Currently, renovation and thermal insulation of buildings is happening at a high rate in many European countries, driven in part by the political aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, building renovations often lead to a loss of structures, such as accessible cavities, on which synanthropic species, for example house-nesting birds, depend. In Germany, due to legislative regulations, it is a common practice to install nest-boxes as compensation for destroyed nest sites of birds. However, studies on the efficacy of such measures remain sparse. We monitored the occupancy of 477 compensatory nest-boxes for Common Swifts Apus apus, predominantly placed on renovated prefabricated buildings in a city in Germany. We found 24.3% of the boxes occupied by Swifts. On most buildings, the number of occupied boxes was as high as or even higher than the assumed number of breeding sites prior to renovation. Furthermore, in a district where nearly all buildings had been renovated in the past 10 years, we recorded a remarkably high density of Swifts breeding in nest-boxes. Using boosted regression trees, we analysed whether eight different nest-box properties influenced box occupation probability. The number of neighbouring boxes was the most important. Additionally, box age, facade orientation, city district, relative and absolute height, and manner of installation (external/internal) also played a role. Between different nest-box types, we found only negligible differences in occupation probability. Our findings suggest that installing nest-boxes is likely to be an appropriate measure to compensate for nesting sites of Swifts lost during building renovations. Based on our results, we recommend mounting the boxes a few metres apart from each other and close to the roof edge to maximise success. Further studies should be carried out to assess whether our results and conclusions can be confirmed in other situations.

The north-west European population of Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii declined by 38% between 1995 and 2010 and is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the European Red List of birds. Here, we combined information on food resources within the landscape with long-term data on swan numbers, habitat use, behaviour and two complementary measures of body condition, to examine whether changes in food type and availability have influenced the Bewick’s Swan’s use of their main wintering site in the UK, the Ouse Washes and surrounding fens. Maximum number of Bewick’s Swans rose from 620 in winter 1958/59 to a high of 7,491 in winter 2004/05, before falling to 1,073 birds in winter 2013/14. Between winters 1958/59 and 2014/15 the Ouse Washes supported between 0.5 and 37.9 % of the total population wintering in north-west Europe (mean ± 95 % CI = 18.1 ± 2.4 %). Swans fed on agricultural crops, shifting from post-harvest remains of root crops (e.g. sugar beet and potatoes) in November and December to winter-sown cereals (e.g. wheat) in January and February. Inter-annual variation in the area cultivated for these crops did not result in changes in the peak numbers of swans occurring on the Ouse Washes. Behavioural and body condition data indicated that food supplies on the Ouse Washes and surrounding fens remain adequate to allow the birds to gain and maintain good body condition throughout winter with no increase in foraging effort. Our findings suggest that the recent decline in numbers of Bewick’s Swans at this internationally important site was not linked to inadequate food resources.

Establishing a reserve of approximately 10,000 km at a strategic location in depto. La Paz, northern Bolivia, would create the planet's richest park for birds and presumably all other forest-dwelling biota that reach peak diversity at tropical latitudes. By connecting puna and montane forest habitats of the Andes with lowland tropical forest and savannas of the Amazon basin, we predict that the proposed reserve would contain at least 1,088 bird species, or roughly 11% of all bird species on the planet. Among these are many threatened species and species with relatively small geographical ranges. The proposed reserve would also include threatened habitats, such as lower montane forest, dry forest, and grassland.

El establecimiento de una reserva de aproximadamente 10.000 km en un lugar estratégico en el departamento de La Paz, Bolivia, crearía el parque de major riqueza de aves en el planeta. Así es de suponer que la flora y fauna que habitan en la área, llegan a su grado máximo de diversidad en las latitudes tropicales. Conectando puna, los hábitats de bosque tropical (áreas bajas) y sabanas de la cuenca del Amazonas, predecimos que la reserva que se propone tendría a lo menos 1.088 especies de aves, o aproximadamente 11% de todas las especies de aves del planeta. Dentro de estas hay muchas especies amenazadas y especies con áreas de rango geográfico muy restringido. Además la reserva que se propone también incluiría hábitats amenazados, como bosque montano, bosque seco y pajonales tropicales.

