Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
As part of the 1938 Phoenix Islands Settlement Scheme, chickens were introduced to Manra
(Sydney) (Knudsen 1965). When Manra (Sydney) was evacuated in the 1950’s, all the
chickens were killed and eaten.
Bryan (1941 and 1942) noted that bird life was similar to other islands, but not as abundant.
Ducks used to be seen on the ponds, but both the ducks and the ponds were gone.
Child (1960) reported the blue-grey noddy (Bennett’s noddy; blue-grey fairy ternlet),
Procelsterna cerulea nebouxi, on Abariringa (Canton), McKean, Rawaki (Phoenix), Manra
(Sydney), and Birnie.
Child (1960) reported that the blue-fced booby (masked gannet), Sula dactylatra personata,
were present in small numbers on Abariringa (Canton), McKean, Nikumaroro (Gardner),
Rawaki (Phoenix), and Manra (Sydney).
The red-tailed tropic-bird, Phaethon rubricauda melanorhynchos, had breeding colonies on
Nikumaroro (Gardner), Orona (Hull), Rawaki (Phoenix), McKean, Manra (Sydney),
Abariringa (Canton) (Child 1960).
The long-tailed New Zealand cuckoo, Urodynamis taitensis, was rare in the Manra (Sydney),
Orona (Hull), and Nikumaroro (Gardner) (Child 1960).
Clapp and Sibley (1967) reported new records of bird species for Abariringa (Canton),
Birnie, Enderbury, Manra (Sydney), McKean, Nikumaroro (Gardner), and Rawaki (Phoenix)
(see Table III-3.18 above).
Amerson (1968) lists the bird hosts for the tick, Ornithoros capensis and the O. capensis
group in Manra (Sydney) (see Table III-3.11 above).
Wild duck were reported in the lagoon on Manra (Sydney) (Hydrographer of the Navy 1969).
Bird populations were low on Manra (Sydney) (King 1973). A pre-breeding swirl of 4,000
sooty terns was observed.
Clapp (1973) reported that an arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea, in breeding plumage was
observed on Manra (Sydney).
Garnett (1983) noted that bird nesting populations on Manra (Sydney) were low due to the
Polynesian and black rats, feral cats, dogs, and pigs there.
Garnett (1983) reported the following species of birds for Manra (Sydney):
1) Phaethon lepturus,
2) Phaethon rubricauda,
3) Sula dactylatra,
4) Sula leucogaster,
5) Fregata ariel,
6) Fregata minor,
7) Sterna fuscata,
8) Anous stolidus
9) Anous minutus,
10) Gygis alba
11) Pluvialis dominica,
12) Arenaria interpres,
13) Numenius tahitiensis,
14) Heteroscelus incanus,
15) Erolia acuminata,
16) Crocethia alba.
91