Giant Nuthatch

Giant Nuthatch (Sitta magna) is a globally endangered species. However, it is poorly known globally and has received little attention, particularly regarding habitat management. Therefore, conducting this project will be an excellent opportunity to engage in conservation work that will likely directly benefit a globally endangered species. This project will focus mainly in Thailand. Additional detailed habitat and population size study will focus on sites with confirmed records of the presence of Giant Nuthatch from the past 40 years mostly in Chiang Mai and some part of Mae Hong Son provinces, Northern of Thailand: Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, Pha Daeng National Park, Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Huai Nam Dang National Park and Mae Lao - Mae Sae Wildlife Sanctuary.

Our project including of 2 main activities

1) field survey to estimate the Giant Nuthatch population and habitat requirements

2) Develop potential habitat maps for Giant Nuthatch to estimate the long-term habitat viability.

This project will provide a relatively precise estimate of the size of the Thai population and clarify the characteristics of suitable habitat of the Giant Nuthatch as well as the extent of habitat remaining for this species in Thailand, which represents a significant proportion of the remaining habitat globally. This study will also therefore provide quantitative data and clear recommendations to the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation [DNP] (the organization directly responsible for conservation and management of wildlife and habitats in Thailand) to:

1) increase information regarding threatened species management that they can apply to Giant Nuthatch and perhaps other threatened species that share Giant Nuthatch habitat such as Humes’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae)

2) improved policy on Giant Nuthatch that will allow for better management and reduce the likelihood that the Thai population will go extinct.