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Post by sebbe67 on Dec 10, 2006 18:25:05 GMT
The Mocker of Cozumel surely disappeared. A team of researchers, financed by American Bird Conservancy (ABC), did not find a conclusive proof of the survival of the Mocker of Cozumel (Toxostoma guttatum) on the island of Cozumel, located close of the coasts of the Peninsula of Yucatán at Mexico: these results leave think that the species disappeared. However, twenty years ago, this bird was common and easy to observe (initial population estimated at 10 000 birds), but the introduced hurricanes and the predatory ones, like the Boa constrictor and the cat, decimated the species. After the Gilbert hurricane, of category 5 and which devastated the island in 1988, only one or two sporadic observations could have been made. In 2004, a team also financed by the ABC had located only one bird. Since, two hurricanes of category 4 struck Cozumel, and a good part of the forest cover was destroyed. Nevertheless, some birds could remain. The Island shelters also two species (Viréo de Cozumel and the Troglodyte of Cozumel) and 15 subspecies endemic
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Post by sebbe67 on Dec 10, 2006 18:25:47 GMT
Hopes Fade for the Survival of the Cozumel Thrasher
A team of researchers, sponsored by American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has failed to find conclusive evidence of any Cozumel Thrashers on the island of Cozumel, off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, leading to fears that the species may be extinct. Just twenty years ago, the Cozumel Thrasher was common and easily found, but storms and introduced predators, such as cats and boa constrictors, decimated the species. Following Hurricane Gilbert, a Category Five storm that devastated the island in 1988, only one or two sporadic sightings were made.
In 2004, an ABC-sponsored research team located a single bird. Since then, however, two Category Four hurricanes have hit Cozumel and much of the island’s forest cover was demolished. Nevertheless, remnant populations may persist. The Island also holds two other endemic species and 15 endemic subspecies, including the rare Cozumel Great Curassow and Cozumel Roadside Hawk, which were glimpsed during the 2006 survey. Contact: Paul Salaman, American Bird Conservancy, 540/253-5780,
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Post by sebbe67 on Dec 10, 2006 18:28:16 GMT
In my opinion its to soon to make any assumptions about the possily disapering again, the species havent been seen many times since its rediscovery and its known to be very rare/extremely hard to locate.
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Post by Melanie on Dec 21, 2006 17:00:22 GMT
Well, given the fact that only one bird was seen in 2004 and large parts of its breeding habitat were destroyed in 2005 there is only a very weak hope that it is still exist.
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Post by another specialist on Dec 21, 2006 18:18:52 GMT
You have probably heard about the severe damages which where caused by Hurricanes Emily and Wilma on Cozumel in 2005. Given also the fact that the breed of the Cozumel Thrasher was also threatened by introduced Boa constrictors and that it was not seen during a survey in 2006 there is a possibility that it has gone again. -------- Hopes Fade for the Survival of the Cozumel Thrasher A team of researchers, sponsored by American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has failed to find conclusive evidence of any Cozumel Thrashers on the island of Cozumel, off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, leading to fears that the species may be extinct. Just twenty years ago, the Cozumel Thrasher was common and easily found, but storms and introduced predators, such as cats and boa constrictors, decimated the species. Following Hurricane Gilbert, a Category Five storm that devastated the island in 1988, only one or two sporadic sightings were made. In 2004, an ABC-sponsored research team located a single bird. Since then, however, two Category Four hurricanes have hit Cozumel and much of the island’s forest cover was demolished. Nevertheless, remnant populations may persist. The Island also holds two other endemic species and 15 endemic subspecies, including the rare Cozumel Great Curassow and Cozumel Roadside Hawk, which were glimpsed during the 2006 survey. Contact: Paul Salaman, American Bird Conservancy, 540/253-5780, psalaman@abcbirds.org www.surfbirds.com/sbirdsnews/archives/2006/12/hopes_fade_for.htmloikos.villanova.edu/cozumel/www.ornithomedia.com/infos/breves/breves_art1_32.htm |
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Post by another specialist on Dec 21, 2006 18:33:05 GMT
Experts find Mexico bird thought extinct The Associated Press 7/9/2004, 1:55 p.m. ET MEXICO CITY (AP) — A bird thought by some to be extinct has been discovered on the island of Cozumel off Mexico's Caribbean coast, conservationists announced Friday. The discovery of the Cozumel Thrasher was announced jointly by the American Bird Conservancy and Conservation International, both based in Washington, D.C. Gavin Shire of the American Bird Conservancy called it "a remarkable rediscovery" considering the bird hadn't been seen for 10 years. The thrasher is found only on Cozumel, where the species numbered about 10,000. Most of them apparently died following Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, the groups said. The Cozumel Thrasher is a brown and white bird about 9 inches long with a long, curved bill. The conservationists said its song "is described as a complex scratchy warbling." The conservation groups said the bird was spotted last month. They said they would send other teams to the area to try to find more of the birds. "This discovery is provides us with cause for real optimism that where one exists, others may exist as well," said Brad Phillips of Conservation International. Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Source: pennlive.com/newsflash/lateststories/index.ssf?/base/international-0/108937914240810.xml |
