Home / Environment / Bermuda's 'Lizard Killer' Bird Becomes Ecological Menace
Bermuda's 'Lizard Killer' Bird Becomes Ecological Menace
17 Aug
Summary
- Great kiskadees were introduced to control invasive lizards.
- The birds preyed on native species' eggs and chicks.
- Bermuda cicadas may be extinct due to introduced birds.
In 1957, Bermuda imported 200 great kiskadees from Trinidad with the aim of controlling invasive lizards, specifically the Jamaican anole. This introduced species, the kiskadee, proved to be an ecological disruptor rather than a solution. The birds, known for their loud calls and striking appearance, did not fulfill their intended purpose.
Instead, kiskadees developed a varied diet, consuming the eggs and chicks of native birds like the white-eyed vireo and bluebird. They also aided the spread of invasive plants by eating fruits and dispersing seeds. Furthermore, they preyed on small fish intended for mosquito control, demonstrating a significant ecological footprint.
A major consequence is the potential extinction of the Bermuda cicada. These native insects, reliant on Bermuda cedar trees, were already declining. The introduced kiskadees then targeted the remaining cicadas, an easy food source. The last confirmed sighting of a Bermuda cicada was in the early 1990s, leading scientists to believe the species is now extinct in the wild.
