Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Amerson (1968) lists the bird hosts for the tick, Ornithoros capensis and the O. capensis
group in the Phoenix Islands (see Table III-3.11 above).
Sibley and McFarlane (1968) reviewed records of gulls from the Phoenix Islands. They
noted that no gulls were collected by the Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program (POBSP).
In 1963, gulls were seen once in the Phoenix Islands. However, this sighting was apparently
from Baker Island, not one of the eight islands identified here as part of the Phoenix group. It
was still a puzzle why gulls had not colonized tropical islands such as the Phoenix Islands.
Fosberg et al (1973) reported that a small number of birds were being killed by collision with
radar masts on the Phoenix Islands. Forsberg et al (1973) did not specify which islands these
radar masts were located. It was recommended that these birds be collected and dried, then
periodically turned over to scientists. Any bird band information should also be recorded.
Bryan (1974) presented a table of birds common on the equatorial Pacific Islands. However,
resident and migratory birds for the Phoenix Islands in general, or for each of the Phoenix
Islands were not identified.
Harrington (1977) reported that adult red-footed boobies from south-central Pacific islands
(including the Phoenix Islands) include small number of white morph birds, and the more
easily identified darker morphs. Those from Hawaii and Johnston were white morphs. The
immatures from the south and north were not readily separable. Banding studies indicate that
there is little mixing of red-footed boobies between the south and north Pacific.
Mayr (1978) reported that the Phoenix petrel, Pterodroma alba, the black-naped tern, Sterna
sumatrana, the sooty tern, Sterna fuscata, the bridled tern, Sterna lunata, the crested tern,
Thalasseus bergii, blue-gray fairy ternlet, Procelsterna cerulea, ranged throughout the
tropical Pacific, including the Phoenix Islands. The white-throated storm petrel, Nesofregetta
albigularis, the Christmas shearwater, Puffinus nativitatis, and the red-tailed tropic-bird,
Phaethon rubricauda, bred in the Phoenix Islands.
Schreiber and Schreiber (1988) noted that the pattern of sexual dimorphism for the great
frigatebird, Fregata minor, found in the Phoenix Islands was similar to that found elsewhere.
They noted that mass of birds from Phoenix Islands was the most dimorphic (1.37) of all
islands, but was similar to that found on Christmas Island (1.28).
Alder (1992) the Phoenix Islands were very endemic species-poor (relating to bird species).
Low islands, such as the Pheonix Islands, Tokelau, Line Islands, Wake, etc. only had between
one to four total endemic bird species.
Neemia and Thaman (1993) reported that the bird population numbered in the millions
consisting of less than a dozen families. Rare visitors included the reed warbler,
Acrocephalus aequinoctialis, and the red-tailed tropic bird, Phaethon rubricanda.
Marks and Redmond (1994) reported that bristle-thighed curlew under take a >6,000 km nonstop
flights from Alaska to the central Pacific (including the Phoenix Islands). One model
they applied indicated that curlew could make the 7,160 km flight from Alaska to the Phoenix
Islands. They speculate that curlew seek out tailwinds that facilitate long-distance, non-stop
flights.
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