The Near-threatened Orinoco Goose Neochen jubata is a poorly known South American sheldgoose with a declining population and range distribution. In this study, we surveyed the Orinoco Goose population along the middle reaches of the Rio Juruá, western Brazilian Amazonia, and its first-order tributaries. We quantified the seasonal abundance of geese, pinpointed their approximate breeding season, and examined their habitat associations and the potential effects of human activities on their abundance. Hunting by local villagers was also monitored to assess the offtake rate of this species. Orinoco Goose occurrence in the region was highly seasonal and restricted to the dry season. We estimated a mean dry-season encounter rate of 7.18 ± 2.45 adult individuals per 4-km section along this river. Immature individuals were seen along the river margins from August to December. The species showed a strong preference for sandy beaches and was primarily restricted to the main river channel, with few individuals occurring along tributaries. The encounter rate of this species was also significantly related to fluvial distance from the municipal urban centre and to the level of protection from hunting. Hunting of Orinoco Goose was reported in 12 of the 26 villages monitored. The seasonal appearance of the Orinoco Goose in the region indicates that this is a migratory population. Our study indicates that strict protection of the river margins, and sandy beaches in particular, along the main river channel is likely to be positive for the conservation of this species along the Rio Juruá. However, further knowledge of migration routes is critical for effective protection of both breeding and non-breeding populations.

Many island endemics are of great conservation concern due to small range and population sizes. The Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi is a forest passerine endemic to the Caribbean island of Montserrat, where recent volcanic activity has destroyed a large proportion of suitable forest habitat. From 1997 to 2000 the Montserrat Oriole population declined dramatically even in the remaining forest habitat, leading to its classification as ‘Critically Endangered’. We present trend estimates of the Montserrat Oriole population from 2000 to 2013, and estimate the world population size in 2012 based on repeat point counts and beta-binomial mixture models. Montserrat Orioles recovered between 2003 and 2005, and we found no evidence for a continuing population decline. However, there was large uncertainty around trend estimates, and the power to detect a shallow negative trend was very low. Based on the comparison of count data at 42 points, the Montserrat Oriole population in 2013 was less than half as large as in 1998. To improve future trend estimates a new monitoring design was introduced in 2011, and applied to all subpopulations of the species in 2012. The world population in 2012 was estimated to hold between 307 (95% credible interval 212–503) and 690 birds (476–1131) birds in the two forest fragments on Montserrat, depending on whether the sampling area around each point count was assumed to encompass 100 m or 150 m. Based on these estimates, the Montserrat Oriole currently does not meet the IUCN criteria for ‘Critically Endangered’, and we recommend a revision of the species’ conservation status.

Pallas’s Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus (PFE) is sparsely distributed across a vast swathe of central, eastern and southern Asia, and is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ by IUCN on the basis of population size and reports of declines in many areas. Mongolia has long been considered a breeding stronghold for the species, but evidence to support this is unclear. Our objective was to assess the current distribution and status of the PFE in Mongolia to enable a more accurate assessment of the species’ conservation status, through collation of existing information from the historical literature, and a contemporary survey of historical sites and potential PFE breeding habitat. Thirty-four traceable locations were identified in the historical literature, of which breeding activity had been recorded in seven. Field surveys were conducted at a total of 77 sites throughout the study period (2005–2011) between April and October, including 21 of the historical PFE locations. PFE were observed at eight sites, all of which were historical PFEs locations, and no evidence of breeding activity was recorded. These findings suggest that Mongolia is not (and may never have been) a breeding stronghold for the PFE. The lack of eagles at 13 of 21 historical sites surveyed, coupled with a lack of sightings of birds at alternative locations is suggestive of a decline in site occupancy. Observations of juvenile eagles within one month of the spring thaw suggests that at least a proportion of Mongolian PFEs are breeding at southern latitudes, and future studies to establish these migratory linkages are warranted. These findings, coupled with evidence of declines in other parts of the PFE range indicate a need to re-evaluate the species’ conservation status, and in particular to determine the number of mature PFEs present in suitable habitat in the Indian Subcontinent and Myanmar between November and March.

The Red-fronted Macaw Ara rubrogenys is endemic to Bolivia, where it is listed as “Critically Endangered” due to its reduced population size and persisting threats. This species is known to breed exclusively on steep cliffs in arid inter-Andean valleys. However, during a survey of the whole distribution, we noted a previously overlooked population breeding in stands of the also endemic and globally endangered palm Parajubaea torallyi. We observed five adult pairs and confirmed at least three active nests. Nests were in holes 14–20 m above the ground in dead palms, at 2,580–2,700 m asl. The scarcity of breeding habitat and current nest poaching were identified as the major threats for this population. This discovery broadens our understanding of the breeding ecology and widens the scope of action for the monitoring and conservation of the species.