| State of | 2013

A Guide for Conservationists, atureFiji Policymakers and Communities MareqetiViti USP Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Watling, Dick Fiji : state of birds, 2013 / Dick Watling. – , Fiji : Nature Fiji-MareqetiViti, 2013.

44 p. ; 21 cm.

ISBN 978-982-9131-02-7

1. Birds—Fiji. I. NatureFiji-MareqetiViti. II. Title. QL694.F5W34 2013 598.099611

Copyright © 2013 NatureFiji-MareqetiViti NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, 14 Hamilton-Beattie Street (off Service Street), Suva, Fiji Islands. p: 679 310 0598 e: [email protected] www.naturefiji.org

Copyright © in all photographs published in this book is invested in those photographers whose names appear adjacent to their images. Text by Dick Watling. Designed by James de Clifford. Artwork by Streamline Creative Ltd, New Zealand. Printed in Fiji.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher. However, some limited usage is permitted for educational and non-commercial purposes only, including private study, research, criticism, review and news reporting.

Front/back cover: Orange-breasted Myzomela Myzomela jugularis. This endemic Fijian is equally common in State; Pressure; Response suburban gardens and mountain forest © Mark Fraser. Inside front/inside back cover: Crested Tern Sterna bergii Many issues affecting Fiji’s birds also impact Fiji’s biodiversity in has strong coastal affinities, though it is rarely seen far general. This report examines why our birds and biodoversity are from land. Its range extends from the West, South important (Introduction), what we know about the changing state and Central Pacific to the Indian Ocean © Mark Fraser. of our birds (State), why our birds are declining (Pressure), and This page, top left and top right: Black Noddy Anous what can be done to improve their status (Response). minutus ventures offshore following schools of tuna © Steve Cranwell; Fiji Erythrura pealii is a forest dweller © Paddy Ryan. Opposite page: of the Kadavu Shining Prosopeia splendens © Jörg Kretzschmar. CONTENTS

Introduction

Fiji: An Island Nation 2

Why Birds? 3

Fiji’s Birds 6

Endemic Birds 6

CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Knowledge Base: What do we Know? 8

Threatened Birds 12

Protected Areas 17

The Importance of Forest 22

Seabirds and Shorebirds 26

Introduced Predators 32

Laws, Restrictions and Sustainable Natural Resource Use 38

Climate Change 42 FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013

1 Introduction Introduction Fiji: an Island Nation WHY BIRDS?

Fiji is a central Pacific archipelago comprised estimated population of 837,000 in 2007, with Birds have been of immense cultural significance I NTRODUCT ON | F iji : an slan d N ation / WHY BIR D S? of at least 320 islands, of which about 100 are a growth rate of about 0.7% per year. to Fijians in a variety of ways – they were key to inhabited, including the four main islands of Viti successful inter-island navigation; the feathers Levu, , and Kadavu. The Fiji has a strong tourism industry as well as large of some were important as a trade item and land area totals 18,333 km2, 87% of which is on sugar and textile industries, and has one of the prized for edging fine mats; and some were an and Vanua Levu. Most islands are of more developed of the Pacific Island economies. important food source. Today, many mataqali geologically recent volcanic origin, while some Amongst ethnic Fijians, traditional values remain (landowning clans) have a bird as their clan are atolls or raised reefs (makatea). Fiji also strong, especially those relating to ownership of totem. 2 has a marine EEZ of 1,290,000 km , though the and connection to the land. distribution of birds at sea is poorly known. Birds are wonderful flagships for conservation, for several reasons: The Republic of the Fiji Islands has been an • They are by far Fiji’s most conspicuous form independent nation since 1970 and had an • Birds are excellent predators of agricultural of terrestrial wildlife – they sing, they are pests. Our owl probably consumes more rats fairly easy to observe and identify, and there than all other predators in Fiji. is a limited number of . Biodiversity conservation in Fiji requires the support • Birds can tell us what is happening to our of landowners and the populace, who can environment. This information may be better understand, participate in and support important not only to their survival but to ours conservation if they are familiar with and too. Birds are likely to be excellent indicators knowledgeable about the species of concern. of climate change.

• Birds play a key role in the dispersal of seeds, • Birds are inspirational. They are the best- thereby maintaining the health and diversity known faunal group worldwide and many bird of our native forests. species are much-loved. Therefore they can help us to disseminate conservation messages • Birds are distributed around the world in to local, regional and global populations. similar patterns to other biodiversity. The

best-known bird species are flagships for Birds have long been used as indicators of FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 all other biodiversity and the habitat where the state of the world’s ecosystems, providing they are found. Surveying the birds of one insights into habitat loss, deterioration, and hectare of Fiji forest takes an experienced pollution. team two mornings, while it would take years to adequately survey all the small and plants in this hectare.

Left: Kadavu Prosopeia splendens © Jörg Kretzschmar. Above: Barn Owls Tyto alba © Jörg Kretzschmar. 2 3 Introduction WHY BIRDS?

