Mariana Islands

Located in the western North Pacific Ocean, the Mariana Islands are home to 19 endemic bird species and subspecies that are threatened by the introduction of the Brown Tree Snake. This snake, which was introduced to the island of Guam before 1950, has already been responsible for the extinction or extirpation of nine of 12 species of native forest birds on Guam, and has been determined the single greatest threat to terrestrial ecosystems in the other islands in the Mariana archipelago.

The National Aviary is working in collaboration with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ Division of Fish and Wildlife, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the nonprofit group Pacific Bird Conservation, and Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos to address this major threat to birds through the Marianas Avifauna Conservation (MAC) project.

Working primarily on the islands of Rota, Tinian, and Saipan, the MAC Project seeks to safeguard the unique avian diversity of these islands from potential extinctions that could result from introduction of the brown tree snake from nearby Guam. The MAC Project’s long-term plan is two-fold. Together, we are working to establish satellite populations of threatened species, and proactively breed birds in human care.

In The News

See All News

The Invisible Clues Animals Leave Behind Are Helping Save Entire Ecosystems (featuring an interview with Dr. Steve Latta) | A-Z Animals

In this article, we speak with Dr. Steven Latta, Director of Conservation and Field Research at The National Aviary. In his own work, he collects eDNA samples from water, leaf litter, feathers, egg shells, and other substrates to identify species presence.

Why Animals in Cold Climates Are Bigger: The Science Behind Bergmann’s Rule (featuring an interview with Bob Mulvihill) | A-Z Animals

“Large animals can conserve heat more efficiently than smaller animals in cold climates,” explains Bob Mulvihill, Lead Ornithologist for the National Aviary.

Penguins To Hold ‘Penguins Pledge Night’ Presented by U. S. Steel | Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins Pledge will also raise funds and call attention to the National Aviary in Pittsburgh and their conservation leadership with African Penguins.

Record Number of Peregrine Falcons Counted in Allegheny County | National Today

Conservation efforts have helped the raptor species rebound in the region.

Why Are There No Birds in My Birdhouse? I Asked Expert Bob Mulvihill Who Told Me How to Attract Birds to Any Birdhouse | Gardening Know How

To help ensure your birdhouses are as appealing to birds as possible, [we] asked a National Aviary Ornithologist Bob Mulvihill for the most common reasons why houses remain vacant and how to make houses more attractive to garden birds.