Little is known about Mexican Duck Anas diazi biology and populations. We analyse long-term (1960–2000) trends of Mexican Duck numbers in Mexico and employ contemporary count data (1991–2000) from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service midwinter surveys to identify key sites for conservation using a complementarity approach. The overall Mexican Duck population showed a significant long-term increase of 2.5% per year, with large fluctuations throughout the study period. The Northern highlands population increased at an annual rate of 7.7%, while the Central highlands population showed no significant long-term trend. During the last decade, counts in both the Northern and Central highlands exhibited no significant change. At the site level, significant long-term increases occurred in four localities in the Northern highlands (Laguna Bab�cora +13.9% annually, Laguna Bustillos +25.9%, Laguna Mexicanos +20.4% and Laguna Santiaguillo +16.9%) and in three localities in the Central highlands (Languillo +15.3% annually, Presa Solís +8.9%, Zacapu +13.4%). Two sites in the Central highlands showed significant declines, in the long term (Lago de Chapala, -5.2% per year) and during the last decade (Lerma, -11.8% per year). The Northern highlands held 16% and the Central highlands 84% of the Mexican Duck population in the period 1960–2000; during the last decade, these figures were 31% and 69%, respectively. A set of priority sites for conservation of the Mexican Duck was identified, consisting of 15 sites holding more than 70% of the midwinter Mexican Duck counts in Mexico. Ten sites from the priority set also qualify for designation as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, by holding ≥ 1% of the estimated population. Four of the priority sites are in the Northern highlands and 11 in the Central highlands, of which eight are distributed along the Rio Lerma drainage. The most urgent actions that need to be undertaken are to estimate the current minimum population size in Mexico; to establish a programme for monitoring populations in the priority sites, especially those located within the highly degraded Rio Lerma drainage; and to determine the most feasible management actions for the species, concentrating efforts around the priority sites.

Sustainable ecotourism requires careful management of human impacts on wildlife. Contrasting responses to the disturbance caused by ecotourism are observed across taxa and within species, because species and populations can differ in their tolerance to humans. However, the mechanisms by which tolerance develops remain unclear. Penguin colonies are popular tourist attractions. Although ecotourism increases public awareness and generates conservation income, it can also disturb penguins, raising concerns for threatened species such as the African Penguin Spheniscus demersus, whose populations are in rapid decline. We compared the tolerance of African Penguins to human disturbance across four colonies with contrasting histories of human exposure. Human approaches invoked the least response at colonies where human exposure was highest, suggesting increased human tolerance with increased exposure. The response to humans close to the nest also decreased more rapidly in highly exposed individuals within colonies. These results were consistent independent of breeding stage, and were repeated among colonies. Because the impacts of human disturbance, including temporary nest desertion, were greatest at the colony with least human exposure, human disturbance of breeding African Penguins potentially may be mitigated through increased levels of tolerance to humans, or displacement of shyer individuals, although this could not be assessed in the present study.

However, human exposure could significantly increase stress, impair reproduction and even reduce genetic diversity. Consequently, ecotourism must be managed carefully to minimize population level impacts, potentially by facilitating habituation in populations subject to non-threatening human disturbance, and maintaining some areas free of disturbance to allow shy individuals to breed.

Our study focused on the Taita White-eye Zosterops silvanus, one of three bird species endemic to the Taita Hill forests, south-east Kenya. Formerly considered Critically Endangered, Taita White-eye has been down-listed to Endangered following the findings of this study. Between November 1998 and September 1999 we counted this species along line transects to establish their current population status and distribution in its entire range. White-eye censuses were conducted in nine forest fragments of the Taita Hills and the virtually undisturbed Mt Kasigau forest. The total global population of Taita White-eyes was estimated to be c. 7,100 birds. Mt Kasigau was shown to be the species' main stronghold, maintaining a very high density (26 birds ha−1) and holding 80% (5,600 individuals) of the entire population. In the Taita Hills forests, densities were consistently higher in the small isolated fragments than in the large ones, though the former held only a small population (3% of total). At Mt Sagala, a large isolated block where indigenous trees have been largely replaced with exotic plantation, this species was not encountered. We found no evidence of interchange between the White-eye populations on Mt Kasigau and the Taita Hills forests, probably because of the separation by a low-altitude, dry woodland habitat barrier. While prioritization for conservation action should focus more on the Taita Hills forest fragments, Mt Kasigau should be treated as fragile ecosystem which holds a huge, apparently insular population of Taita White-eyes.

