Natural history
Endemic to the highest area of Alejandro Selkirk, the westernmost island of the Juan Fernández Archipelago in Chile. Its population does not exceed 500 individuals, making it one of the most threatened species in Chile. It nests in high-altitude forests, building its nests in the small cavities of trunks of trees or rocks. It is an under-studied species due to the difficult access to the island and the places where it lives, which are generally deep ravines and cliffs.
Conservation
Habitat modification due to fires in the past, added to the introduction of predators such as rats and cats, have decreased their population. We have installed nesting boxes to increase the supply of nesting sites, which have a design that does not allow the entry of non-native rodents. Together with the local community, we have controlled and eradicated invasive plants to reduce the pressure on their habitat.
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