The release of critically endangered Mauritius fodies Foudia
              rubra into native lowland forest

Reintroductions are increasingly used in the recovery programmes of endangered species.
The Mauritius fody Foudia rubra population declined rapidly between 1975 and 1993
due to habitat destruction and nest predation by introduced rats and monkeys. The
species was thought to be dependent on reproductive success in a six hectare grove of the
introduced forestry tree Cryptomeria japonica. I investigated the techniques used in a
programme to establish a population of Mauritius fodies on Ile aux Aigrettes, a predator-
free offshore island.
The mainland population has stabilised at around 100 pairs with decreases in areas of
predominantly native vegetation and increases in pine plantations. Nesting success was
found to be similar in Cryptomeria and pine trees. Mauritius fody chicks could be hand
reared in captivity with a high probability of success and the species readily bred in
captivity when given sufficient space. Survival on Ile aux Aigrettes increased each year
and nesting success was similar to that in pine and Cryptomeria trees on the mainland.
Females used supplementary food heavily when feeding chicks and the number of
fledglings produced by pairs decreased with the distance of a territory from the
supplementary food stations. The song of the Mauritius fodies on Ile aux Aigrettes was
simpler than on the mainland and may have included elements of the song of the
introduced Madagascar fody.
The Mauritius fody release programme has greatly reduced the probability of species
extinction. Future research should focus on the differences in song between the island
and mainland populations, establishing native habitat refuges from nest predation on the
mainland and further releases on offshore islands. The techniques developed can be used
in future releases of endangered passerine species in Mauritius and worldwide.