New: Chile Disaster Relief - Auxilio para Chile

Families on the Juan Fernández Islands, Chile, have been severely affected by the recent tsunami.
Familias en las islas de Juan Fernández Islands, Chile han sido afectadas por el reciente tsunami.

Please donate - Por favor, donen

Oikonos will give 100% of funds directly to families on Robinson Crusoe and Selkirk to rebuild.
Oikonos donara el 100% de la recaudacion a las familias en Robinson Crusoe y Selkirk.

About the Archipelago and JFIC's Activities
Location | Status | Conservation | Partners | Research | Community | Education | Get Involved | Acknowledgements | Contacts

Conservation Project Pages
Juan Fernández Firecrown | Pink-footed Shearwater | Másafuera Rayadito

Location
The Juan Fernández Archipelago is located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, 670 km off the coast of central Chile. Frequently referred to as a temperate counterpart of the Galápagos Islands. Both of these island groups are characterized by isolated floral and faunal communities that exhibit high degrees of endemism.

The Archipelago consists of three islands: Isla Robinson Crusoe (Más a Tierra, 48 km2) Isla Santa Clara (2.2 km2) Isla Alejandro Selkirk shown above (Más Afuera, 50 km2)

Conservation Concerns
The natural communities of the Juan Fernández Islands are biologically unique. Although the archipelago's flora has received considerable scientific attention (see the works of Tod Stuessy et al. and Philippe Danton), the fauna of the islands has not been as well researched. Changes to the native systems of the islands, beginning with the arrival of humans in 1574, have continued unabated, and much of the native flora and fauna are at risk, exhibiting serious population declines worthy of alarm.

Seventy-three percent of the endemic angiosperms are threatened with extinction (1). Four of the six locally breeding seabird species are listed by the IUCN as vulnerable (2). Two landbirds are recognized as critically endangered, and two others as vulnerable and near threatened. The Juan Fernández fur seal is listed by the IUCN as vulnerable (2) and is still recovering from severe over-hunting that nearly drove the species extinct in the 1800s.

The archipelago is currently home to many species of introduced and invasive plants (more than 400 species) and mammals (cattle, cats, coati, goats, mice, rabbits and rats). Because of the simplified ecological systems present on most islands, non-native species can have a disproportionate impact. Introduced species of mammals on islands can cause extensive damage to native systems through grazing, competition with native species, habitat alteration and destruction, and predation. Preliminary studies (see Research page) suggest that introduced mammals directly impact our focal seabird species through predation (cats, rats and coatis), competition for burrows (rabbits), and destruction of burrows (cattle). For example, a successful eradication of rabbits from Santa Clara in 2003 has resulted in a 20% increase in burrow occupancy by breeding pink-footed shearwaters. Changes in the plant community due to herbivory and grazing can potentially indirectly affect burrowing seabirds through soil compaction, increased soil erosion and compromised nesting habitat.

We are discussing the possibility of concerted eradication efforts with local islanders, local, regional, and national officials from the Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF, the national park administration agency), other Chilean agencies, Chilean ecologists, and eradication experts from the US, Ecuador, and New Zealand.

We also feel strongly that long-term restoration efforts are warranted, but we encourage the implementation of eradication efforts prior to investment in large-scale restoration. Without eliminating the threats posed by invasive species, restoration efforts run the risk of being undermined by their effects.

(1) Stuessy et al. 1992. Aliso 13(2): 297-307
(2) International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources www.redlist.org

Partners
Corporación Nacional Forestal, CONAF
Comisión Nacional del Medio Ambiente, CONAMA
AvesChile, Unión de Ornitólogos de Chile
American Bird Conservancy
The Hummingbird Society

Please view Project Pages for other Partners, Funders and Researcher contacts

Research
Motivation
The majority of species of the Juan Fernández Archipelago remain poorly understood. Basic life-history characteristics of native flora and fauna are unknown, and there exists minimal knowledge of their ecology (interactions between species or relationships between species and their resources). In addition, the ecology of native species is complicated, biologically speaking, by a multitude of threats from introduced flora and fauna.

Basic scientific research at the species, population and ecosystem level is critical to conservation and restoration efforts in the Juan Fernández Islands. In order for these efforts to be successful, we first need to understand requirements of, and threats to, the native biota. However, effective conservation requires more than scientific knowledge alone. We believe that promoting an understanding of interactions between nature and culture is essential to create sustainable and lasting change.

