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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Bird Talk - Erika Gates
The Bahama Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla insularis) is the rarest bird in the Bahamas occurring only in the Caribbean Pineforest of Grand Bahama. It is threatened with extinction as only 1000 individuals are thought to survive, and these are at risk from accelerated development, invasive species (snakes, cats, raccoons) and storm damage. The sites where the Nuthatch occurs, called Important Bird Areas - due to their international importance for bird conservation – need protection if this unique Bahamian bird is to survive long-term.
James Bond, the famous West Indies ornithologist and actual namesake for Ian Fleming’s spy character, first described this bird in the 1930’s and believed that it was a subspecies of the Brown-headed Nuthatch of the United States. The term “subspecies” is not some derogatory term for a certain bird it simply means a bird does not differ enough in structural characteristics - like bill, color or even voice - to form a species of its own.
However, recent studies of this bird on Grand Bahama by Prof. William Hayes of Loma Linda University, California and Prof. Gary Slater of the Ecostudies Institute, Mount Vernon, Washington, suggest that the Bahama Nuthatch may actually be a full species. It can be distinguished from its continental form by its longer bill, shorter wings, whiter belly and a quite distinctive voice! These initial studies were funded through a grant from Grand Bahama Power Company who should be commended for its leadership in environmental stewardship.
The Bahama Nuthatch exhibits several highly unusual and endearing behaviors: It is one of the very few bird species that conducts co-operative breeding, in which young males assist with nest construction, nest sanitation as well as feeding of the female sitting on the eggs, nestlings and fledglings. It is also one of the few birds known to utilize a tool. On occasion, it uses a bark chip, held in its bill, to pry off bark portions during foraging for insects and grub.
The American Ornithologist’s Union, the official body that determines species status, recently released, however, that it would not make a change in the status of the Bahama Nuthatch and could not elevate it from subspecies to full species. The reason for this was insufficient studies and information to verify the preliminary findings.
Great excitement throughout the scientific community has accompanied the preliminary findings about the possible status of the Bahamas Nuthatch. If the little bird becomes a new species it will also be one of the world’s most threatened species. Yet, without a vigorous conservation effort, the Bahama Nuthatch could soon become extinct, and with it will vanish a unique and irreplaceable piece of nature!
Presently, scientist Hayes and Slater are in pursuit of additional funding for the research project by writing grant proposals for submission to the National Geographic Society and Disney Wildlife Conservation who have expressed an interest in studying the rare Bahama Nuthatch and its endangered Pineforest ecosystem.
Fortunately, hope remains for the Bahama Nuthatch and Prof. Hayes and Slater are optimistic that it can be saved. They have the expertise to learn about its population status and the quality of its habitat. They can help raise awareness for one of the rarest birds in the world and this Grand Bahama bird could become the high-profile symbol of conservation efforts – or their failure – in The Bahamas.
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