We studied nest-site selection and nesting success in the critically endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea throughout a breeding season in Manupeu-Tanadaru National Park, Sumba. Within a 6 km2 study area, which supported about 60 birds, cockatoos displayed disproportionate interest in cavities in trees containing other active nests, and cavities already actually occupied by parrots or owls. Actual nesting attempts were made at only eight cavities, and a single chick fledged. Interspecific interactions were observed at every one of these nests. Breeding activity was negatively correlated with monthly rainfall, which was the heaviest for at least 10 years, and it is possible that adverse weather conditions disrupted cockatoo nesting this season. Whether this is the case or not, our study shows how low reproductive output can be in the species and this has serious implications for survival of the population on Sumba.

In 2022, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus clade 2.3.4.4b became enzootic and caused mass mortality in Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis and other seabird species across north-western Europe. We present data on the characteristics of the spread of the virus between and within breeding colonies and the number of dead adult Sandwich Terns recorded at breeding sites throughout north-western Europe. Within two months of the first reported mortalities, 20,531 adult Sandwich Terns were found dead, which is >17% of the total north-western European breeding population. This is probably an under-representation of total mortality, as many carcasses are likely to have gone unnoticed and unreported. Within affected colonies, almost all chicks died. After the peak of the outbreak, in a colony established by late breeders, 25.7% of tested adults showed immunity to HPAI subtype H5. Removal of carcasses was associated with lower levels of mortality at affected colonies. More research on the sources and modes of transmission, incubation times, effective containment, and immunity is urgently needed to combat this major threat for colonial seabirds.

Tristan Albatross Diomedea [exulans] dabbenena is the most genetically distinct of the five taxa that form the Wan dering Albatross superspecies, and has been listed as Endangered. It breeds only on Gough and Inaccessible Islands in the Tristan da Cunha group, central South Atlantic Ocean. The entire breeding population was surveyed during 1999-2000. A mid-September survey at Gough Island recorded 1,129 chicks, equivalent to an annual breeding effort by approximately 1,500 pairs. Only one chick was present at Inaccessible Island in 1999, and another pair laid an egg in 2000. The annual breeding effort at this island has not exceeded three pairs since the 1950s. None were found during an incomplete survey at Tristan, where the species bred in the past, but birds were seen flying over the island. A complete survey and attempts to promote recolonization of Tristan are warranted. Breeding success at Gough Island averaged 63%, and no birds that bred successfully attempted to breed the following year. Breeding success was greater and less variable in a large colony at Gonydale than at a peripheral colony at Tafelkop. Young birds returned to the island after 3-4 years (4-5 years old), and the modal age of first breeding was 8 years, with some individuals breeding as young as 6 years. Most chicks (81%) recruited to their natal colony, but some recruited to colonies up to 3 km from their natal site. Among adults, fidelity to partners and breeding colony was high. Of nine birds recovered away from the island, at least four were killed by longline fishing. Despite its known mortality on longlines, the Gough Island census exceeded demipopulation estimates from the 1970s and early 1980s, possibly due to incomplete coverage by previous surveys and a poor breeding season in 1998. Given the lack of evidence for a population decrease, Tristan Albatross should be listed as Vulnerable. It is the third rarest albatross species, however, and its population size warrants monitoring. We provide guidelines for repeatable censuses at Gough Island.

Climate change is predicted to have serious impacts on the conservation status of numerous species of birds, particularly low-density, range-restricted species occupying narrow habitats. One such species is the globally “Endangered” Sokoke Scops Owl Otus ireneae that currently survives in just two or three small pockets of forest in coastal Kenya and north-eastern Tanzania. We assessed the potential impact of changes in future climate on this species using predictive niche modelling. Distributional data were obtained from various published and unpublished sources, and field surveys. Maximum Entropy (Maxent) was used to model the current distribution of Sokoke Scops Owl. A general circulation model was used to predict the distribution of this species in 2080. This scenario predicts a southward shift in the future distribution of this species in Kenya and a complete disappearance from the Usambara mountains in Tanzania, with a concomitant 64% reduction in areas of high environmental suitability. Considering the isolated nature of the forest fragments in which this owl survives and the sea of inhospitable human-modified habitat which surrounds these fragments, the future conservation prospects of this species are bleak. Close monitoring of the species is strongly recommended and potential conservation interventions are discussed.

