Mariana Crows

     The researchers from Washington University say that the Mariana crow (Corvus kubaryi), a crow living on Rota Island on the western Pacific Ocean, will be extinct in about 75 years. Twice as soon as believed earlier. James Ha, UW research associate professor in psychology, says that the crow's extinction can be avoided with a bird management program which helps the crows reach their first birthday. He analyzed the survival rates in 97 crows and learnt that 40% of the fledgling crows made it to their first birthday. He realized that if 40% of the crows made it to their first birthday, which is the most crucial part of their lives, then the Mariana crows were sure to be extinct in 75 years.
     The estimation of the crows being extinct was based on the number of crows, 330, with the 40% survival rate in their first-year, the average number of fledglings per nest, and the capacity of the mother birds. Before, biologists supposed that the first-year survival rate was much higher than reality, around 60 to 80%. but for Ha, boosting 40% to about 70% will make the crows be in a much better position. Researchers say that a captive rearing program could save the endangered Mariana crows. They hope to set up a rearing facility where they could breed eggs from the wild, raise the fledglings until their first birthday and then release the grown birds into nesting sites on the island. Let's hope that we can hold off the extinction of the Mariana crows.
      http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101220091917.htm