The incidental mortality of albatrosses Diomedeidae and petrels Procellariidae by longline fishing vessels, has been assessed and analysed in several areas of the globe. We provide the first direct estimates of incidental mortality rates of albatrosses and petrels along the Argentine Shelf and shelf break. The estimated by-catch rate for the whole period analysed (1999-2001) was 0.04 birds/1,000 hooks, with a maximum of 0.20 birds/1,000 hooks observed in 1999. Annual captures averaged 1,160 birds; however, the large variation observed indicates that annual by-catch may be in the order of thousands, with around 10,000 seabirds being killed by longliners through the study period. Most of the captures were observed along the Patagonian shelf break. At least 12 bird species were incidentally taken, with Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris and White-chinned Petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis accounting for about 80% of total captures. The information provided in this study allowed the design and future implementation of mitigation measures and new survey methods onboard longliners operating in Atlantic waters on the Argentine shelf.

The density and species richness of bird communities in disturbed and undisturbed stands of papyrus Cyperus papyrus were compared. Point counts, corrected for different probabilities of detection in different swamps, suggested that the species richness of bird communities in stands of papyrus disturbed by burning, grazing or pollution was higher than in nearby stands that were not disturbed. However, there were fewer species and individuals of highly specialized birds or species characteristic of papyrus, in disturbed stands than in undisturbed swamps. At < 1 ha-1, the density of Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius mufumbiri in Ugandan swamps was, for example, significantly lower in polluted and burnt sites than in undisturbed papyrus where up to 13 ha-1 were recorded in the centre of swamps. White-winged Swamp Warbler Bradypterus carpalis was only recorded in undisturbed papyrus. In the papyrus that fringes Lake Naivasha in Kenya, outside the geographical range of species restricted to papyrus, disturbance in the form of grazing selects against species classified as swamp-reliant. Species classified as generalist users of papyrus were much less sensitive to disturbance than specialists. The density of swamp specialists was also lower near the edge of swamps, where total species richness was higher. These results are discussed in relation to conservation management of papyrus swamps in East Africa.

Translocations of threatened species play an increasingly important role in conservation management. However, few studies have examined what effects, if any, the translocation process itself (i.e. catching, handling, confining, transferring and releasing an animal into an unfamiliar environment) has on subsequent breeding success. Takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri living on offshore “predator-free” islands in New Zealand are a model system for examining such effects because pre-breeding birds have been frequently translocated between established island populations before they pair up and breed at 2-3 years of age. We postulated that “translocated” breeders (i.e. breeders that had been raised on another island) would delay first breeding attempts and/or have lower reproductive success compared with “resident” birds (i.e. bred on the same island that they were raised). The results indicated that translocated birds did not delay breeding and had similar mean hatching and fledging success as resident pairs in their first breeding season and subsequent seasons combined. The results suggest that at least for large or long-lived birds such as Takahe, the effects of any stress from the translocation itself, or the release into an unfamiliar environment, might be either short-lived or not significant enough to hinder subsequent breeding success. We recommend that further research be carried out on other species to determine the baseline effects, if any, of translocations, so that they can be taken into account when considering other determinants of translocation success such as habitat suitability, number of individuals and timing of releases.

The 10 km2 island of La Digue, Republic of Seychelles, western Indian Ocean supports the last viable population of the Critically Endangered Seychelles Black Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone corvina. Small populations recorded on adjacent islands since the 1980s appear to be ephemeral and not self-sustaining. We document the results of the first island-wide survey of the flycatcher on La Digue using the playback of conspecific calls at random points. Previous surveys were based largely on counting the number of singing males. The survey was conducted between April and August 2001 and confirmed (i) the current world population is at least 200 individuals (109-145 territories, 218-290 individuals) in a c. 4.4 km2 range, thus accurately quantifying the documented increase in flycatcher numbers since the late 1970s; (ii) territories were more widely distributed than previously recorded and not exclusively associated with coastal plateaux or freshwater bodies, contrary to previous descriptions; and (iii) distribution was determined largely by the presence of high canopy (native) broad-leaved tree species. The importance of canopy height to flycatchers was highlighted by the fact that localized loss of high canopy (native) forest (4%), in a 161 ha study area on the large western plateau, resulted in an equivalent reduction (4%) in the number of territories. In light of our findings we discuss the implications for conservation of the flycatcher on La Digue and its possible translocation.

Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Communal Lands (Pilón Lajas) ranges from 300 m to 1,400 m altitude in the departments of Beni and La Paz, Bolivia. It is located in the Bolivian and Peruvian lower yungas Endemic Bird Area (054) and within one of the regions of highest conservation priority in the Neotropics. Pilón Lajas includes primary evergreen tropical lowland forest, foothill forest, and lower montane forest. Vegetation heterogeneity forms the basis for the high species richness of the area. A population of approximately 600 Chiman, Moseten and Tacana indigenous people live within the reserve. Little has been published regarding the avifauna of Pilón Lajas. Here we present the results of visual observations and tape recordings of 22 ornithological surveys, recording 502 bird species. Serranía Pilón is the most intensively studied and species-rich mountain range with 332 species, 48 of which have been recorded only in this area within Pilón Lajas. We present 26 new departmental records and evidence of breeding for 42 species. The reserve protects three globally Vulnerable and three globally Near Threatened species, four species of High Conservation Priority and 32 of Medium Conservation Priority. Together with Madidi National Park and the adjacent Bahuaja Sonene National Park in south-eastern Peru, Pilón Lajas forms a unique protected area system of more than 3.5 million ha and plays an important role in the establishment of biological corridors along the eastern Andean slope in Bolivia.

Long-wattled Umbrellabirds Cephalopterus penduliger are restricted to the Chocó Biogeographical Region, an area with exceptional levels of avian diversity and endemism. Due to widespread habitat loss and hunting pressure, the species is considered globally Vulnerable and Endangered within Ecuador. Little is known of the species' basic biology. This paper presents data on the first confirmed nest recorded for the species. The nest was found in June 2002 atop a tree fern Cyathea sp. located in secondary forest near Mindo, north-west Ecuador, at 1,600 m in the subtropical zone of the Andean slope. Data collected during incubation and nestling provisioning suggest that females may be responsible for all parental care. At the nest, the female provided food an average of once per hour, and brought roughly twice as many invertebrate food items as vertebrate or regurgitated food items. A male was never seen at the nest. In addition to presenting data from the nest, we compare Long-wattled Umbrellabirds to congeners and discuss implications for the conservation of this species.

In 2001 the abundance of Yellow-headed Parrot Amazona oratrix “guatemalensis” at a roost site in Punta de Manabique, Guatemala was found to be 70 individuals. A comparison with a roost census in 1994 suggested a population decline. The largest threat to this form of Yellow-headed Parrot is nest-robbing for the pet trade. The rate of decline and the limited number of individuals living in the wild suggest the population is facing extinction. The core zone of reproduction is located in a palm savanna. Information on feather patterns of the head of this form of A. oratrix is provided.

The editor would like to acknowledge the following for acting as referees of papers considered for Volume 13 of Bird Conservation International.