Réunion's endemic birds: unique species in need of protection

Réunion Island offers exceptional biodiversity, both magnificent and fragile. Home to a variety of flora and fauna, including many endemic species, the island attracts nature lovers from all over the world. Let's discover some of the birds originally found on Réunion Island and the surrounding area, including Salanganes des MascareignesCave birds, which nest in lava tunnels.

Fragile biodiversity

For a long time, Réunion Island was isolated from the rest of the world, which encouraged the emergence of endemic species, i.e. those found only on the island. However, with the arrival of settlers and animals such as cats and rats, local biodiversity was put to the test. Many bird species have disappearedThese include the ibis and the pink pigeon, while others are under threat. Preserving these species is therefore essential to maintaining the island's natural balance.

Endemic birds you can spot on Réunion

The famous tuit-tuit (or Réunion Island beetle) is also an endemic bird and classified as critically endangered. A member of the passerine family, it is small in size and grey in colour for the males and light brown for the females. It is one of the rarest species in the world. It is distinguished by its melodious song and its essential role in the forest ecosystem.

Another remarkable endemic species is the tec-tec (or Réunion tarier) (see photo on the cover of this article) is a small bird, also of the passerine family, with a black, white and reddish colour for the males, and brown for the females. A very curious bird, it inhabits mid-altitude areas. It is often seen hopping between branches or on the ground, looking for insects.

Other endemic species include the white zoizo and the zoizo green (spectacled birds) and Maillard's harrier.

A cave-dwelling bird in lava tunnels: the Mascarene salangane

Réunion is home to another endemic bird with a very special characteristic: the Mascarene salanganea cave bird. The salanganes of the Mascarene Islands are of the swift familyThey are small and brown in colour. You'll be able to see them in flight in the island's wooded gullies, as well as in open, cultivated areas, from the coast to the summit of Piton des Neiges. Yes, these little birds are very active and rarely stop flying. They are even thought to sleep while they fly...!

What is a cave bird?

Cavernicolous" birds are birds of prey. species that nest in natural or man-made cavities. These refuges can be holes in a tree trunk, bank cavities, or man-made cracks, such as under a cornice, in a wall or openings called bolt holes. Unlike birds, which build an elaborate nest in a tree, for example, cavity nesters start by finding a suitable shelter and building an often minimalist nest there. Each species looks for a cavity that meets certain criteria: orientation, height, depth, darkness or degree of enclosure.

Salanganes nesting in lava tunnels

Like its cousin the swift, the Mascarene salangane is distinguished by its habit of nesting and living in rocky cavities. The difference is that salanganes from the Mascarene Islands sometimes choose to make their nests in the lava tunnels. There are no bats in these cavities dug out by molten lava. Some people theorise that they cannot co-habit with these birds...

During a visit to a lava tunnel, you can see the salanganes and hear their distinctive cry. This bird emits a sound similar to a continuous metallic clang when it is in the darkness of the lava tunnels. This sound enables it to find its way in the dark, thanks to the echo created by the occasional tunnel.

A shy bird, during the nesting period, from July to February, it is necessary to be very discreet when we walk past the nests in the lava tunnels, so as not to disturb them. A panic attack could cause the eggs and chicks to fall to the ground. We therefore carefully avoid approaching the nests directly and photographing the colonies.

The birds endemic to Réunionsometimes only found on this island, make up a major part of the natural wealth precious that it is important to preserve. Each species plays a key role in the balance of the island's ecosystem. By being aware of this rarity and taking the appropriate measures, we can all help to preserve this unique biodiversity.