5 thoughts on “Nauru Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus rehsei)”
Nauru is a the 21 km2 atoll that is currently exposed to erosion and sea-level rise. Its natural habitat has long been disturbed by phosphate mining, then by the construction of infrastructures built for refugees’ accommodation. Mining is not over and is continuing deeper into the inland, for instance on Nauru’s highland plateau, where soil pollution has been documented. An interesting summary of the recent economic and social situation of Nauru can be found in Morris (2022, American Anthropologist 124: 560– 574. https://doi.org/10.1111/aman.13764).
In this situation, it is difficult to not to be concerned about the future of the endemic reed-warbler. The last report on this species was done by Buden in 2006-2007, before the peak of the refugees industry (around 2015-2020). The citation of Dyrcz (2020) corresponds to the Birds of the World web page, and is not meaningful in my opinion as an indication of population stability: it is a compilation that doesn’t include any recent works.
Although the species is obviously well adapted to secondary vegetation and shrubs, I would not recommend a category change in the absence of an up-to-date evaluation of its population number.
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 until 26 June 2023. We will now analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 26 June 2023, when discussions will re-open.
In response to the comment made by A. Cibois on 15/06/2023, it has been noted that habitat degradation is ongoing in Nauru and may pose a threat to this species. The species factsheet has been updated accordingly, and consequently the species qualifies for listing as Near Threatened under Criterion B. As there is no recent indication of population stability, the trend is precautionarily changed to unknown. However, according to IUCN guidelines, the species’ current listing as Vulnerable cannot be maintained: Criterion D2 requires there to be a plausible threat that could drive the species to CR or EX within a very short time period (e.g. within one or two generations), and there must be a substantial possibility of this occurring. Although it has a highly restricted range, there is no evidence of a plausible threat that could rapidly affect all individuals present; rats are already present within the range and cyclones appear unlikely to represent a major threat. Based on available information therefore, our preliminary proposal for the 2023 Red List would be to list Nauru Reed-warbler as Near Threatened, approaching the threshold for listing as threatened under Criteria B1b(iii)+2b(iii), however we welcome further input and comments.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 2 July 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.
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 the information, and we will post a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 10 July 2023.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Nauru Reed-warbler is recommended to be listed as Near Threatened, approaching the threshold for listing as threatened under Criteria B1b(iii)+2b(iii).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2023.2 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.
Nauru is a the 21 km2 atoll that is currently exposed to erosion and sea-level rise. Its natural habitat has long been disturbed by phosphate mining, then by the construction of infrastructures built for refugees’ accommodation. Mining is not over and is continuing deeper into the inland, for instance on Nauru’s highland plateau, where soil pollution has been documented. An interesting summary of the recent economic and social situation of Nauru can be found in Morris (2022, American Anthropologist 124: 560– 574. https://doi.org/10.1111/aman.13764).
In this situation, it is difficult to not to be concerned about the future of the endemic reed-warbler. The last report on this species was done by Buden in 2006-2007, before the peak of the refugees industry (around 2015-2020). The citation of Dyrcz (2020) corresponds to the Birds of the World web page, and is not meaningful in my opinion as an indication of population stability: it is a compilation that doesn’t include any recent works.
Although the species is obviously well adapted to secondary vegetation and shrubs, I would not recommend a category change in the absence of an up-to-date evaluation of its population number.
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 until 26 June 2023. We will now analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 26 June 2023, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
In response to the comment made by A. Cibois on 15/06/2023, it has been noted that habitat degradation is ongoing in Nauru and may pose a threat to this species. The species factsheet has been updated accordingly, and consequently the species qualifies for listing as Near Threatened under Criterion B. As there is no recent indication of population stability, the trend is precautionarily changed to unknown. However, according to IUCN guidelines, the species’ current listing as Vulnerable cannot be maintained: Criterion D2 requires there to be a plausible threat that could drive the species to CR or EX within a very short time period (e.g. within one or two generations), and there must be a substantial possibility of this occurring. Although it has a highly restricted range, there is no evidence of a plausible threat that could rapidly affect all individuals present; rats are already present within the range and cyclones appear unlikely to represent a major threat. Based on available information therefore, our preliminary proposal for the 2023 Red List would be to list Nauru Reed-warbler as Near Threatened, approaching the threshold for listing as threatened under Criteria B1b(iii)+2b(iii), however we welcome further input and comments.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 2 July 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.
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 the information, and we will post a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 10 July 2023.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Nauru Reed-warbler is recommended to be listed as Near Threatened, approaching the threshold for listing as threatened under Criteria B1b(iii)+2b(iii).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2023.2 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.