The New Caledonian owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles savesi), also known as the enigmatic owlet-nightjar, is a large owlet-nightjar with vermiculated grey-brown and black plumage. It has a long, slightly rounded tail, short, rounded wings, and long, stout legs. Its voice is unknown, but other owlet-nightjar species make churring and whistling sounds. It is the second-largest known owlet-nightjar (only the extinct New Zealand owlet-nightjar was larger), much larger than the Australian owlet-nightjar.[citation needed]
The New Caledonian owlet-nightjar is endemic to New Caledonia’s Melaleuca savanna and humid forests. Other owlet-nightjars are solitary, nest in holes in trees, and forage from a perch, both flying out to catch flying insects (hawking) and descending onto prey on the ground or on trunks and branches. It is unknown if these habits apply to the New Caledonian owlet-nightjar, but this species is larger and has longer legs than the other species, so it may be more terrestrial.[citation needed] Although according to the lastest sighter of the bird, Jonathan Ekstrom (see ref 5) it was observed to be hawking in the trees, the two features suggesting it likely still partakes in both the same behaviours to an extent. It is also similar however much larger than the Australian Owlet Nightjar.
The type specimen was collected after the bird flew into a bedroom in the village of Tonghoué. This large owlet-nightjar is only known from two specimens taken in 1880 and 1915, two other confirmed sightings and two other partly disputed sightings and one unconfirmed debated sighting. The most recent report is from a 1998 expedition which saw a large nightjar foraging for insects at dusk in Rivière Ni Valley. That report has been taken to suggest that the species may still survive in small numbers, but that total population is likely smaller than 50 individuals and declining.[1]
The New Caledonian owlet-nightjar, often referred to as A. savesi has often been confused with A. cristatus. In 1966 A. savesi was classified under A. cristatus, which has been misleading due to their different features and color. (Olson 1987)
Historyedit
The first known specimen was collected in the village of Tonghoué in the evening of the 11th of April 1880 after one flew into the bedroom of a resident. It was presented to M.Saves who in turn handed it over to Edgar Leopold Layard.[2] Eventually the specimen was purchased by the Liverpool Museum in 1896.[3] Another specimen was rediscovered in the early 21st Century in an Italian Museum dating back to 1915
According to Jonathan Ekstrom, on the island of Maré a confirmed sighting was reported in 1939 after one was shot (Macmillan 1938/39[4]). This specimen has not been recovered nor did Macmillan mention what became of it. A potential sighting occurred in 1960 when one was shot near Païta close to the original sighting. Also Daniel Letocart claims to have found one in the early 50s. Both sightings are unconfirmed. [5]
A third potential sighting has been mentioned by Hannecart and Letocart (1983[6])(See ref 3 alternatively). Also Olson, Balouet and Fisher (1987)(see ref 3 Figure 3) mentions the abundance of fossils suggesting the bird was widespread throughout the Archipelago, specifically on the islands Grand Terre and Maré. As info is scarce it is possible it is known to have inhabited other islands according to fossils.
After logging ceased in 1993 7500 Hectares of land was designated as 'Reserve Speciale de Faune et de Flore de la Ni-Kouakoue' in 1995. It receives little conservation work but is extremely remote and hence forth provides some conservation protection. It is unknown as to what this has brought (see ref 7 and 10).
Illustration by Josep del Hoyo, 1992
In 1996 Daniel Letocart heard unusual calls comparable to that of an Austalian Owlet-Nightjar (A.cristatus) in the forested headwaters of the Tchamba river on the east coast. Similar calls were reported by residents in 1996 and 98. As the New Caledonian Owlet-Nightjar is taxanomically similar this could suggest that this was the New Caledonian Owlet-Nightjar according to Ornithologists. In 1998 Project Diadema spotted the bird in the River Ni Valley. At 18:40 on the 5th of November, while walking along a dirt road, Jonathan Ekstrom and Joe Tobias spotted a bird fly across the track where it began to hawk for approximately ten seconds before vanishing "possibly to perch" before returning to hawk for an unspecified amount of time before disappearing without a trace[7] (See ref 5 also). According to David James who was in the conversation between Jonathan Ekstrom and Tony Palliser (Part of Project Diadema) [8] the sighting came under scrutiny in 1999 however due to no other archived emails and potential bias nor any proof it is likely the sighting was re-confirmed.[9]
Subsequent searches between 2002 and 2007 with more than 500 working days in the field and no credible reports from more than 120 interviews with locals have proved unsuccessful. [10]
caledonian, owlet, nightjar, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources New Caledonian owlet nightjar news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message The New Caledonian owlet nightjar Aegotheles savesi also known as the enigmatic owlet nightjar is a large owlet nightjar with vermiculated grey brown and black plumage It has a long slightly rounded tail short rounded wings and long stout legs Its voice is unknown but other owlet nightjar species make churring and whistling sounds It is the second largest known owlet nightjar only the extinct New Zealand owlet nightjar was larger much larger than the Australian owlet nightjar citation needed New Caledonian owlet nightjar Illustration by Joseph Smit 1881 Conservation status Critically Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Clade Strisores Order Aegotheliformes Family Aegothelidae Genus Aegotheles Species A savesi Binomial name Aegotheles savesiLayard EL amp Layard ELC 1881 The New Caledonian owlet nightjar is endemic to New Caledonia s Melaleuca savanna and humid forests Other owlet nightjars are solitary nest in holes in trees and forage from a perch both flying