Endemics thrive on Timor-Leste mountain
Surveys have confirmed that the finest montane forests in Timor-Leste, and possibly the whole island of Timor, are to be found on the inaccessible Mount Mundo Perdido. Twenty two restricted-range species of the Timor and Wetar Endemic Bird Area have be found there so far including the globally threatened (Endangered) Timor Imperial Pigeon Ducula cineracea and Near Threatened Slaty Cuckoo-dove Turacoena modesta. Mount Mundo Perdido has been recognised as Timor-Leste's seventeenth Important Bird Area (IBA). Although it has legal protected stratus dating back to the United Nations administration which preceded independence, the IBA is not managed as a Protected Area. But local people have responded positively to the idea of Protected Area management, which would, in line with the policy established in Timor Leste, be carried out in close consultation with the community (BirdLife 27.10.2009).

Solving the mysteries of migratory bird declines
The RSPB and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), have joined forces and are working with BirdLife Partners in Ghana (Ghana Wildlife Society), Burkina Faso (Naturama), the Netherlands (Vogelbescherming Nederland) and Denmark (Dansk Ornitologisk Forening) to mount the largest research project of its type to understand more about migratory birds that spend the non-breeding season south of the Sahara desert. Some of the greatest declines of birds in the UK are among migratory songbirds including the European Turtle-dove  Streptopelia turtur, which breds in Europe and migrates to sub-Saharan Africa. A number of potential causes for the declines of migrants have been suggested, including: climate change, changes in rainfall patterns, and land degradation. Predicted increases in human population and climatic variability in West Africa are likely to exacerbate these threats. The project will involve researchers monitoring birds along a corridor stretching from Ghana’s Atlantic coast to northern Burkina Faso, spanning a range of habitats from coastal rainforest to the edge of the Sahara desert. The team of researchers will be counting and ringing birds at locations in Ghana and Burkina Faso, across a breadth of habitats, from dense tropical rainforest to semi-desert. By recording birds at these points several times during the year, researchers hope to build up a detailed picture of the movements and habitat preferences of European migratory birds wintering in Africa (BirdLife 09.10.2009).

Victoria Crowned Pigeon successfully bred at London Zoo
Victoria Crowned Pigeon Goura victoria chick successfully hatched last month at London Zoo - the first of its kind to have been bred at the zoo. Senior Curator John Ellis said: “To breed the Victoria Crowned Pigeon is a fantastic accomplishment for our bird team, especially as this species is rapidly declining in the wild.” Victoria Crowned Pigeons originate from New Guinea and are currently listed as threatened with extinction (Vulenerable) (ZSL 09.10.2009).

Non-invasive DNA research methods developed on pigeons
Data on the ecology of pigeons are difficult to obtain because of the elusive and secretive behaviour, and the dense forests and steep terrains they inhabit. For these reasons, noninvasive samples systematically collected in the field are especially useful for ecological studies, since these do not involve the capture and handling of animals. Scientists from the Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group at the Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA), Spanish National Research Council have been developing these methods in the study of the Endangered White-tailed Pigeon Columba junoniae and Near Threatened Bolle’s Laurel Pigeon Columba bollii and have published two articles on the success of faecal and refurgitated seed DNA methods:

Marrero, P. (pmarrero "at" ipna.csic.es), Fregel, R. Cabrera V.M. and Nogales, M. (2009) Extraction of high-quality host DNA from faeces and regurgitated seeds: a useful tool for vertebrate ecological studies. Biological Research 42: 147-151 (Bolle’s Laurel Pigeon Columba bollii; White-tailed Pigeon Columba junoniae).

Nogales, M. (mnogales "at" ipna.csic.es), Marrero, P., Padilla, D.P. and Medina, FM. (in press) The study of habitat use by censuses and molecular methods in birds: the case of two sympatric pigeons. Bird Study (Bolle’s Laurel Pigeon Columba bollii; White-tailed Pigeon Columba junoniae).