Researchers Monitor Rare Longtail Bird Nesting in Urban Hamilton, Bermuda

Researchers from the Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS), the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, and the Atlantic Conservation Partnership are monitoring a rare nesting site of the endangered longtail bird beside a street in Hamilton, Bermuda. The nest, discovered last year by a local resident, has revealed that the birds may have been nesting in this urban location for years without detection.

A chick has recently hatched from the nest, prompting researchers to collect both the adult and chick for examination. The adult bird was marked with ink and fitted with a unique Bermudian-branded band, which will remain for its lifetime. The adult bird weighed 339 grams, with a bill length of 56 millimeters and wing lengths of 283mm and 282mm. The chick, approximately five days old, weighed 49 grams.

The conservation of endangered species like the longtail bird is essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health. If the species is not protected, it could lead to its extinction, which would have a ripple effect on the entire ecosystem.

Researchers are particularly concerned about the chick's survival given the nest's location, which is half a mile away from the nearest water source. Patrick Talbot, curator at the Bermuda Zoological Society, expressed his concerns: "My concern for this nest is the chick. When the chick has fully fledged, when it has grown all its flight feathers and is ready to leave the nest, what it should be seeing is ocean."

The longtail bird, also known by the name of white-tailed tropicbird, is an open-ocean species that only comes to land to breed, laying its single egg in holes and crevices eroded from Bermuda's coastal cliffs. The species is protected under the Protection of Birds Act 1975, making it illegal to handle or harass them.

Researchers aim to study the bird's breeding habits and success rate in this unusual urban location. They plan to monitor the chick until it is almost fully fledged and then band it to track its movement. This study will help determine the birds' success rate and inform decisions on whether to allow them to nest in such locations.

The research also seeks to understand the birds' migration patterns, gender roles, and hunting habits. Patrick Talbot questioned the birds' choice of nesting location: "What would prompt these birds to make their way through a city to search for a home?" Barbara Outerbridge, animal registrar at BAMZ, added, "It's not like their preferred house — they would want to be closer to the water."

The team hopes to discourage the birds from nesting in such unsuitable locations, citing human effects on the Bermuda environment as a reason for intervention. Talbot emphasized the responsibility to support the species: "Some people may say to let nature take its course, but we do have some responsibility to ensure their success because of human effects on the Bermuda environment."

As researchers continue to monitor the nest, the fate of the chick remains uncertain. The study's findings will be vital in guiding future conservation efforts for the endangered longtail bird in Bermuda.

Key Takeaways

• Researchers monitor rare longtail bird nest in urban Hamilton, Bermuda.
• Chick hatches, adult bird marked with unique Bermudian-branded band.
• Nest's location, half a mile from water, raises concerns for chick's survival.
• Study aims to understand breeding habits, success rate, and migration patterns.
• Findings will guide conservation efforts for endangered longtail bird in Bermuda.