Status of the archipelago's native birds:
The following table summarizes the native bird species breeding on the Juan Fernández Islands, their breeding distribution and their conservation status. Species/subspecies endemic to the archipelago are denoted by *.

Seabirds
The seabird community of the Juan Fernández Islands may serve as an excellent indicator of ecosystem health. The success of these pelagic birds relies heavily on marine systems, where they forage and face potential risks from fisheries. Also, time spent by seabirds nesting on the islands requires safe, intact and suitable terrestrial habitat, which is threatened by introduced mammals directly (predators, competitors for burrows) and indirectly (herbivores causing erosion, compacted soils, compromised nesting habitat), thereby affecting the reproductive success and even survival of breeding birds.

We have an ongoing long-term research and monitoring program focused on four pelagic seabird species, the pink-footed shearwater (Vulnerable), Juan Fernández petrel (Vulnerable), Stejneger's petrel (Vulnerable), and Kermadec petrel (currently not listed), investigating their basic ecology and factors potentially important for future conservation measures.

Kermadec petrel (Pterodroma neglecta)

This species nests on small islets and rock outcrops offshore of Robinson Crusoe. Due to the difficulty of access for this species, we monitor the colony on a single outcrop, Morro Juanango, with the following objectives:

1) monitor basic breeding biology parameters (laying effort and breeding success)
2) monitor size of breeding population
3) monitor aspects of foraging ecology

Although this species is not currently listed by the IUCN, the limited information available on the global distribution and abundance of this species suggests that the species should be listed as "vulnerable" (based on IUCN criteria). Therefore, the long-term monitoring program on Morro Juanango initiated in 2002 takes on additional importance and relevance.

For more on our methodology and what we have discovered so far, please view our reports or contact us.

Juan Fernández Firecrown
The critically endangered Juan Fernández Firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis) is a speices of hummingbird endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands, with the entire world population restricted to the island of Robinson Crusoe. The species has a highly restricted breeding range, apparently depending nearly exclusively on intact native forest for breeding. Native forest on the island declined historically due to harvesting, clearing and burning. It is presently fully protected but is now threatened by invasive plant species. Given their dependence on intact forest for breeding and seasonally for feeding, the alteration of forest structure and composition is a primary conservation concern for the species. In addition, predation by non-native mammals also poses a major threat to the long-term survival of the Juan Fernández Firecrown.
Our research and conservation efforts focus on the following objectives:

In addition to the above efforts, we are also actively engaged in restoration of native forest.

Please visit the Firecrown project page for additional information.

Másafuera Rayadito

The Másafuera Rayadito (Aphrastura masafuerae) is a small insectivorous songbird endemic to Isla Alejandro Selkirk. Due to its highly restricted range, small population size, and vulnerability to predation by non-native mammals, the Rayadito is considered to be critically endangered. Despite its critical status, the species remains virtually unstudied. This species is in urgent need of attention in order to reassess population status, quantify threats to the species, and understand habitat requirements.

In February 2006, we initiated a long-term conservation research program for the rayadito with the following initial objectives:

Please view the Rayadito project page for additional information.

Community Involvement

We place priority on interacting as much as possible with the local community in order to encourage involvement in conservation issues and enhance the sense of pride towards, and stewardship of, the islands' valuable natural resources. Currently our limited funds are focused on education and community projects aimed at reaching general audiences and increasing awareness of local conservation issues. In the future, we plan to devote more time and funding to improve the projects we have started as well as to develop specific educational materials and workshops that will encourage collaborations with local fishermen, members of the cattle association, park rangers, and children. We believe that promoting an understanding of interactions between nature and culture is essential to create sustainable and lasting change.

Pink-footed Shearwater Reserve
In 2002, local park officials alerted us to the existence of a small pink-footed shearwater colony on the edge of the single town on Isla Robinson Crusoe (San Juan Bautista). Residents claim that historically the shearwater breeding population using this area was much greater than it is at present, with references to nights when they could barely sleep because of the noise of shearwaters calling while circling. After successfully proposing to the local municipality that the area be set aside as a community reserve, in 2003 we collaborated with the mayor's office in submitting a proposal to the Ministerio de Bienes Nacionales, the federal Chilean public land use agency. In late 2003, Bienes Nacionales accepted our proposal to protect this area as a community shearwater reserve, which is now one of the first reserves on municipal land in Chile.