Between October 1991 and February 1992 field surveys on the status of parrots in the North Moluccas were conducted on Obi, Bacan and Halmahera, with principal focus on three significantly traded species, White Cockatoo Cacatua alba, Chattering Lory Lorius garrulus and Violet-necked Lory Eos squamata. Variable circular plots and variable-distance line transects were used to estimate minimum and maximum population densities at each of 18 sites. C. alba and L. garrulus preferred forest, the former largely confined to lowlands to 600 m, the latter occurring more in hilly areas to at least 1,300 m. E. squamata frequented all habitat types, being commoner in disturbed habitats though rarer at higher altitudes. Minimum populations (the first two being global) were 50,000, 46,000 and 66,000 respectively, and minimum estimated captures in 1991 5,120, 9,600 and 2,850, indicating overexploitation of the first two species. To ensure sustainability, total annual catch quotas should be reduced to 1,710, 810 and 1,590 respectively and allow for fair division between islands. Training, enforcement, monitoring, research and habitat conservation are all needed.

In the Karoo region of South Africa, eagles nesting on high voltage power pylons are responsible for frequent short-circuits or faults, which reduce the quality of commercial power supply and escalate costs to the country’s energy supplier, Eskom. Between 2002 and 2006 we conducted annual helicopter surveys of eagle nests on 1,400 km of power line and located 139 large nest structures, making up 96 eagle territories occupied by three species: Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus (66 pairs), Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii (13 pairs) and Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax (17 pairs), and detailed 357 pair-years of breeding activity, including 241 breeding attempts. Roost sites and active nests were associated with line faulting, and more so at particular pylon configurations. We developed a three-step management plan to reduce eagle-related faulting while still accommodating eagles on the power lines: (i) all (potentially) problematic nests were relocated from high-risk positions above the power conductors, to specially provided platforms placed below the conductors; (ii) perch deterrents were installed above the conductors on all nest pylons and on high-risk pylons up to 10 structures on both sides of each nest tower; and (iii) the welfare of the eagles was monitored before and after management. In this way, line faulting was reduced on actively managed lines by > 75%, with no obvious deleterious effects on the eagle population. The study revealed that: (i) power lines can support substantial breeding populations of threatened large raptors, (ii) these birds can be a source of commercially significant line faulting, and (iii) nest relocations and perch deterrents are effective in reducing faulting without negatively impacting eagle populations.

The distribution of Tahitian landbirds in the early twentieth century and at presented here together with maps. Three categories may be recognized: (1) species with a declining distribution owing to changes in habitats (Green-backed Heron), (2) stable or increased species, including local and earlier introduced species, and (3) newly introduced species (Zebra Dove, Red-vented Bulbul, Silvereye and Crimson-backed Tanager). Moreover, owing to their low population numbers, two species, the Pacific Pigeon and the Tahiti Monarch, are on the verge of extinction even if their distribution has not changed notably during this century.

Les repartitions des oiseaux terrestres reproducteurs de Tahiti, au début et à la fin du 20e siècle, sont présentées sous forme de cartes. Trois catégories d'espèces sont dis-tinguées: (1) espèce dont la répartition est en déclin a la suite des modifications d'habitats (Héron vert), (2) espèces stable ou en légère augmentation, chez qui on trouve des oiseaux locaux et des oiseaux introduits, et enfin (3) les espèces introduites durant le 20e siècle (Tourterelle striée, Bulbul à ventre rouge, Zosterops à poitrine grise et Tangara cramoisi). II apparaît que deux espèces, le Carpophage du Pacifique et le Monarque de Tahiti, sont aujourd'hui très menacées, même si leur répartition n'a pas régressé d'une façon significative.

Serra da Capivara National Park covers an area of about 1,300 km2 in south-eastern Piauí, north-eastern Brazil. The park's vegetation is the endemic caatinga, with a few remnants of semi-deciduous forest in some canyons. The area has a reasonable diversity of plants, with 615 catalogued species. Since 1986, 208 bird species have been observed in the park and its buffer zone, including 10 threatened or near-threatened species, plus two recently extinct in the area. Other species are regionally rare and have declined over parts of their distribution. The park also harbours several threatened mammals and caatinga endemics. Despite having been created in 1979 the park remains effectively unprotected and unmanaged. Current levels of poaching and habitat destruction prejudice the future of several species, including some that have already vanished from other parts of the caatinga.

O Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara abrange uma área de aproxidamamente 1,300 km2 no sudeste do Piauí, nordeste do Brasil. A vegetação do parque é a caatinga, com alguns enclaves de mata semi-decíua. A área possui uma razoável diversidade de plantas, com um total de 615 espécies já catalogadas. Desde 1986, um total de 208 espécies de aves foram observadas no parque e sua zona-tampão, incluindo 10 consideradas ameaçadas ou quase-ameaçadas, além de duas recentemente extintas na área. Outras espécies são regionalmente raras ou tern declinado em parte de sua área de distribuição. O parque também abriga diversos mamíferos ameaçados, e endemismos da caatinga. Apesar de ter sido criado em 1979, o parque ainda não foi consolidado e é pouco mais que um parque de papel. Com os presentes niveis de caça clandestina e destruição de habitats, diversas espécies se extinguirão, incluindo algumas já desapareddas de outras partes da caatinga.

Some 2,000 orphaned chicks of African Penguins Spheniscus demersus were hand-reared and released back into the wild on Robben and Dassen Islands following the Treasure oil spill in June 2000. Of these chicks, 1,787 were flipper banded. This paper reports on the subsequent survival rate and breeding success of those individuals seen on Robben Island from 2001–2006. Survival to breeding age and their subsequent breeding success of hand-reared chicks was no different from that of naturally-reared chicks. Over a four-year period, pairs where at least one partner was a hand-reared chick produced an average of more than 1.6 chicks per year. Combining the data on survival with that on breeding success indicates that 1,000 hand-reared chicks will produce around 1,220 chicks themselves over their lifetimes, making this a worthwhile conservation intervention.

A preliminary survey for Gurney's Pitta Pitta gurneyi was undertaken at five sites within the species' historical range in the Tanintharyi (Tenasserim) Division of Myanmar from 14 to 24 May 2003. During the surveys, Gurney's Pittas were heard and/or observed at four sites with a maximum of 10–12 pairs recorded at one site. Birds were encountered in logged primary and secondary forest below 100 m on flat ground, sometimes less than 10 m from forest edge. All encounters were within 2 km of the main trans-Tanintharyi highway. Landsat satellite imagery was used to map remaining lowland forests and Gurney's Pitta habitat in the Tanintharyi Division. Our analysis demonstrated that only 4,705 km2 of lowland forest remain with about 3,496 km2 in flat areas with slopes < 10°. On the basis of previously reported population densities, these habitats may support a population of 5,152–8,586 pairs. Much of the remaining habitat is restricted to small and fragmented patches < 1 km2 in area. The five largest patches have a total area of 1,431 km2 and range in size from 137 to 467 km2. This survey demonstrated that Gurney's Pitta still occurs within its historical range in Myanmar, although probably not at any of the historical collecting localities visited. The global population of Gurney's Pitta is at least 100% greater than the latest published estimate. This survey has also shown that the Gurney's Pitta population in southern Tanintharyi Division is under pressure from forest conversion to oil palm. Contrary to the situation in neighbouring Thailand, sufficient forest remains to establish landscape level protected areas covering a broad ecological continuum. Securing populations of Gurney's Pitta within either expanded or entirely new protected areas must be the best chance for the species and the Sundaic flora and fauna of which it is part.

Nest-site selection by the sympatric Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus and Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris was investigated in a lowland tropical forest in Arunachal Pradesh, north-east India during 1997–2000. Information on two nests of Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis in higher-elevation forests is also presented. All species nested in live trees of three tree genera, 83% (n = 36) in Tetrameles nudiflora, an emergent deciduous softwood, relatively common in lowland foothill forests. No difference was recorded in nest-tree species or nesting habitats of sympatric hornbills, but there were a few differences in structural characteristics of nest-trees. Cavity size was the main variable separating the three species. Great Hornbills used larger cavities while Oriental Pied Hornbills used smaller cavities closer to riverine areas. Nesting was attempted at 64% of known sites and successful fledging of chicks was 80% overall (n = 72 nests, pooled over 4 years). Nest-trees in disturbed habitats near human habitation were used but were often abandoned or unsuccessful and 50% of all nest-trees were inactive by the end of the study. Potential large nest-trees had a density of 5.9/ha, that of the two most used species was 1.3/ha, and minimum nest densities of all three species was about 1 pair/km2. Interference competition for nest-sites was not observed, despite similarity in nest-tree characteristics, low nest density and high loss of nest-trees. Nest-site availability may naturally limit hornbill populations in the area, and additional loss of nesting habitat to human activities may exacerbate limited availability of breeding sites.

