The third largest island of the granitic group of the Seychelles has also kept its own endemic identity. Tourism and modern industry have affected its pristine environment.
The Paradise-flycatcher (fr.:'Gobe-mouche de Paradis'; Tersiphone Corvina) is a rare native bird to La Digue island. The males have a black plumage with elongated tail feathers, which the natives have nicknamed “la Veuve” (French for 'widow'). The females look very different. They are reddish-brown with white underparts and no long tail feathers. Being listed as a critically endangered species, the Royal Society for Nature Conservation (RSNC) decided to protect them in order to save these native birds. Consequently, the Seychelles National Parks Authority opened the Veuve Nature Reserve in 1982. “The Veuve Special Reserve is a special reserve for the protection of wildlife habitats and plant species. It is committed to providing a breeding and feeding habitat for the rare endemic bird species, the Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher (Tersiphone Corvina) population on La Digue. […] Badamier and Takamaka trees are the preferred tree species for nesting sites by the flycatchers”.
Originally, there were about 70 birds left. But today, due to its ongoing protection, the bird population
 |
| Tersiphone Corvina female & male |
is estimated to about 300. The Seychelles National Parks Authority has also taken a few birds to breed on another island and I did see one Black Paradise Flycatcher on a tree in the Vallée de Mai Park in Praslin island. The ranger I talked with at the Veuve Special Reserve was hopeful to be able to save the species. But as long as they are under 500, they will remain an endangered species.
This park entrance is free and with a bit of patience and silence, it is possible to see many paradise flycatchers. They are not particularly shy and one male actually flew just above my hair as I was watching a group of black Veuves courting a female!
The trails in the forest allow you to see many tropical trees such as the Takamaka tree (Calophyllum inophyllum) or the Badamier tree (Terminalia Catappa) also known as the Indian almond tree.
Christian Sorand
Illustrations:
 |
| Veuve Nature Reserve forest |
 |
| One of the Paradise flycatcher's favorite spot in the forest |
 |
| Black Paradise Flycatcher |
 |
| Another bird on a tree trunk |
 |
| A Bois blanc tree |
 |
| Takamaka tree |
Links:
No comments:
Post a Comment