Critical habitat designated for 
Rota bridled white-eye

HONOLULU, HI (09/12/06) -- A final rule designating critical habitat for the endangered Rota bridled white-eye on the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has been released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The final designation consists of 3,700 acres of government land under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and 258 acres of private land.

On May 20, 2004, a lawsuit was filed against the Department of the Interior and the Service by the Center for Biological Diversity challenging to the decision not to propose critical habitat for the Rota bridled white-eye.  This critical habitat designation fulfills a September 14, 2004, settlement agreement stating that a critical habitat proposal must be submitted by September 7, 2005, to the Federal Register for publication.

In 30 years of implementing the ESA, the Service has found the designation of critical habitat provides little additional protection for most listed species, while preventing the agency from using scarce conservation resources for activities with greater conservation benefits. 

The Rota bridled white-eye is a small (approximately 4 inches in size) yellowish bird with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. Average weight of the bird is about one-third of an ounce. The species feeds primarily on insects and often is found in small flocks of five to seven birds. Related species include the Guam bridled white-eye, which is believed to be extinct, and the Saipan bridled white-eye, which is relatively abundant on Saipan, Tinian, and Aguigan. In 1982, there were approximately 10,000 Rota bridled white-eyes.  Currently, the species consists of approximately 1,000 birds restricted to forests above 490 feet (150 meters) elevation in the Sabana region of Rota.

The final rule to designate critical habitat for the Rota bridled white-eye was published in the September 12, 2006, Federal Register, pages 53589-53605 ([TEXT] [PDF]) and will take effect in 30 days.