This female Seychelles paradise flycatcher is making certain the nest is top notch, with the best possible materials, so that her clutch of eggs will result in a new and healthy generation!
She was oblivious to the fact that she was one of just 200-250 individuals alive of the entire species! It was a critically endangered species that only existed on the island of La Digue in Seychelles.
Fortunately, as with other endangered species endemic to the Seychelles archipelago, it was decided to relocate several individuals to another island, Denis Island, to increase the odds of the species. This has proved a success, as it has been with other species and the species has been downlisted to vulnerable. How wonderful is that in a world that species after species go extinct because of us!
Photographing these birds was difficult as they prefer to be high in the trees, and will sit in one position for a while looking for food, then take a short flight to repeat the behaviour. Thus I had to be very alert, and at first I was only able to see the males very briefly. I stayed on La Digue for 5 nights, and selected a hotel very near to the Veuve Nature Reserve, a dense forest with tree species that support the needs of the fly catcher.
How amazing it was to finally find a nest, and what a location! So artistic to my eye, but selected by a mother that knows exactly what she needs in order to become a successful mum!
It sounds like this:
Last updated on 25 October 2021