This study examines the diets of four hornbill species (Bushy-crested Hornbill Anorrhinus galeritus, Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus, Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros and Helmeted Hornbill Buceros vigil) common within our 9 km2 study area in the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia. Line transects and opportunistic sampling were used over one year to collect feeding data, including the tree species and strata in which birds fed, diet items, fruit characteristics and tree crop size. Hornbills fed on 64 species. Figs, non-fig fruits and animals comprised 23.4% (n = 15 species) 51.6% (n = 33 species) and 25% (n = 16 species) of the diet, respectively. Although there was overlap among the diets of the four species, only B. rhinoceros and B. vigil had a statistically significant overlap, primarily due to high fig consumption by both species. B. vigil fed almost exclusively on figs (98.6% of the diet) and a small proportion of animals (1.4%) while 23.1% of the B. rhinoceros diet comprised non-fig fruits and animals (23.1%), with 76.9% figs. A. galeritus and A. undulatus had distinct diets with drupaceous, oily fruits comprising 66.7% and 64.4% of the diets, respectively. We found no significant relationship between the numbers of hornbills visiting fruiting trees and the characteristics of the fruit (weight, length and width). However, maximum crop sizes of diet species significantly influenced the number of feeding hornbills. Hornbill species also differed in the strata in which they fed. A. galeritus and B. rhinoceros were seen in the middle of the canopy 56% and 50.8% of the time, respectively while A. undulatus and B. vigil were observed more frequently in the upper canopy (50% and 74.3% of the time, respectively). The lower part of the canopy was used infrequently by all species. This study suggests that the four hornbill species in our study partition food resources by food type and/or feeding location.

The marshes of the Hongyuan-Ruoergai Plateau in northern Sichuan were visited between 27 May and 10 June 1991 to determine the status there of Black-necked Cranes Grus nigricollis, to investigate reports of threats to their habitat from peat-mining, and to consider options for a protected area for the cranes. Almost 80,000 ha of wetlands in Ruoergai County were surveyed, as well as some of the contiguous wetlands in northern Hongyuan County; 240 Black-necked Cranes and 24 active nests were located. Between 600 and 900 cranes were estimated to be present on the plateau, making this the most important breeding and summering area for the species hitherto known. Neither peatmining nor hunting was judged to pose a threat to the cranes. The principal threat is drainage of habitat for pastureland: overgrazing by domestic livestock is a serious problem on the grasslands, and some drainage of bogs has already occurred in an attempt to increase the area of grazing land. The establishment of a large “crane conservation area” has been proposed, in which there would be no restrictions on the traditional activities of the local tribespeople, but where large-scale drainage, peat-mining and other development activities likely to have a negative impact on the wetlands would be prohibited.

Recent ornithological surveys of humid forest remnants in the Serra da Ouricana near Boa Nova, southern Bahia, Brazil, revealed the existence of an as yet unnoticed montane Atlantic forest avifauna. Among the 220 species recorded, 27 represent range extensions of several hundred kilometres, several others were preceded only by single or a few old, disputed records from Bahia, and at least two are undescribed taxa. A portion of this avifauna has been recorded in other mountainous areas of interior Bahia (Chapada Diamantina, plateau of Maracás), where a complex vegetation mosaic that includes patches of humid forest is found.

In addition to the two undescribed passerines, nine other threatened and thirteen near-threatened species have been recorded in the study area. Considered together with the adjoining and also highly endangered “mata-de-cipo”, forest habitats in the Boa Nova area are probably the most neglected habitats in Brazil concerning bird conservation.

Levantamentos ornitológicos recentemente feitos em remanescentes florestais úmidos na Serra da Ouricana perto de Boa Nova, sul da Bahia, Brasil, revelaram a existência nessa região de uma avifauna montícola da mata Atlântica. Entre as 220 espécies registradas, estão 27 que tiveram sua área de distribuição estendida por centenas de quilômetros, muitas outras conhecidas da Bahia apenas através de registros antigos e contestados, além de ao menos duas aves não descritas. Parte dessa avifauna foi também registrada em outras áreas montanhosas do interior da Bahia (Chapada Diamantina, Chapadão Maracás), onde se encontra um complexo mosaico de vegetação que inclui manchas de floresta úmida. Além dos dois pássaros não descritos, outras nove espécies ameaçadas e treze quase-ameaçadas foram registradas na área de estudo. Considerando-se em conjunto essa área com a vizinha “mata-de-cipo”, também muito ameaçada, pode-se dizer que os ambientes florestais na região de Boa Nova são os hábitats mais negligenciados em relação à conservação de aves no Brasil.