Negros striped babbler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Negros striped babbler |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Zosterornis
|
| Species: |
nigrorum
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Stachyris nigrorum |
|
The Negros striped babbler (Zosterornis nigrorum) is a special type of bird. It belongs to the Zosteropidae family, which includes many small, active birds. This bird lives only on Negros Island in the Philippines. It makes its home in tropical, moist montane forests. These forests are found on mountains, usually between 900 and 1,600 meters (about 3,000 to 5,200 feet) above sea level. Sadly, this unique bird is in danger because its habitat (its natural home) is shrinking.
Contents
What Does the Negros Striped Babbler Look Like?
This bird is quite small. It has warm brown feathers on its back and cream-colored feathers underneath. Its belly has fine black streaks, like tiny stripes. Look closely, and you'll see a white throat and a small white area around its eye. This white area is outlined in black, and there's also a black line going through its eye.
The Negros striped babbler often joins groups of different bird species. It looks a lot like the Panay striped babbler, which is a close relative. However, the Negros babbler has lighter, more finely streaked feathers on its underside. It also has a clearer "mask" around its eyes, making it look lighter overall. Its voice includes high-pitched chipping sounds.
Where Does the Babbler Live and Why Is It Endangered?
The Negros striped babbler lives in mountain forests. It prefers areas between 950 and 1,600 meters high. It is most often found between 1,050 and 1,400 meters. This bird usually stays in the lower parts of the forest. It can even live in areas where the forest has been disturbed, like recently damaged forests or places with thick bushes at the forest edge. However, it still needs some forest cover to survive.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed this bird as an Endangered animal. This means it faces a very high risk of becoming extinct in the wild.
Why Is the Babbler's Home Disappearing?
The biggest threat to the Negros striped babbler is the loss of its habitat. Forests are being cleared for many reasons, such as:
- Logging: Cutting down trees for wood.
- Agriculture: Turning forest land into farms.
- Mining: Digging for minerals.
By 1988, only about 4% of the original forest cover was left on Negros Island. In some important areas, like Mount Talinis, the forest only reached up to 1,250 meters.
How Many Babblers Are Left?
There are four types of striped babblers, including the Panay striped babbler, Palawan striped babbler, and Luzon striped babbler. Among these, the Negros striped babbler is the most endangered. Scientists believe there are only about 600 to 1,700 of these birds left. This is because Negros Island has lost more of its forests than almost any other island in the Philippines. This means there isn't enough suitable habitat for the babblers to live and thrive.
What Is Being Done to Help?
Efforts are being made to protect the Negros striped babbler.
- The Mount Talinis / Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park area has been suggested for conservation funding. This area has about 40 square kilometers (about 15 square miles) of high-altitude forest. This forest also gets some protection because it's part of the Negros Geothermal Reservation.
- People living near Mount Talinis have been taught about the importance of protecting the environment.
- Mount Kanlaon is another protected area. If the babbler still lives there, it will also benefit from this protection.
