Is the species impacted by threats other than habitat loss? Yes. Distrubance and disruption of breeding due to noise from encroaching development, use of motorboats, etc. This is based on my reading of the literature of the elusive nature of this particular species and the behavior of similar-sized species in the family. I also can confirm it base on anecdotal observation. A very skiddish bird. Poaching for feathers and meat may also occur, but I do not have confirmation of that threat; purely inferential based on the fact that I have observed more than one household in Acre, Brazil who killed macaws for the aesthetic value of their feathers (to create feather dusters).
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now temporarily closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 6 February 2023. We will now analyse and interpret new information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 6 February 2023, when discussions will re-open.
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2023 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion. The species’ factsheet has been updated to reflect information submitted on this forum.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 12 February 2023, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2023 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in December 2023, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Comments from Anna Stier, former Chair of Agami Heron Working Group. Posted by Clay Green on behalf of Anna Stier
FIRST TABLE
“rationale for proposed change”: the text is only talking about tree loss/deforestation. However, we have shown in our article (Stier et al 2017, Waterbirds 40(3), as well as in the last Conservation Plan of the species that the Agamis use marshes and mangroves, not only “dense riparian forests”. So the habitat loss shouldn’t take into account only dense amazonian forest loss, but also mangroves and marshes. Also, there have been other threats listed, such as water pollution and climate change. We have seen in the past years that colonies with water level changes will be completely abandoned, sometimes several years in a row. This is the case not only for small, but also for very big colonies such as the Peruvian one (apparently several tens of thousands according to their estimation). We are unable unfortunately to know to date which kind of impact this has on the reproduction and population size, as we don’t know if they “just shift” to another location, or if they skip an entire reproduction.
Specific questions:
– > 10,000 mature individuals is correct, as this would be apparently already only the size of the peruvian colony
– plausible declining: I would say need to check all natural habitat loss including all lowland forests and mangroves as well as freshwater habitats (rivers and marshes) to be able to give an answer
– other threats: no proven impact for pollution and climate change, but supposed threats in the conservation plan. Not formally proven but observed impact of water levels, even if unsure (colonies disappeared in years with low water levels, correlation not statistically proven, only testimonies of reserve managers). Human activity impact near colonies via disturbance is suspected as well, its quantified impact does not exist however.
GENERAL COMMENT
I don’t know if the “regional migration” of parts of the colonies is a risk factor that should be taken into account for the Red List assessment? The fact that some individuals of French Guiana apparently use coast trajectories (the most inhabited and impacted by humans in the Guianas) to cross several countries between reproductions puts them (I think) in a more vulnerable situation compared to those who stay in the surrounding riparian forests.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret available information, and we will post a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 20 February 2023.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
Information submitted via this forum note additional threats to the species; these have been included in the updated species factsheet. Population trends likely differ across the distribution range with proximity to human settlements and disturbance. It is plausible that populations in French Guiana are experiencing steeper declines than those in more remote areas; however, as this only affects a small proportion of the global population the impact on the global Red List assessment is likely low. Nevertheless, local population trends should be carefully monitored and explored in regional or national Red List assessments.
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Agami Heron is recommended to be listed as Near Threatened, approaching the threshold for listing as threatened under Criteria A3c+4c.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2023.1 GTB Forum process. The final 2023 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in December 2023, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Is the species impacted by threats other than habitat loss? Yes. Distrubance and disruption of breeding due to noise from encroaching development, use of motorboats, etc. This is based on my reading of the literature of the elusive nature of this particular species and the behavior of similar-sized species in the family. I also can confirm it base on anecdotal observation. A very skiddish bird. Poaching for feathers and meat may also occur, but I do not have confirmation of that threat; purely inferential based on the fact that I have observed more than one household in Acre, Brazil who killed macaws for the aesthetic value of their feathers (to create feather dusters).
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now temporarily closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 6 February 2023. We will now analyse and interpret new information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 6 February 2023, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2023 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion. The species’ factsheet has been updated to reflect information submitted on this forum.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 12 February 2023, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2023 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in December 2023, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Comments from Anna Stier, former Chair of Agami Heron Working Group. Posted by Clay Green on behalf of Anna Stier
FIRST TABLE
“rationale for proposed change”: the text is only talking about tree loss/deforestation. However, we have shown in our article (Stier et al 2017, Waterbirds 40(3), as well as in the last Conservation Plan of the species that the Agamis use marshes and mangroves, not only “dense riparian forests”. So the habitat loss shouldn’t take into account only dense amazonian forest loss, but also mangroves and marshes. Also, there have been other threats listed, such as water pollution and climate change. We have seen in the past years that colonies with water level changes will be completely abandoned, sometimes several years in a row. This is the case not only for small, but also for very big colonies such as the Peruvian one (apparently several tens of thousands according to their estimation). We are unable unfortunately to know to date which kind of impact this has on the reproduction and population size, as we don’t know if they “just shift” to another location, or if they skip an entire reproduction.
Specific questions:
– > 10,000 mature individuals is correct, as this would be apparently already only the size of the peruvian colony
– plausible declining: I would say need to check all natural habitat loss including all lowland forests and mangroves as well as freshwater habitats (rivers and marshes) to be able to give an answer
– other threats: no proven impact for pollution and climate change, but supposed threats in the conservation plan. Not formally proven but observed impact of water levels, even if unsure (colonies disappeared in years with low water levels, correlation not statistically proven, only testimonies of reserve managers). Human activity impact near colonies via disturbance is suspected as well, its quantified impact does not exist however.
GENERAL COMMENT
I don’t know if the “regional migration” of parts of the colonies is a risk factor that should be taken into account for the Red List assessment? The fact that some individuals of French Guiana apparently use coast trajectories (the most inhabited and impacted by humans in the Guianas) to cross several countries between reproductions puts them (I think) in a more vulnerable situation compared to those who stay in the surrounding riparian forests.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret available information, and we will post a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 20 February 2023.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
Information submitted via this forum note additional threats to the species; these have been included in the updated species factsheet. Population trends likely differ across the distribution range with proximity to human settlements and disturbance. It is plausible that populations in French Guiana are experiencing steeper declines than those in more remote areas; however, as this only affects a small proportion of the global population the impact on the global Red List assessment is likely low. Nevertheless, local population trends should be carefully monitored and explored in regional or national Red List assessments.
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Agami Heron is recommended to be listed as Near Threatened, approaching the threshold for listing as threatened under Criteria A3c+4c.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2023.1 GTB Forum process. The final 2023 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in December 2023, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.