A team headed by New Zealander Ray Pierce are on board the RV Bounty Bay en route for the Phoenix Islands (Kiribati) in the central Pacific with the goal of eradicating introduced rats that threaten 18-19 species of nesting seabirds including Phoenix Petrel Pterodroma alba, which is classified by the ICUN Red List as Endangered in large part because of vulnerability to predation by introduced rats and cats.
Three coral atolls (Mckean, Rawaki and Birnie) being targeted in this phase of the Pacific Invasives Initiative project form part of the 'Phoenix Islands Protected Area' (PIPA). Encompassing 8 atolls, PIPA was founded as collaboration between the Government of Kiribati, the New England Aquarium and Conservation International. Asian Rats Rattus tanezumi are the main problem on McKean (-3.6°, -174.133333°) and at thought to have arrived only recently, following the wreck a Korean fishing trawler. As the result, Blue Noddy Procelsterna cerulea no longer breeds on the island.
Population estimates for Phoenix Petrel are confused but probably do not exceed 30,000 spread across the Phoenix, Marquesas and Pitcairn Chains. The Phoenix Islands also provide important nesting grounds for Polynesian Storm-Petrel Nesofregetta fuliginosa, Blue Noddy and Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel.
Cape May Warbler, Blue Grosbeak, Bobolinks - 2 Oct 2010
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In spite of the N-NNE winds and rain during the night, Hugh McGuinness and
I figured that Montauk Point might be a good place to look for migrants. We
were...
13 years ago
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