Rota Bridled White-Eye (Zosterops Rotensis) Family: Zosteropidae by Ai L.
The Rota Bridled White-eye or Rota White-eye is also called Nosa Luta. This bird is critically endangered because it is only found on the island of Rota, part of the northern Mariana Islands. I am writing about this bird because it is critically endangered and very little is known about this bird. Habitat: The Rota Bridled White-eye is endemic to the island of Rota, of the Northern Mariana Islands. White-eyes live in the tropical rainforests of Rota, nesting and foraging for small insects in yoga trees. Yoga trees (Elaeocarpus Joga) have green leaves and blue colored berries. These fruits of the yoga tree are called bhadrasey. The Rota Bridled
White-eye is now found in four patches of wet forest at heights above 200 meters. This bird seems to favor limestone forests the most.
Description : The name White-eye was given to this bird because of the ring of white feathers around each eye. The plumage is olive above and yellow on the underside. The bill, legs, and feet are yellow-orange. It has a slightly down-turned bill and a brush-tipped tongue for feeding on nectar. It is less than three inches tall and its average weight is about one-third of an ounce. They are highly social and hunt for food in groups of five to seven birds.
Nests: Their nests are made from roots, grass, moss, and spider-web strands, and have a cup-like shape. It suspends from tree branches. The birds keep their nests safe by placing them in ant-protected acacias, a type of tree. Prime breeding season ranges from December to August, ending with the female mostly laying one to two light-blue eggs. Both males and females incubate the eggs (10-12 days) and feed nestlings. The chicks develop their flight feathers about 10-12 days after hatching.
Population: The total population of the Rota Bridled White-eye was estimated at 1,167 in 1996, representing a decline of 89 percent from the 1982 estimated population of 10,763. The population estimated in 1999 was 1,092 (www.birdlife.org). There are about 96 white eye species worldwide and 2 white eye species in the Mariana Islands. A related species, called the Guam Bridled White-eye, is now believed to be extinct.Â
Threats: The reasons for this species’ decline are likely loss of habitat because of agricultural activities and natural disasters, specifically, typhoons and pesticides. Predators and
disease are also threats for this bird. Brown tree snakes, Asian house rats, and black drongos are dangerous problems for this bird.
What they eat: The birds mostly feed on fruits of the amahadyan and pengua trees and feed on the nectar of avocado, ahgoa and atoto trees. Their prey include moths, caterpillars, snails, spiders and beetles. What we could do: ★ We could plant more trees for the Rota White-eye to nest in and plant more yoga trees since the Rota white feeds on insects that live in yoga trees. ★ We could find a better place for this bird, where no predators can attack or harm it. ★ We could protect them permanently in national parks, nature reserves or wilderness areas. ★ Another important thing is to tell others. if we encourage others to help, this bird may be saved.
Bibliography:
"Rota Bridled White-eye Zosterops rotensis." BirdLife International. BirdLife International, n.d. Web. 6 May 2014. <http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=7461>. Kurpis, Lauren. "Ways You Can Help Endangered Species." Endangered Species. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2014. <http://www.endangeredspecie.com/Ways_To_Help.htm>. "Endangered Species in the Pacific Islands." Endangered Species in the Pacific Islands. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2014. <http://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/fauna/rotawhiteeye.html>. "Rota white-eye (Zosterops rotensis)." Rota white-eye (Zosterops rotensis). N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2014. <http://www.arkive.org/rota-white-eye/zosterops-rotensis/>. "Rota Bridled White-Eye Bird." Rota Bridled White-Eye Bird. N.p., 18 Mar. 2004. Web. 6 May 2014. <http://www.gorp.com/weekend-guide/travel-ta-australia-pacific-nature-ecotou rism-sidwcmdev_060429.html>. "Rota White-eye." Rota White-eye. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 11 Dec. 2013. Web. 6 May 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rota_White-eye>. species name author(s): Takatsukasa and Yamashina, 1931