PI: Carmela Española
RA: Vince Angelo Gicaraya
Funding: DENR - FASPS, OBC
Location: Subic Watershed Forest Reserve, Zambales
To determine baseline information on the habitat and cavity preferences and nesting ecology of some of our cavity-nesting birds. Specifically, we aim to:
Determine nest-site and cavity preferences of cavity-nesting birds in SWFR.
Determine possible nest niche overlap.
Recommend forest management measures and conservation tools through the conduct of key informant interviews and review of existing policies.
The Green Racquet-tail (Prioniturus luconensis, GRT) and the Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis, BNP) are cavity-nesting frugivores endemic and near endemic to the Philippines, respectively. Due to deforestation and poaching, the once common GRT is now restricted to just the Northeast and West of Luzon (Española et al., 2013). The BNP, although found in other parts of the Philippines, have experienced range contractions in Luzon and is now restricted to Central (Polillo Islands) and West Luzon. Despite the threatened status of these birds, not much has been done to elucidate their breeding ecology. The Subic Watershed Forest Reserve in Western Luzon serves as one of two remaining strongholds of GRT and one of two for BNP in Luzon, making it a crucial site in sustaining key populations of both species. A combination of single rope climbing techniques, radio tagging, and camera trapping will be employed to obtain baseline information on these birds. Data on the breeding biology, nesting behavior, nest site and tree cavity selection that will be derived from this study will be used to inform forest management policies and habitat restoration/enrichment programs as well as develop species-specific conservation plans.