Currently, we coordinate visits to the colony for the local community, inviting all interested community members to explore the colony and examine nests with biologists, using infrared burrow cameras. The reserve is an ideal area for field trips for adults, children, and tourists, as it is close to the town center. Our goal for the reserve is that it will serve as an effective conservation resource, allowing a large number of people to actively learn about local biology and conservation as well as participate in nest monitoring and vegetation restoration.

Streetlights along the road that bisects the reserve pose a problem for shearwaters. Bright lights disorient shearwaters, especially fledglings dispersing from the colonies. Though frequently uninjured, these confused birds can more easily fall prey to cats and dogs. We have worked with the mayor and the municipality to modify the lights and diminish negative impacts on shearwaters. To this end, Acting Electric (www.acting.cl) has donated red streetlight panels for existing lights within the colony, and the municipality has graciously installed them. The emitted red light does not negatively impact shearwater orientation, as did the standard white lights.

Citizen Science
In order for conservation programs to have a long-term effect, local communities need to be interested in and supportive of the efforts. One of the most effective ways of increasing awareness and support is through direct experience. As such, we have recently established a citizen science program in which interested local residents conduct regular observations of Juan Fernández and green-backed firecrowns in their yards or in a designated sector of town. These observations will not only create an opportunity for residents to participate actively in conservation efforts, but the data collected will also help us to better understand movement and habitat usage patterns of the hummingbirds and, if successfully continued for several years, population trends over time. Participants will receive regular updates summarizing the results of the project and these same results will be distributed throughout town periodically to encourage additional awareness and participation.

Guardianes del Medio Ambiente

In 2003, we began a collaboration with Milén Rojas, an educator who had established on the islands an environmental education program for children, Guardianes del Medio Ambiente (Environmental Guardians). Although Milén has since returned to work in mainland Chile the project has continued to thrive and grow. We supported Milén in preparing and writing an activity guide for the program which remains the basis for both in-town and field activities. Before Milén departed, we funded a training program for several island residents to develop skills in facilitating the program. This was a high priority as having resident coordinators will help to ensure both the continuity of the program and its establishment as an institution in the local society. During the past two years, two islanders have worked as coordinators leading monthly environmental activities and further developing the program. We continue to remain actively involved with the Guardianes and find it quite rewarding to see children who have participated in the program in the past now with a keen sense of conservation issues on the islands.

Education

Field courses
We have offered field courses to teenage residents during their summer vacation from school. The short courses, several hours to 24 hours in duration, allow local children to visit a seabird research field site, learn about conservation and ecology of their islands, collect data and experience field work alongside biologists studying local systems.

School visits
Our research team has visited K-8 classrooms and given regular presentations to class assemblies to introduce the concept of endemism and discuss the threatened and endangered native birds of the archipelago. Discussions included themes such as basic biology of the species, threats confronting the natural systems of the archipelago, island biogeography and conservation. In addition, we have provided general information about the natural history of the seabirds and landbirds of the islands and our specific investigations to the local cultural center, the school, the park administration and the municipality.

Kites
In March 2003 primary school children had the opportunity to participate in a kite making workshop. The 30-40 children in attendance learned hands-on the characteristics of and necessities for flight while building their own kites.

Community talks
Every field season we give talks for local residents and CONAF employees to encourage understanding of, and collaboration with, scientific research projects and community programs. Attendance and interest continues to be high and encourages subsequent talks.

Drawing contest
To encourage awareness and knowledge of locally nesting seabirds, adults and children were invited to submit original drawings of seabirds to a contest held in early 2002. Winners' drawings were printed on t-shirts now available for sale in San Juan Bautista, with proceeds going to the Corporación Cultural de Juan Fernández for use in local conservation projects.

Radio shows
In 2002 and 2005-2007, biologists from our program were featured on a local radio show covering conservation and nature topics. They discussed the current seabird, firecrown and rayadito conservation projects, other conservation issues confronting the islands, and our community-based education and citizen science programs.

Scientific training

We invite Chilean undergraduate students to pursue research with us in the Juan Fernández Islands. Students assist with our central research objectives while conducting supervised research for their undergraduate thesis. The students work alongside professional biologists, learning skills and techniques of field biology (including data collection, research design and execution, and teamwork), while also developing and pursuing a personal research endeavor.

