The globally threatened (‘Vulnerable’) Saunders's Gull Larus saundersi has a small, declining population occupying highly-threatened habitats mainly along the coasts of China, the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The availability of recent count data from key non-breeding regions has provided an important opportunity to re-estimate the species’ population size and this is now believed to be a minimum of 14,400 birds, which is more than 70% higher than the mid-point of the current estimated range (7,100–9,600). However the apparent population increase is almost certainly due to increased survey effort. It is likely that the population is continuing to decline given the significant threats to habitats and high human disturbance levels occurring across the species’ range. There are increasing opportunities for coordinated counts of Saunders's Gulls along the Chinese coastline and these data, combined with those being collected annually from other parts of the non-breeding range, should allow improved population estimates to be obtained and the generation of much-needed population trend information.

The Puerto Rican Nightjar Caprimulgus noctitherus is a ‘Critically Endangered’ caprimulgid endemic to coastal dry and lower montane forests of southwest Puerto Rico. I studied nest habitat use of this nightjar at the Guánica Biosphere Reserve in southwestern Puerto Rico. Nightjar nests (n = 23) were located in evergreen and deciduous forest and were more common at elevations above 100 m. Nests were located from 2 m to 125 m into the forest from the nearest road or trail and were characterised by a deep layer of leaf litter, and an open midstorey beneath a closed canopy. Six of the 10 nests found in evergreen forest were located within abandoned mahogany (Sweetenia mahogany) plantations. Habitat structure and vegetation composition were quantified at each nightjar nest and an equivalent number of randomly selected sites. Four of 13 habitat variables differed significantly (P < 0.05) between nest and random sites and included: elevation, leaf litter biomass, midstorey stem density, and canopy closure. Stepwise logistic regression generated a best model describing nightjar nest habitat. Leaf litter biomass, midstorey stem density, and canopy closure correctly classified 77.3% of nightjar nests. Management of forest stands at higher elevations to promote nightjar nest habitat structure, protection of private lands in the periphery of the Guánica Biosphere Reserve, and acquisition of privately owned forest tracts in other portions of the nightjar's range will ensure the long-term persistence of the species.

We describe the breeding phenology and nesting habitat characteristics of San Andres Vireo Vireo caribaeus for the breeding season of 2004. Nest monitoring of colour marked individuals took place in three major vegetation types (dry scrubland, mangrove forest and dense forest) on San Andrés Island, Colombia. In all of them, vegetation structure variables were measured and compared using principal components analysis. A courting song was recorded and its sonograms are presented here. Nineteen nests were monitored between January and June, of which 80% were found in dry scrubland, 10% in mangrove forest and 10% in dense forest. Nesting stages were found to be similar in length to those known for other vireos. Nest construction took 6 ± 0.87 days (mean ± SD), clutch size was 2 ± 1 eggs (mean ± SD), incubation took 17 ± 2.47 days (mean ± SD), and nestling period was 9 ± 1.57 days (mean ± SD). Fourteen nestlings fledged from successful nests (53%) and post fledging care was sustained for 28 ± 4.17 days (mean ± SD). Vireo nests were found in sheltered dry areas, characterized by a thick cover of dead leaves on the ground (≤ 60%) and a low canopy height (mean = 5 m) but providing 60% cover over the nest. Nest trees were healthy plants and 75% of the nests hung from east-facing forked branches at a height of 0.73–2.0 m. Nesting trees were typically surrounded by 3-5 species of fleshy fruit plants fed to chicks. Conservation of the vireo would benefit from maintenance of traditional land use practices in dry scrubland on the island and protection or special management of some areas of this habitat should be considered.

Since their description in the first half of the 20th century by M. A. Carriker, Bolivian Recurvebill Simoxenops striatus and Yungas Antwren Myrmotherula grisea have been regarded as extremely poorly known endemics of the Bolivian Yungas and adjacent humid foothill forests. They are considered ‘Vulnerable’ under the IUCN criteria of small population, predicted population decline (criterion C2a) and, in the case of Bolivian Recurvebill, small extent of occurrence (criteria B1a+b). Here we summarise the information published to date and present extensive new data on the distribution (including the first records for extreme southeast Peru), natural history, population size and conservation status of both species based on field work in the Bolivian Andes over the past 12 years. Both species primarily inhabit the understorey of primary and mid-aged to older regenerating forest and regularly join mixed-species foraging flocks of insectivorous birds. Bolivian Recurvebill has a strong preference for Guadua bamboo, but it is not an obligate bamboo specialist and persists at often much lower densities in forests without Guadua. Yungas Antwren seems to have a preference for dense, structurally complex understorey, often with Chusquea bamboo. Both species are distributed much more continuously at altitudes of mostly 600–1,500 m, occupy a greater variety of forest types (wet, humid, semi-deciduous forest) and have a much greater population size than previously thought. Consequently, none of the IUCN criteria currently used to assign ‘Vulnerable’ status to both species actually apply, and we recommend them to be downlisted to ‘Near Threatened’.

