Juan Fernandez Firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 242536734

Immediate Action to Save the Critically Endangered Juan Fernández Firecrown: Restoring Habitat to Prevent Extinction

 

This project supports the recovery of the Critically Endangered Juan Fernández Firecrown through three integrated objectives: 

 1. Advance Forest Restoration: Improve the Firecrown’s critical nesting and foraging habitats by removing invasive plant species in 44 previously managed plots every three months throughout 2025 in an area of influence of 3.63 hectares. We will also conduct native outplanting, replacing only dead individuals, with a current survival rate of 70% for previously planted species. 

2. Monitor Reproductive Success: Conduct intensive nest searches in the Plazoleta del Yunque area from July to December to assess the species' reproductive success. These data are essential to understand population trends and guide adaptive management.

3. Expand Population Monitoring: The project aims to expand population monitoring by partnering with CONAF to deploy acoustic monitoring devivces across a broader area of Robinson Crusoe Island, moving beyond the currently studied Plazoleta El Yunque. This effort will help identify new breeding and foraging sites for the Juan Fernández Firecrown, providing essential data on habitat use that is currently unknown. Expanding monitoring is critical to guide effective conservation actions, protect previously unrecognized habitats, and address potential threats across the entire island, ensuring a more comprehensive approach to the species’ recovery.