Mauritus Fody

Description:

This beautiful bird is a member of the finch family and was considered critically endangered due to habitat loss as the island was cleared for sugar cane plantations and new predators were introduced to the island including the black rat (Rattus rattus) that raids nests. However replacement vegetation like Japanese cedar trees have provided better protection for nest sites by being less reachable. Conservation efforts have been successful including captive rearing. Eggs are removed from the nest and raised in captivity while the mating pair begin to rear a new clutch simultaneously. The Mauritus Fody has now moved up a spot on the conservation ladder to Endangered as of 2009. I can confirm on my recent time on the island that the Fody was a regular sight. The Fody supplements its diet of insects and berries with nectar using a specialized brush tipped tongue

Habitat:

This colorful bird lives in forest areas as well as plantations, but observation has also shown it has become an opportunist and regularly hangs around the beach hotels and restaurants for tit bits.

Notes:

I added a fun picture of the bird observing itself in a reflective surface. Unlike humans and Dolphins, birds do not recognize themselves in a reflection.