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Post by another specialist on Dec 21, 2006 18:33:40 GMT
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Post by another specialist on Dec 21, 2006 18:34:09 GMT
Conservationists report finding bird thought extinctMonday, July 12, 2004 Posted: 1502 GMT (2302 HKT) MEXICO CITY (AP) -- A bird thought by some to be extinct has been discovered on the island of Cozumel off Mexico's Caribbean coast, conservationists announced Friday.The discovery of the Cozumel Thrasher was announced jointly by the American Bird Conservancy and Conservation International, both based in Washington, D.C. Gavin Shire of the American Bird Conservancy called it "a remarkable rediscovery" considering the bird hadn't been seen for 10 years. The thrasher is found only on Cozumel, where the species numbered about 10,000. Most of them apparently died following Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, the groups said. The Cozumel Thrasher is a brown and white bird about 9 inches long with a long, curved bill. The conservationists said its song "is described as a complex scratchy warbling." The conservation groups said the bird was spotted last month. They said they would send other teams to the area to try to find more of the birds. "This discovery is provides us with cause for real optimism that where one exists, others may exist as well," said Brad Phillips of Conservation International.  The Cozumel Thrasher, shown here in an undated photo, hadn't been seen in a decade. Source CNN.com, edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/07/09/rare.bird.ap/index.html. |
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Post by another specialist on Dec 21, 2006 18:34:36 GMT
'Extinct' Bird Rediscovered In Mexico July 9, 2004 (Washington, DC) The Cozumel Thrasher (Toxostoma guttatum), a bird not seen or recorded by scientists for close to a decade and thought by some to have gone extinct, was sighted last month by a team of field biologists, American Bird Conservancy and Conservation International announced today. Its rediscovery immediately makes it the single most threatened bird in Mexico. The Cozumel Thrasher, an endemic bird found only on the island of Cozumel off the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, appears to have experienced a precipitous decline in 1988 after Hurricane Gilbert tore through the island. It immediately became rare, but small numbers of the bird were known to exist until it was last sighted in 1995. That same year, Hurricane Roxanne ripped through Cozumel and may have also contributed to the species' decline. Scientists estimate that as many as 10,000 once thrived on the island. Previous recent expeditions to find the Cozumel Thrasher proved futile. Last month, a team of field biologists working in conjunction with Villanova University and the Mexican counterpart of the Island Endemics Institute, spotted a single individual, confirming that the species was not yet extinct. The field biologists were on a rediscovery mission sponsored by American Bird Conservancy and Conservation International "This is terrific news for the species," said Dr. George Wallace, vice president for International Programs at American Bird Conservancy. "It opens a door to a range of possibilities that we hope will lead to the establishment of a protected area if more birds are found." The Cozumel Thrasher is a medium-sized (23 cm. long) bird, similar to a mockingbird. It is brown and white with a long, curved bill. Its upper parts are a rich chestnut-brown with two white wing-bars. It has a gray face, black bill and legs, and white underparts heavily streaked black. Its song is described as a complex scratchy warbling. "The rediscovery of the Cozumel Thrasher is a reminder of two key things: the importance of tropical islands for biodiversity conservation, and the importance of never giving up on a species - no matter how rare," said Dr. Russell Mittermeier, president of Conservation International. Although the hurricanes are believed to have had a major negative impact on the birds, scientists believe that other factors must have contributed to the decline, because the Cozumel Thrasher likely survived hurricanes for millennia. Introduced species, especially predatory boa constrictors introduced to the island in 1971 and now abundant, may also have had a disastrous effect. Fortunately, large tracts of deciduous and semi-deciduous forest, thought to be the species' preferred habitat, still remain, and the birds are not hunted or trapped for the pet trade. Formal protection and management of Cozumel's habitat could benefit other species on the island, including two other endemic bird species, fifteen endemic bird subspecies, and at least three endemic and threatened mammal species. The team will next try to determine the size and range of the population represented by this single bird, and then return next January, when the birds are known to sing more frequently, to attempt further surveys. To protect this and potentially other birds from disturbance, the exact location of the discovery is not being disclosed to the public. American Bird Conservancy is a not-for-profit organization concerned with the conservation of wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC is the only U.S.-based group dedicated solely to overcoming the greatest threats facing birds in the Western Hemisphere. For more information visit www.abcbirds.org. Conservation International (CI) applies innovations in science, economics, policy and community participation to protect the Earth's richest regions of plant and animal diversity in the hotspots, major tropical wilderness areas and key marine ecosystems. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., CI works in more than 40 countries on four continents. For more information about CI, visit www.conservation.org. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/07/040709081142.htm |
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Post by another specialist on Dec 21, 2006 18:34:59 GMT