Birds and Climate Change I NTRODUCT ON | WHY BIR D S? / S AN CLIMATE CHANGE Birds as Indicators of Environmental Problems Climate change is a significant threat that many Birds offer us life-saving information about of Fiji’s birds, and biodiversity may the environment we share with them. already be facing. By using birds to measure This was vividly demonstrated by the and predict the implications of changing decline of birds of prey and especially the climate and landscapes, we will be much better (Ganivatu), which in the placed to counteract these threats. 1950-70s declined almost to as Climate change can affect birds directly, a result of pesticides such as DDT. It was through changes in temperature or rainfall. It the decline of the birds that led to exposure can affect the timing of events like migration or of the persistent toxic chemicals in the breeding. It can also lead to increased pressure environment, and the international outcry from competitors, predators, parasites, was stimulated by a widespread interest in diseases and disturbances like fires or storms. birds. Subsequently, the recovery of these birds of prey in continental North America Climate change can also combine with other and Europe is one of the great conservation major threats like habitat loss and alien

success stories of all time. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus nesiotes invasive species to make the overall impact © Clayton White. worse.

Fiji’s Future Climate As the best-studied group of living things (after (www.pacificclimatechangescience.org) humans), birds are a strong indicator of how climate change will affect other, less well-studied • Temperature will continue to increase groups. • More very hot days • Changing patterns of rainfall Fiji has recently released a new Fauna and Flora • More extreme rainfall days series of banknotes and coins with a strong

• Less frequent but more intense cyclones FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 representation of birds including the Fiji Petrel, • Sea level will continue to rise the Red-throated Lorikeet, the Kadavu Shining • Ocean acidification will continue Parrot and the Peregrine Falcon.

Left: Fiji’s new currency denotes fauna and flora © Reserve Bank of Fiji. Right: Climate change and habitat loss pose significant threats to some of Fiji’s endemic bird species © Jörg Kretzschmar.

4 5 Introduction Introduction Fiji’s Birds Endemic Birds

Fiji is home to a variety of very special birds, The annual migration of these birds is one of I NTRODUCT ON | FIJI’ s BIR D S / EN EMIC and some of these have been of great cultural the wonders of the world and Fiji is Common significance as Fijians evolved their national fortunate to be a destination for some of them. English Name Scientific Name Fijian Name Distribution in Fiji identity. As a group of oceanic islands, Fiji Unfortunately, birds undertaking annual migration Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi Kacaunigau Gau does not have a large number of bird species, are highly vulnerable to a variety of threats rufitorques Reba, Latui Widespread (not S.Lau) but many of those that can be observed here including severe weather during the migration, Barking Pigeon Ducula latrans Soqe Widespread can be found nowhere else in the world. Their collisions with man-made structures (e.g. wind Golden Dove Ptilinopus luteovirens Ko, Bunako Viti Levu, , Gau conservation is therefore Fiji’s responsibility. turbines and mobile phone towers) and habitat Orange Dove Ptilinopus victor Bune, Bunedamu Vanua Levu, Taveuni + islands loss along their migration route or their wintering Whistling Dove Ptlilinopus layardi Soqeta Kadavu, Ono Fiji’s best-known birds are the landbirds, of which grounds. Many of Fiji’s migrant shorebirds need Collared Lory Phigys solitarius Kula Widespread (not S.Lau) there are 57 native breeding species. There are mudlflats; these are not plentiful and in some also 12 introduced landbird species that have places, such as the Suva Peninsula, mudflats are Red-throated Lorikeet amabilis Kulawai Viti Levu, Taveuni, Ovalau become established; some of these, such as the under threat from habitat conversion. Prosopeia personata Kaka, Ka Viti Levu Mynas and the Bulbul, are well known because Red Shining Parrot Prosopeia tabuensis Kaka, Vaga Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Koro, Gau they live in close association with humans. Together, these total 163 species of bird Kadavu Shining Parrot Prosopeia splendens Kaka Kadavu, Ono confirmed for Fiji. Silktail Lamprolia victoriae Sisi Taveuni, Vanua Levu Also well known are Fiji’s seabird species, Fiji Bush-warbler ruficapilla Maya, Biliwi, Tikivili Larger islands (excl. Gau) ENDEMIC BIRDS – 20 of which breed in Fiji. A further 39 species Long-legged Thicketbird Trichocichla rufa Manukalou Viti Levu, Vanua Levu Fiji’s Special Responsibility of seabird do not breed here but migrate Kadavu Rhipidura personata Bui-iri Kadavu, Ono All of Fiji’s birds are special but some are through Fijian waters on an annual basis or visit Mayrornis lessoni Sasaire Widespread particularly important. These are our endemic periodically. Some seabird migrations through Fiji Ogea Monarch Mayrornis versicolor Ogea + offshore islands birds – those that are found only in the Fiji waters are spectacular, especially the southern Blue-crested Broadbill azureocapilla Batidamu Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni Islands. Fiji has 27 endemic birds, comprising migrations of the Short-tailed Shearwater back to Black-faced Clytorhynchus nigrogularis Kiro Larger islands (excl. Gau) nearly half of our landbirds. There is just one their breeding islands in ’s Bass Strait, Fiji White-eye Zosterops explorator Qiqi Larger islands endemic seabird, the Fiji Petrel. To emphasise and Cook’s Petrel and the Mottled Petrel back to Orange-breasted how special our avifauna is, there are few certain offshore islands of New Zealand. Myzomela Myzomela jugularis Delakula Widespread countries with a higher proportion of endemic Myzomela Myzomela chermesina Armea Rotuma Fiji is an important staging post or destination birds than Fiji. Indeed the island of Kadavu, with