In order to assess the potential value of differently managed cacao plantations for bird conservation on Sulawesi, we surveyed birds in near-primary forest (with limited timber and rattan extraction, and some hunting), cacao plantations with remnant forest trees and plantations lacking forest trees, from February to April 2007. A total of 16 50 x 50 m plots were visited twice and records of 87 species were obtained. Bird species richness and the number of endemics and forest specialists decreased along this gradient of forest conversion, with 20% of the forest specialists, among them 10 endemics, exclusively found in forest. Species composition changed dramatically between habitat types. Sørensen indices showed a similarity of species composition between forests and plantations of 45–60% for forest specialists and 65–71% for all species. The most important environmental variable for the diversity and composition of birds was the number of remnant rainforest trees present in the plantations. Our results suggest that large, undisturbed rainforest are most important for the conservation of forest specialists and endemics but that cacao plantations, if managed to maintain a high and diverse cover of forest trees, can harbour up to 60% of forest specialists and endemics.

Neotropical deciduous forests are threatened by anthropogenic activities and only a small area is protected against exploitation. In contrast to other Neotropical forest types, not much is known about the effect of habitat disturbance on deciduous forest bird communities. In the present study, we examine the effects of human disturbance on a deciduous forest bird community in the Andean foothills of Bolivia. Bird community composition was determined by means of point count surveys in three forest types, i.e. undisturbed deciduous and semi-deciduous forest, and disturbed forest habitat. Habitat disturbance was estimated indirectly by measuring vegetation structure variables in these forests. The effect of habitat disturbance was subsequently examined at bird community level (species richness, species abundance and diversity indices) and functional group level (habitat preference categories and foraging guild). Differences in community composition and reduced species abundance could clearly be related to habitat disturbance. However, results also indicated that sensitivity to disturbance varied among functional groups. Humid forest specialists showed the strongest response to habitat disturbance, predominantly bark-gleaning insectivores, canopy insectivores, understorey insectivores and ground-dwelling species, whereas dry forest specialists were not affected by disturbance. The present study suggests that anthropogenic disturbance negatively influenced the forest bird community in the investigated deciduous forest in Bolivia. This may indicate that conservation of both deciduous and semi-deciduous forest remnants is relevant for a diverse montane bird community in South America. Because various bird species typical of deciduous forests may also be able to survive in partly disturbed forests, conservation strategies should not only be focussed on the protection of pristine remnants but should also include secondary forest edge zones.

The ‘Critically Endangered’ Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi is believed to breed only on the island of Gau, Fiji, but its nesting grounds have yet to be located. Until a bird was captured in 1984, the species was known from only a single museum specimen (collected in 1855), one sighting on land (in 1965) and four unverified sightings at sea (1964–65). Local knowledge of the Fiji Petrel is restricted to a few lines of a traditional lullaby. In this paper we collate and review all records of the species, and examine all known attempts to locate nesting sites. Since 1985 there have been 15 reports of sightings on land and six at sea. Two additional specimens, both pre-breeding adults, have been obtained. Although our knowledge of this elusive species is slowly increasing, the timing of the breeding cycle remains uncertain, making the search for nesting sites particularly challenging. Known potential threats on Gau include predation by introduced cats, rats and pigs. We detail recent conservation efforts and prescribe some new initiatives, including the use of sniffer dogs. Locating the nesting grounds of the Fiji Petrel remains the prime conservation priority for this species.

The Yabelo–Mega region of southern Ethiopia's Borana region holds two threatened endemic and restricted-range species, the White-tailed Swallow Hirundo megaensis (‘Vulnerable’) and Ethiopian Bush-crow Zavattariornis stresemanni (‘Endangered’). Concern about these species’ conservation status has recently increased owing to rapid alterations to their thornbush savanna habitat. This six-week field study aimed to identify the specific habitat requirements of each species, with a view to understanding how they are likely to be affected by these changes, and to provide baseline quantitative abundance data using simple and repeatable methods. White-tailed Swallows were recorded on an overall 4.7% of transects and point counts, and in all habitats (including villages and farmland) except broadleaved Combretum–Terminalia woodland. Line transects indicated that swallows avoided dense scrub and tree cover, but this was not detected during point counts. Bush-crows were recorded on an overall 16.6% of transects and point counts, and like swallows showed a strong preference for thornbush (Acacia and Commiphora) over broadleaved woodland, avoided dense scrub cover, and were particularly frequent in the vicinity of villages. During point-counts, bush-crows were more frequently encountered inside the nominally protected Yabelo Sanctuary, whereas the reverse was true for White-tailed Swallows. Recent concern about dramatic declines in bush-crow numbers revealed by roadside counts may have been exacerbated by habitat alteration along roads alone, but the species remains under threat from habitat transformation through agricultural expansion, tree felling and bush encroachment.