We continue to seek funds to employ local residents, to generate employment in conservation, to foster formal training of techniques in field biology, and to help us pursue our central goals as presented in our mission statement. In the past six years we have been able to employ eight island residents to work full-time seasonally assisting us with our research and restoration objectives, and we hope that we can continue to expand these opportunities in the future.

Get Involved

Chilean undergraduates
We invite Chilean undergraduate students to pursue research with us in the Juan Fernández Islands. Students assist with our central research objectives while conducting supervised research for their undergraduate thesis. The students work alongside professional biologists, learning skills and techniques in field ecology (including data collection, research design and execution, and teamwork), while also developing and pursuing a personal research endeavor. Please contact us (jfic@oikonos.org) with a letter of interest and curriculum vitae if you are interested in this experience.

Research Opportunities

We are supportive of independent and collaborative efforts that serve to protect the long-term ecosystem functions and vitality of the Juan Fernández Islands. If you are interested in collaborative efforts pursuing basic research, applied conservation, or environmental education in the archipelago and have independent funding or solid ideas for sources of funding, please contact us at: jfic@oikonos.org.

Field Assistants
Each year we may have opportunities for volunteer field assistants interested in working with us. Work and conditions can be difficult, but the experience is extremely rewarding for someone enthusiastic about field work in a bilingual environment and an amazing island system. Please contact us with a letter of interest and resume at: jfic@oikonos.org if you are interested in this experience.

Giving
Thank you for considering a gift to the Juan Fernández Islands Conservancy. Your donation will be spent directly on the programs described above, in efforts to conserve the natural communities of the Juan Fernández Islands.
We welcome your tax-deductible donations.

Secure Online Donations or contact peter@oikonos.org

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the American Bird Conservancy, Conservation International, National Geographic Society, the Jeniam Foundation, the Hummingbird Society, New England Biolabs Foundation, the NIH Minority International Research Training (MIRT) program, Northstar Technologies, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the TOPP program (Tagging of Pacific Pelagics), several private donors and a private foundation for their generous contributions.

For administrative support we are indebted to Wildlife Conservation Society, the University of Washington (Seattle), and regional and island offices of CONAF (Corporación Nacional Forestal). For his collaborative efforts we thank Dr. Roberto Schlatter of the Universidad Austral de Chile. We thank Leonardo Moder and Javiera Meza of CONAF, as well as Horacio Merlet of SAG (Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero) for our research permits.

For various in-kind donations we thank CONAF, the Municipality of the Juan Fernández Islands, various island fishermen too numerous to mention individually, Island Conservation and Ecology Group, Dr. Julia Parrish, Adolfo Navia at Acting Electric, Eagle Optics and the Birder's Exchange. Thank you to Will Scales for designing and drawing our logo, and to Diana Thayer for additional graphic design.

We would like to extend our thanks to members of the island community too numerous to list individually for their continued support and enthusiasm. We are indebted to local CONAF administrators, rangers, and personnel (and their families), Mayor Leopoldo Charpentier and personnel from the mayor's office, the Casa de la Cultura, the faculty and students of the Escuela Dresden, and the Juventud Robinsoniana.

Our project is forever indebted to our field crew members: Will Baur, Valentina Colodro, Sara de Rodt, Jane Dolliver, Courtney Dunham, Paola Gonzalez, Nathalie Hamel, Stephani Holzwarth, Samantha Hua, Amber Johnson, Amy Leist, Kirsten Lindquist, Christian "Chupa" López, Ronnie Reyes, Bianca Rodriguez, Stacie Schoppman, Molly Schreiner, Paul Scofield, Alejandro Sepulveda, Andrea Suardo and Coral Wolf. Their tireless efforts, endless enthusiasm, and enduring sense of humor under isolated and challenging conditions have made our endeavors not only successful, but also more fun than we can sometimes handle!

U.S. Contacts
Dr. Peter Hodum, Director JFIC, Oikonos
Erin Hagen, Project Leader, Oikonos and Graduate Student, University of Washington

Chile Contacts

Dr. Maria Victoria López-Calleja, Pontifica Universidad Católica
Dr. Cristián Estades, Universidad de Chile
Jorge Tomasevic, University of Washington

Please view Project Pages for other Collaborator and Researcher contacts

Pink-footed Shearwater

Juan Fernández Firecrown

Másafuera Rayadito