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Mariana Swiftlet
jmorlan

Mariana Swiftlet (Aerodramus bartschi)

Apparently the first photo of this species posted to the gallery. I will add it to the Opus article. These nondescript swiftlets were foraging over a shallow pond. They are now classified as endangered by IUCN. Recent declines have been attributed to insect loss from pesticides. On Saipan they are also threatened by exotic cockroaches which literally eat their nests. An effort to control cockroaches at nesting colonies is underway. These swiftlets are endemic to the Northern Mariana Islands but have been extirpated from Rota and Tinian. A small introduced population survives on Oahu, Hawaii. Formerly included in the genus Collacalia sometimes under the name "Guam Swiftlet." Formerly lumped with other Pacific Island swiftlets under the names Island Swiftlet, Gray Swiftlet, or Uniform Swiftlet (A. vanikorensis).
Location
WW II Memorials, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Date taken
8 September 2019
Scientific name
Aerodramus bartschi
Equipment used
Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

Media information

Category
Asia, Australia & Pacific Islands
Added by
jmorlan
Date added
View count
33
Comment count
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