Status of the Madagascar Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides in 1995

Surveys for the Madagascar Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides were conducted each breeding season (May through October) from 1991 through 1995 between Morondava and Antsiranana, western to northwestern Madagascar, to estimate the population size of this endangered species. Suitable habitat including lakes, rivers, estuaries, mangroves, and marine islands was searched and at least 222 adult Madagascar Fish Eagles were observed including 63 breeding pairs, 36 probable pairs, 24 single adults and 18 immature birds. Assuming that all probable pairs were breeding, we estimated the Madagascar Fish Eagle breeding population was 99 pairs (95% confidence interval = 78 to 120) in the area searched. This estimate is about twice the number previously estimated in the period 1980-1985, due mainly, we believe, to our greater search effort, although we cannot discount an increase in the breeding population. The number of breeding pairs has declined since 1985 in some localities, suggesting a population decline or movement of pairs away from these sites. We recommend annual monitoring of a random sample of known breeding pairs until causes for the species' rarity have been limited and no evidence of population decline is detected, followed by monitoring at least every five years until the species can be removed from the endangered list.