Archived 2010-2011 topics: Cundinamarca Antpitta (Grallaria kaestneri): uplist to Endangered?

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Andy Symes (BirdLife)

Link to BirdLife species factsheet for Cundinamarca Antpitta

Cundinamarca Antpitta Grallaria kaestneri is currently listed as Vulnerable under criterion D2, because it occupies fewer than six locations.

Information provided by O. Cortes (in litt. 2009), suggests that the species’s population is not stable, as previously thought, but is actually declining due to habitat loss. The species’s Extent of Occurrence (EOO) is estimated to be 450 km2, thus if continuing declines are observed, inferred or projected in the EOO, Area of Occupancy, area, extent and/or quality of its habitat, number of locations or sub-populations, or number of mature individuals, the species would be eligible for uplisting to Endangered under criterion B1a+b.

Comments are invited on this possible category change, particularly information on the likely population size, the current trend over 11 years (estimate of three generations) and the severity of threats.

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2 Responses to Archived 2010-2011 topics: Cundinamarca Antpitta (Grallaria kaestneri): uplist to Endangered?

  1. Oswaldo Cortes says:
    January 23, 2011 at 5:07 am

    in field work at Farallones de Medina not records the population Cundinamarca Antpitta due has drastically declined These are not suitable for antpitta as they need cloud forest for breeding and foraging.

    declines are suspected in its range owing to habitat clearance and degradation, and its population is suspected to be experiencing a moderately rapid decline owing to the same threats, the population and furthermore this specie is only know the two locations IBA Guatiquia and Farallones de Medina but this last have high fragmentation and not records recently the cundinamarca antpitta

  2. Andy Symes says:
    January 31, 2011 at 2:44 pm

    Fundacion ProAves have provided the following information:

    Surveys of Grallaria kaestneri by ProAves in 2009 found more than 12 territories along the Monterredondo – El Calvario road and others within the forest interior. The species was not especially vocal (perhaps a seasonal singer), very shy (even to playback) and hard to locate. Notably, the species is most readily found in dense vegetation on steep embankments or regenerating landslides – some alongside the road. The eastern slope (or “wall”) of the Eastern Cordillera is predominantly a landscape of very steep slopes that are heavily forested and scarred by natural landslides. These areas are very hard to access and fortunately most such habitat remains intact. As a result, we believe that despite threats along some of the few roads which traverse the cordillera, a core habitat of Grallaria kaestneri is actually relatively intact. However, forested areas at lower elevations or less steep slopes are under tremendous pressure from colonization and deforestation in recent years that will no doubt accelerate over the next decade. Perhaps 30% of the species EOO will be lost in 10-15 years. We tentative consider the species should remain Vulnerable.

    Fundacion ProAves (in press) The status of various threatened or potentially threatened birds in Colombia. Conservación Colombiana 14

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