Talk:Réunion swamphen

Copy edit queries
Apologies for taking so long to get round to this.


 * "The last definite account of the bird is that of the priest Brown": I assume that his first name is not known?
 * The sources only refer to him as Père Brown... As in Father Brown. I've added it for now, though it seems titles should usually not be used here, but what do you think? FunkMonk (talk) 02:35, 12 September 2020 (UTC)
 * Umm. Maybe Father Brown at first mention, and plain Brown thereafter?
 * Done. FunkMonk (talk) 01:04, 13 September 2020 (UTC)


 * "Many terrestrial rails are flightless, and island populations are particularly vulnerable to man-made changes; as a result, rails have suffered more extinctions than any other family of birds." Personally I would put a citation after this, even if it is a duplicate.
 * Done, though it is the same citation twice in a row, yeah. FunkMonk (talk) 02:35, 12 September 2020 (UTC)


 * If 'twere me I would reduce the last quote to "There are also some curious birds, which never descend to the sea-side, and who are so little accustomed to, or alarmed at, the sight of man, that they suffer themselves to be killed by the stroke of a walking stick." and include anything else of note which you have not already mentioned (not much) in your earlier description of the Plaine des Cafres. This is quite aside from the MoS. Just a passing comment; we can debate it more fully at FAC.
 * I have reduced some parts that I thought unnecessary, but I retained the part about the brook, because I think it's interesting to note there were water bodies there which the bird could have used, as well as the part about it being elevated and hard to reach, which also gives context for how it could have worked as a last refuge for the bird. FunkMonk (talk) 02:35, 12 September 2020 (UTC)


 * "Overhunting was the main cause of its extinction (it was considered good game and was easy to catch), but according to Cheke and Hume, the introduction of cats at the end of the 17th century would have led to the elimination of the bird once these became feral and reached its habitat." This sentence seems to be suggesting two different "main causes" for the bird's extinction.
 * The source says "Its extinction was due to overhunting and perhaps cat predation, being last recorded in 1730 but possibly persisting until the 1760s" So I have changed the text to " the introduction of cats at the end of the 17th century could have contributed to the elimination of the bird". FunkMonk (talk) 02:35, 12 September 2020 (UTC)

Minimal changes needed. Revert or further amend at will. Looks about ready for FAC to my untutored eye. Gog the Mild (talk) 12:18, 11 September 2020 (UTC)
 * Thanks, there was no rush, so it's fine you took your time. I won't nominate it until Limusaurus has gotten a bit further anyway. I have also replaced the photo under behaviour, as it shows a more uniformly coloured swamphen species that may look more similar to this one. FunkMonk (talk) 02:35, 12 September 2020 (UTC)


 * That all looks good. We three shall meet again, at FAC! Gog the Mild (talk) 15:11, 12 September 2020 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the thorough look-through! I think I'll nominate when (if) Limusaurus gets its second support. FunkMonk (talk) 01:04, 13 September 2020 (UTC)