out to catch flying insects hawking and descending onto prey on the ground or on trunks and branches It is unknown if these habits apply to the New Caledonian owlet nightjar but this species is larger and has longer legs than the other species so it may be more terrestrial citation needed Although according to the lastest sighter of the bird Jonathan Ekstrom see ref 5 it was observed to be hawking in the trees the two features suggesting it likely still partakes in both the same behaviours to an extent It is also similar however much larger than the Australian Owlet Nightjar The type specimen was collected after the bird flew into a bedroom in the village of Tonghoue This large owlet nightjar is only known from two specimens taken in 1880 and 1915 two other confirmed sightings and two other partly disputed sightings and one unconfirmed debated sighting The most recent report is from a 1998 expedition which saw a large nightjar foraging for insects at dusk in Riviere Ni Valley That report has been taken to suggest that the species may still survive in small numbers but that total population is likely smaller than 50 individuals and declining 1 The New Caledonian owlet nightjar often referred to as A savesi has often been confused with A cristatus In 1966 A savesi was classified under A cristatus which has been misleading due to their different features and color Olson 1987 History editThe first known specimen was collected in the village of Tonghoue in the evening of the 11th of April 1880 after one flew into the bedroom of a resident It was presented to M Saves who in turn handed it over to Edgar Leopold Layard 2 Eventually the specimen was purchased by the Liverpool Museum in 1896 3 Another specimen was rediscovered in the early 21st Century in an Italian Museum dating back to 1915According to Jonathan Ekstrom on the island of Mare a confirmed sighting was reported in 1939 after one was shot Macmillan 1938 39 4 This specimen has not been recovered nor did Macmillan mention what became of it A potential sighting occurred in 1960 when one was shot near Paita close to the original sighting Also Daniel Letocart claims to have found one in the early 50s Both sightings are unconfirmed 5 A third potential sighting has been mentioned by Hannecart and Letocart 1983 6 See ref 3 alternatively Also Olson Balouet and Fisher 1987 see ref 3 Figure 3 mentions the abundance of fossils suggesting the bird was widespread throughout the Archipelago specifically on the islands Grand Terre and Mare As info is scarce it is possible it is known to have inhabited other islands according to fossils After logging ceased in 1993 7500 Hectares of land was designated as Reserve Speciale de Faune et de Flore de la Ni Kouakoue in 1995 It receives little conservation work but is extremely remote and hence forth provides some conservation protection It is unknown as to what this has brought see ref 7 and 10 nbsp Illustration by Josep del Hoyo 1992 In 1996 Daniel Letocart heard unusual calls comparable to that of an Austalian Owlet Nightjar A cristatus in the forested headwaters of the Tchamba river on the east coast Similar calls were reported by residents in 1996 and 98 As the New Caledonian Owlet Nightjar is taxanomically similar this could suggest that this was the New Caledonian Owlet Nightjar according to Ornithologists In 1998 Project Diadema spotted the bird in the River Ni Valley At 18 40 on the 5th of November while walking along a dirt road Jonathan Ekstrom and Joe Tobias spotted a bird fly across the track where it began to hawk for approximately ten seconds before vanishing possibly to perch before returning to hawk for an unspecified amount of time before disappearing without a trace 7 See ref 5 also According to David James who was in the conversation between Jonathan Ekstrom and Tony Palliser Part of Project Diadema 8 the sighting came under scrutiny in 1999 however due to no other archived emails and potential bias nor any proof it is likely the sighting was re confirmed 9 Subsequent searches between 2002 and 2007 with more than 500 working days in the field and no credible reports from more than 120 interviews with locals have proved unsuccessful 10 References edit a b BirdLife International 2018 amended version of 2016 assessment Aegotheles savesi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22689559A129328996 Retrieved 29 February 2020 J Smit The Ibis 1881 https archive org details ibis451881brit page 132 mode 2up view theater OLSON S L J C BALOUET AND C T FISHER 1987 The owlet nightjar of New Caledonia Aegotheles savesi with comments on the systematics of the Aegothelidae https www researchgate net publication 312979044 The owlet nightjar of New Caledonia Aegotheles savesi with comments on the systematics of the Aegothelidae Macmillan L Note sur les oiseaux des iles Loyaute Trad anglais par H Schmidt Bulletin de la Societe de etudes melanesiennes Noumea No 1 Dec 1938 pp 22 26 no 2 avr 1939 pp 30 41 https archive org details memoiresdumuseu7musec page 37 mode 2up Re Rediscovery of the New Caledonian Owlet Nightjar From Jonathan Ekstrom http bioacoustics cse unsw edu au archives html birding aus 1998 11 msg00332 html Oiseaux de Nouvelle Caledonie et des loyautes New Calednonian birds vol II https library sprep org content oiseaux de nouvelle caledonie et des loyautes new calednonian birds volii Re Rediscovery of the New Caledonian Owlet Nightjar From Tony Palliser http bioacoustics cse unsw edu au archives html birding aus 1998 11 msg00283 html Re Rediscovery of the New Caledonian Owlet Nightjar From David James http bioacoustics cse unsw edu au archives html birding aus 1998 11 msg00401 html Re birding aus New Caledonia Nightjar From David James http bioacoustics cse unsw edu au archives html birding aus 1999 12 msg00199 html Datazone birdlife New Caldedonian Owlet Nightjar https datazone birdlife org species factsheet new caledonian owlet nightjar aegotheles savesi textExternal links editBirdLife Species Factsheet New Caledonia s Most wanted Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title New Caledonian owlet nightjar amp oldid 1220449534, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
