Macrocephalon maleo — Details

Maleo Megapode learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Brief Summary

Biology

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The maleo is a shy bird. It is active at night, and during the hours of dawn and dusk (2). It nests in groups at traditional sites along the islands' coasts, where the sandy beaches, lakeshores and riverbanks are warmed by solar and/or geothermal radiation (4). The eggs are left to incubate and hatch with no further parental support (2).
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Comprehensive Description

Description

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The maleo is a large, black and white bird with a prominent medium-length tail. As its alternative name, maleo megapode suggests, it has characteristically large feet. This striking bird has a distinctive bony, dark casque on its crown, a yellowish face, and a bare pale bill (2). The thighs are black, and the belly white, with pink hues on the breast (4). This rare bird is usually silent but, especially around nesting sites, it can emit quite extraordinary noises. These include loud braying and, when in disputes, a duck-like quacking (4).
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Distribution

Range Description

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Macrocephalon maleo is endemic to Sulawesi and Buton Islands, Indonesia. Of the 142 currently or formerly known nesting grounds, 48 have been abandoned, 51 are severely threatened, 32 are threatened, 7 are of unknown status, and only four are not yet threatened1. The global population is currently estimated to be in the region of 4,000-7,000 breeding pairs, and declining rapidly (in places, by up to 90% since 1950). Available evidence indicates that as the number of eggs laid at a communal nesting site declines, so too does the efficacy of communal nesting as a predator satiation strategy, hence the viability of many smaller populations is becoming increasingly threatened5.
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Historic Range:
Indonesia (Celebes)

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Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service - Endangered Species Program

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Range

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Endemic to the Indonesian islands, Sulawesi and Buton (2).
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
It inhabits lowland and hill rainforest, up to at least 1,065 m, and man-modified habitats when travelling to coastal nesting grounds. It nests communally (hypothesised to be an evolutionary strategy for satiating natural egg predators)5 at traditional sites, typically sandy beaches, lakeshores and riverbanks. Females lay 8-12 eggs in pits, heated by solar and/or geothermal radiation, over a 2-3 month period, peaking markedly at some localities during the regionally variable dry season. The eggs (averaging 16% of adult female body weight) comprise 61-64% yolk, and when laid are left to incubate (for 2-3 months) and hatch with no further parental support. The young take up to c.2 days to tunnel to the surface after hatching, emerging ready to fly.

Systems
  • Terrestrial
  • Freshwater
  • Marine
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Habitat

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Inhabits lowland and hill rainforest, up to at least 1,065 metres. When travelling to coastal nesting sites this bird also resides in man-modified habitats. Its nesting sites include sandy beaches, lakeshores and riverbanks (4).
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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
EN
Endangered

Red List Criteria
A2bcde+3bcde+4bcde

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2008

Assessor/s
BirdLife International

Reviewer/s
Bird, J., Butchart, S., Dekker, R. & McGowan, P.

Contributor/s
Argeloo, M., Baker, G. & Neville, D.

Justification
This distinctive megapode is classified as Endangered because it has undergone a very rapid decline, which is projected to continue based on levels of exploitation and declines in extent and quality of habitat, combined with the fact that it has a small population, which continues to experience severe fragmentation.


History
  • 2007
    Endangered
  • 2004
    Endangered
  • 2002
    Endangered
  • 2000
    Vulnerable
  • 1996
    Vulnerable
  • 1994
    Vulnerable
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Current Listing Status Summary

Status: Endangered
Date Listed: 06/02/1970
Lead Region: Foreign (Region 10) 
Where Listed:


Population detail:

Population location: entire
Listing status: E

For most current information and documents related to the conservation status and management of Macrocephalon maleo , see its USFWS Species Profile
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Status

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Classified as Endangered (EN A4abcd) on the IUCN Red List 2003 (1), and listed on Appendix I of CITES (3).
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Population

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Population
Butchart and Baker (2000)

Population Trend
Decreasing
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
Unsustainable harvesting of eggs combined with human disturbance of nesting grounds has caused the abandonment of many nesting colonies (particularly coastal) and remains the major threat to those remaining. Forest destruction and fragmentation increasingly threaten surviving populations; there is a strong relationship between connectivity of nesting grounds and forests, with an increase in abandonment associated with decreased connectivity5. Logging and agricultural, urban and road developments have isolated virtually all coastal nesting grounds from non-breeding habitats, significantly elevating the risk of mortality and natural predation of chicks. In the Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park and surrounding area habitats continue to be degraded, the major threats being rattan and timber collection, conversion of forest to agricultural land, gold-mining3, hunting of adult birds for sport2, and the spread of invasive vegetation. An increase in the human population has exacerbated many of the threatening processes above and leads to the introduction of invasive predators such as dogs and rats. Nest site abandonment is highest in coastal and non-protected areas: this, the level of awareness raised about this species and the wealth of information now available suggest there is considerable scope for protecting the Maleo.
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Threats