HOPES FADE FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE COZUMEL THRASHER A team of researchers, led by Robert L. Curry from Villanova University and sponsored by American Bird Conservancy (ABC), has failed to find conclusive evidence of Cozumel Thrashers on the island of Cozumel, off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, leading to fears that the species may be extinct. Just twenty years ago, the Cozumel Thrasher was common and easily found, but storms and introduced predators, such as cats and boa constrictors, decimated the species. Following Hurricane Gilbert, a Category Five storm that devastated the island in 1988, only one or two sporadic sightings were made. In 2004, Curry’s research team located a single bird. Since then, however, two Category Four hurricanes have hit Cozumel and much of the island’s forest cover was decimated. Nevertheless, some individuals may persist. The Island also holds two other endemic species and 15 endemic subspecies, including the rare Cozumel Great Curassow and Cozumel Roadside Hawk, which were glimpsed during the 2006 survey. For more information contact: Paul Salaman, ABC, mailto:psalaman@abcbirds.org www.latangara.org/no63english.pdf |
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Post by another specialist on Dec 21, 2006 18:35:25 GMT
Thanks for the update above sebastian. This information is dated October - December 2006 so is more recent that all other entrys dating 2004 mainly so this species may now be extinct? May be worth starting a new thread titled with the species name in extinct birds. |
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Post by another specialist on Dec 21, 2006 18:35:57 GMT
In my opinion its to soon to make any assumptions about the possily disapering again, the species havent been seen many times since its rediscovery and its known to be very rare/extremely hard to locate. |
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Post by another specialist on Dec 21, 2006 18:38:56 GMT
All three threads merged into one.
No point having 1 in extinct, 1 in endangered and 1 in rediscovered.
Makes it confusing.
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Post by another specialist on Feb 6, 2007 22:40:59 GMT
'Extinct' bird rediscovered 09/07/2004 14:27 - (SA) An undated photo of the Cozumel Thrasher. (AP)  Mexico City - A bird thought by some to be extinct has been discovered on the island of Cozumel off Mexico's Caribbean coast, conservationists announced on Friday. The discovery of the Cozumel Thrasher was announced jointly by the American Bird Conservancy and Conservation International, both based in Washington, DC. Gavin Shire of the American Bird Conservancy called it "a remarkable rediscovery" considering the bird hadn't been seen for 10 years. The thrasher is found only on Cozumel, where the species numbered about 10 000. Most of them apparently died following Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, the groups said. The Cozumel Thrasher is a brown and white bird about 23 centimetres long with a long, curved bill. The conservationists said its song "is described as a complex scratchy warbling". The conservation groups said the bird was spotted last month. They said they would send other teams to the area to try to find more of the birds. "This discovery provides us with cause for real optimism that where one exists, others may exist as well," said Brad Phillips of Conservation International. |
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Post by sebbe67 on Mar 5, 2007 21:01:08 GMT
From someone which recently visited the Island. "I was on Cozumel in December, and briefly met a clearly knowledgeable and capable local site manager/birder - he assured me that C.Thrasher survives after all, but at only one known site, and it is almost impossible to see in winter anyway. He was insistent and confident that the Thrasher survives - but only just. The island is essentially a mess at present - terrible hurricane damage. We failed to see the Wren, as well." www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=73417 |
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Post by another specialist on Mar 5, 2007 21:42:28 GMT
So more verbal rumours/ talk of its existence but not really creditable proof to state that its still exist.
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Post by another specialist on Apr 26, 2008 11:36:23 GMT
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Post by another specialist on Apr 26, 2008 11:36:54 GMT
Conservation status of Toxostoma guttatum Critically Endangered Last definitive scientific record: June 1995, bird captured in mist net Reference: Macouzet F., T., and P. Escalante Pliego. 2001. Registros del Cuitlacoche de Cozumel Toxostoma guttatum posteriores al Huracán Gilberto. Cotinga 15: 32-33 Most recent credible sight record: April 2006, unconfirmed glimpse of single bird, at Cozumel Golf Club Other recent sightings: July 2004: single bird seen flying across primary highway north of Occidental Grand Cozumel resort and south of Playa San Francisco beach club June 2004: four sightings of what was believed to be a single bird, in general vicinity of San Gervasio ruins April 2004: unconfirmed sighting of single bird, in general vicinity of San Gervasio ruins December 2003: sighting of single bird, at Cozumel Golf Club; documented by video, but digital video file subsequently lost September 2003: unconfirmed sighting of single bird Reference: North American Birds 58(1):154 November 2001: unconfirmed sighting of single bird Reference: North American Birds 56(1):114 December 1998: confirmed sighting of single bird Reference: North American Birds 56(1):114 oikos.villanova.edu/cozumel/status.html |
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Post by another specialist on Apr 26, 2008 11:39:52 GMT
Additional thrasher sightings were reported in October and December of 2007. We carried field surveys in January 2008 but were unable to obtain confirmation of these reports. oikos.villanova.edu/cozumel/index.html |
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Post by another specialist on Apr 26, 2008 11:54:55 GMT
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