MacGregor's bird-of-paradise  (Macgregoria pulchra)

The absence of MacGregor's bird-of-paradise from many parts of the Central Highlands leads researchers to believe that there have been a series of local extinctions in the species' history, probably caused by habitat changes and hunting pressures. It remains a popular game bird as it is tame, conspicuous as a result of the flash of colour around the eyes, and regularly returns to the same site, making it a very easy target. New mountain roads have caused further fragmentation of its habitat and have also made it easy for hunters to gain access to it (2).

MacGregor's bird-of-paradise is protected by law in both its range states, but this protection is difficult to enforce in remote areas and is not a strong deterrent, as poaching continues. Scientists are interested in monitoring the movement of birds between sites to gain an understanding of the population structure and whether the isolated populations are interbreeding. It is hoped that large, locally-managed forest reserves can be created that focus on preventing hunting and can run ecotourism ventures using MacGregor's bird-of-paradise as a high altitude flagship species. Educating land-owners is also a high priority, to ensure that they help to protect any birds frequenting their land (2).