”

The program has benefitted from some innovative fundraising help from the Clos La Chance Winery, which, in 2007, raised approximately $20,000 through the sale of its “Threatened Species” wine in conjunction with the Hummingbird Society. This year, the winery is raising funds for the Honduran Emerald, another species that ABC has been helping to save.