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IS THE TOOTH-BILLED PIGEON EXTINCT?
Our recent Birdquest to Samoa, which visited a series of areas on both main islands in search of this species, reaching an altitude of 1660m on Savai'i (where we observed the very inaccessible and little known Samoan White-eye between 1560-1660m!) turned up some interesting facts about this species, which appears to have had no reliable sightings for many years.
1. The recording used in Samoa to 'census' Tooth-billed Pigeon Didunculus strigirostris appears to be a recording of Pacific Imperial Pigeon Ducula pacifica!
2. There is no photographic evidence to back up any recent claims by surveyors in Samoa of Tooth-billed Pigeon 'sightings'.
3. Extensive areas of primary forest, which this species is presumed to require, is now extremely restricted (virtually absent on Upolu in fact, but there are some such areas left on Savai'i) following large scale logging and cyclone damage. Pigeon shooting is rife (we met folk who had eaten Tooth-billed Pigeons, but only in their youth).
We think the onus on conservation bodies, especially those receiving large grants for work on this species, is now to demonstrate indisputably that the species is still extant.
Given the apparent scandal of the wrong species' vocalizations being used to 'census' Tooth-billed Pigeons, 'recovery plans' and the like in Samoa should receive no further funding until sure-fire proof of existence is provided.
Mark Beaman
Birdquest LLC, 3721 Executive Center Drive, Suite 268, Austin, TX 78731
Ph: 512-343-1700, Fax: 512-343-1701
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