Ko'ko' for Cocos (www.kokforcocos.org)

http://www.kokoforcocos.org/

The Ko'ko' for Cocos Project is an example of how Guam can preserve and restore habitats to support native species recovery.  Habitat for native species can be created by planting native plant species, controlling invasive species (both plant and animal), and removing predatory species.

The Ko'ko' for Cocos Project is also a good example of private and public partnerships.  A Safe Harbor Agreement between the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the Government of Guam and Cocos Island Resort Inc. was signed to allow management activities in support of ko'ko' introductions on private land while protecting the future rights of the Cocos Island Resort.  The project is funded through the Department of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs’ Brown Treesnake Grant; US Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered Species Non-traditional and Traditional Section 6 funds; US Fish & Wildlife Service Aquatic Nuisance Species Grant; US Fish & Wildlife Pacific Islands Coastal Program, US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program; US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services; and, the US Forest Service Stewardship Program.  In-kind services are provided by Cocos Island Resort.

The Guam rail is a flightless species endemic or unique and only found on the island of Guam in the Mariana Islands.  The species is derived from the closely related Gallirallus torquatus of the Philippines.  No closely related species occur in Micronesia.  It is a medium sized rail about 28 cm in total length.  The body is elongated and laterally compressed, particularly in the neck and breast regions, allowing the birds to move rapidly through dense vegetation.  The plumage or feather color and pattern of both sexes is similar, however males can often be distinguished by their larger size.  The head and back are brown.  It has a grey eye stripe and throat and a dark blackish breast with white barring.  The legs and beak are dark brown.  This species is a generalist, preferring animal over vegetable matter. 

 

Before the arrival of humans more that 3000 years ago the Guam rail was probably a forest species.  Historically it was common throughout the island in all habitat types except wetlands.  Experimental Guam rail populations on Rota tend to survive in mixed farmland and edge habitats.

 

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the population of rails on Guam was estimated between sixty and eighty thousand.  Rails were often seen during early morning and late evening foraging and bathing along field edges and roadsides.  Guam rails are very fecund or capable of producing many offsping.  They mature at six months of age and have been known to produce up to 10 clutches per year in captivity.  Rail eggs hatch after 19 days of incubation and captive rails will re-nest 14 days following a hatch or loss of nest.  Released birds in Area 50 on Andersen Airforce Base demonstrated a similar pattern.

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