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This bird has become endangered due to the cumulative effects of various threats (4). Unsustainable harvesting of its eggs by locals for food, and human disturbance of nesting grounds have led to the abandonment of most coastal nesting colonies which has disastrous effects on the maleo's breeding potential. A recent survey indicated that, of the 131 formerly known nesting grounds, an astounding 42 have been abandoned by the maleo. Furthermore, 38 are severely threatened, 34 are threatened, 12 are of unknown status, and only five are not yet threatened (4). In addition, forest destruction and fragmentation due to logging, agriculture, urban and road developments have isolated virtually all of the maleo's coastal nesting grounds from non-breeding habitats. This has significantly increased the risk of mortality and natural predation of maleo chicks, and, as small populations become increasingly fragmented, their chances of successful breeding and survival are increasingly reduced (4). Invasive vegetation also poses a threat to the maleo's nesting grounds (2). The global population is currently estimated at between 4,000-7,000 breeding pairs, though this number is declining rapidly in places, by up to 90% since 1950 (2).
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I. It has been protected under Indonesian law since 1972. The species was included in a status survey and 2000-2004 conservation action plan for Megapodes. Nesting ground surveys were made in North, Central and South East Sulawesi between 1990 and 2000. Over 50% of known nesting grounds (chiefly inland sites) are located inside protected areas, the most important being Lore Lindu National Park, Morowali Nature Reserve, and Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park. Effective conservation programmes have been implemented at the Tambun and Hungayono nesting grounds, where hatchery projects and improved guard patrolling have led to greatly increased hatching rates, at Taima (Libuun) near Tompotika in Central Sulawesi, and at the Pakuli/Saluki complex at Lore Lindu and the Tanjung Matop near Toli-toli4,6. A number of field studies and conservation programmes have also been initiated in Central, North and South East Sulawesi1.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Strengthen the capacity of conservation agencies and government to prevent illegal activities in formally protected areas and establish new management plans to realistically address conservation issues in National Parks and Nature Reserves. Prioritise the protection of active and threatened nesting grounds over translocation of eggs to recolonise abandoned nesting grounds (which has been successfully implemented at some sites and should remain a tool for the future)5. Keep nesting grounds free from predators, human disturbance and invasive vegetation, and reforest adjacent areas5. Extend protected area status to forest corridors connecting nesting grounds and non-breeding areas. Expand management activities in protected areas, particularly scrub clearance at nesting sites. Initiate maleo-based conservation activities in Paluki and Saluki, Central Sulawesi. Renew community-based protection initiatives. Monitor the effectiveness of hatcheries and other conservation measures and optimize egg protection strategies. Monitor daily numbers of birds laying at as many colonies as possible. Conduct more intensive research to establish its distribution and the extent of gene flow between nesting grounds. Conduct a Sulawesi-wide awareness-raising campaign to discourage Maleo egg consumption and use the species as a falagship for forest conservation.

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Conservation

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This endemic species has been protected under Indonesian law since 1972, and over 50% of (chiefly inland) nesting grounds occur within protected areas. Conservation measures at present include researching the numbers of breeding birds, the effectiveness of hatcheries and artificial incubation programmes, sustainable egg-collection practices and renewing local community-based protection projects (4). Eco-tourism is also being encouraged as an alternative income to egg-harvesting (2). There are also plans to improve management practices in protected areas, and extend these protected ranges to encompass other important nesting sites and forest corridors, which will link fragmented areas together (4).
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Wikipedia

Maleo

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For the town in Italy, see Maleo, Lombardy.

The Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) is a large (approximately 55 cm long) blackish megapode with bare yellow facial skin, reddish-brown iris, reddish-orange beak and rosy salmon underparts. The crown is ornamented with a black helmet casque. The greyish blue feet have four long sharp claws, separated by a membranous web. The sexes are almost identical with a slightly smaller and duller female.

The only member of the monotypic genus Macrocephalon, the Maleo is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. It is found in the tropical lowland and hill forests, but nests in the open sandy areas, volcanic soils or beaches that are heated by the sun or geothermal energy for incubation. (There are also megapode species that use fermenting compost to incubate their eggs.)

The Maleo's egg is large, about five times as large as that of the domestic chicken's. The female lays and covers each egg in a deep hole in the sand and allows the incubation to take place through solar or volcanic heating. After the eggs hatch, the young birds work their way up through the sand and hide in the forest. The young birds are able to fly and are totally independent. They must find food and defend themselves from predators such as lizards, pythons, wild pigs or cats.

The Maleo is monogamous, and members of a pair stay close to each other all the time. Its diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds, ants, termites, beetles and other small invertebrates.

Since 1972, this species has been protected by the Indonesian government. Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range, high chick mortality rates and overhunting in some areas, the Maleo is evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES.

In 2009, US-Based Wildlife Conservation Society worked with local government to purchase 36 acres (150,000 m2) of beach front property where approximately 40 nests are located in an effort to further conservation efforts and protect this bird (Ref: Bizarre bird gets private beach in Indonesia).

Conservation

The Alliance for Tompotika Conservation works with communities in Sulawesi to educate locals about the Maleo's endangered status and prevent the harvesting of eggs. The eggs are not a staple food source, but are a popular delicacy.

In June 2001 Marc Argeloo wrote a non-fiction novel (in Dutch) on the conservation of megapodes in general, and Sulawesi's Maleo in particular. His book was received very positively in the Dutch press (www.maleo.nl).

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2004). Macrocephalon maleo. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 5 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is endangered
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