Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
1) Puffinus griseus,
2) Demiegretta sacra,
3) Pluvialis dominica,
4) Arenaria interpres
5) Numenius tahitiensis,
6) Heteroscelus incanus,
7) Erolia acuminata,
8) Calidris melanotos,
9) Crocethia alba,
10) Limosa lapponica.
Timeon (2001) reported te koota, te mouakena, and frigatebirds were nesting on McKean.
Commonnoddy and white terns were also plentiful.
Stone et al (2001) reported large aggregations of birds nesting on McKean in 2000. Almost
the entire island was surveyed. Observed bird species included: 2,000 to 4,000 spectacled or
sooty terns, 2,000 to 3,000 white fairy terns, 5,000 to 10,000 brown boobies, 10,000 to
20,000 great frigatebirds, 1,000 to 2,000 brown noddies, and 5,000 to 10,000 masked
boobies. Also present were red-footed boobies, Sula sula. Other unidentified shorebirds
were also observed.
In 2002, birds were identified and counted in Abariringa, Birnie, Manra, McKean,
Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki (Bukaireiti and Rabaua 2002). Results of these counts are
provided in Table III-3.21 above.
Pierce (2006) reported that with the introduction of the Asian rat, Rattus tanezumi, to
McKean, there was a 40 percent decline in seabird species diversity. Breeding success has
been generally unsuccessfully.
Pierce et al (2006) compared the number of bird species found during offshore and terrestrial
surveys for all the Phoenix Islands, except Manra (see Table III-3.25 above).
Pierce et al (2006) completed preliminary estimates of the number of seabird pairs on all of
the Phoenix Islands (see Table III-3.26 above).
Pierce et al (2006) provided population estimates of shore and land birds in all eight of the
Phoenix Islands (see Table III-3.28 above).
NIKUMARORO (GARDNER)
Lister (1891) noted the presences various bird species on Abariringa (Canton), Birnie, Manra
(Sydney), McKean, Nikumaroro (Gardner), and Rawaki (Phoenix) (see Table III-3.16 above).
The natives domesticate booby birds and avoid the fishy flavor of flesh and eggs by tethering
the birds (Hydrographic Office 1940; see also Wiens 1962). The natives train frigate birds to
fish for them, much like the Chinese use cormorants to catch small fish (Hydrographic Office
1940).
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).
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