Kadavu provocator Kikou, Visilou Kadavu, Ono FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 for a poorly known group of birds – the migrant four endemic birds, has the highest number of Giant Forest Honeyeater Gymnomyza viridis Sovau, Ikou, Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni shorebirds that breed in the Arctic and fly to Fiji to endemic birds per land area in the world. This Cavucavuivalu escape the northern winter. In Fiji, they are found highlights the extent of our responsibility for Erythrura pealii Kulakula, Qiqikula Widespread on the mudflats and coastal areas throughout their protection and well-being. This significance Pink-billed Parrotfinch Erythrura kleinschmidti Sitibatitabua Viti Levu the islands, most commonly between March and is magnified greatly if we also consider the Fiji Artamus mentalis Sikorere Widespread September. To date, 21 migrant shorebirds have recognised races or subspecies of birds – in been recorded and many of these visit our shores general those on different islands, for we have in varying numbers annually. 85 subspecies endemic to Fiji.

Right: Orange Dove Ptilinopus victor © Thomas Boysen. 6 7 STATE Knowledge Base: What do we know? S

Worldwide, birds arguably are the best-known anticipating the effects of climate change. Shorebirds at Suva Point T A FIGURE 2: SEASONAL DETECTABILITY and monitored group of animals. In Fiji too, we The mudflats around Suva Point are an E

know much more about birds than other groups; Monitoring Forest Birds 16 important wintering area for migrant and staging | KNOWLE D GE BASE: WHAT D O WE KNOW? The BirdLife International Fiji Programme however, our knowledge is superficial. At present 14 shorebirds. Their numbers have been monitored the only bird in Fiji whose ecology has been the undertook 43 surveys in forest areas around since 1998, and up to 1000 shorebirds have 12 subject of a detailed study is the introduced Red- Fiji. The encounter rates of birds were recorded been recorded. Figure 3 shows the number of vented Bulbul, in its role as an agricultural pest and when compiled, provided an average 10 recorded. The line indicates bird encounter rate per hour (Figure 1). This and competitor of native birds. 8 the maximum count for each month, averaged constitutes the only broad baseline monitoring across the 10 years between 1998-2007. Unlike most developed and many developing of Fiji’s landbirds undertaken to date. Combined 6 countries, Fiji has no national monitoring system with important research on seasonal changes 4 Each of the bars indicates the numbers recorded in place. Monitoring and research informs and in the detectability of forest birds (for example in 2011 and 2012. Numbers recorded in the last 2 enables Government-led management. Without Figure 2, Naikatini 2009) and numerical estimates two years are significantly higher (i.e. double) the it, we are unable to provide scientific evidence of of three endemic forest birds (Giant Forest 0 numbers recorded ten years previously. N um be r o f B i rd s ( e ncount /hr) Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov the trends in our bird populations which could tell Honeyeater, Masked Shining Parrot and the

us a lot about the environmental, developmental Golden Dove (Jackson & Jit 2008), this provides Source: Naikatini (2009) and other pressures affecting our biodiversity, a platform for future monitoring of forest birds Barking Pigeon Collared Kingfisher and we are are also likely to be ill-prepared for and IBAs. Wattled Honeyeater

FIGURE 1: Encounter RAtes of Some Birds in FOrest Surveys (encounters/hr) FIGURE 3: Wandering Tattler Numbers RECORDED ON SUVA Point mudflats 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 300 Fiji Goshawk 250 Barking Pigeon

Golden Dove 200

Masked Shining Parrot 150

Collared Kingfisher FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 100 Fiji Bush-warbler 50 Golden Whistler

Giant Forest Honeyeater 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Source: Masibalavu & Dutson (2006) Source: Mark O’Brien (unpubl.) 2011 2012 1998-2007 Right: White-collared Kingfisher Todirhamphus chloris on Koro © Chris Thompson.

8 9 PRESSURE RESPONSE Knowledge Base: Knowledge Base: What do we know? What do we know?

Knowledge is Power eBird P R ESS UR E / ESP ON SE | KNOWLE D GE BASE: WHAT D O WE KNOW? Information gathered from monitoring bird There is now an opportunity for interested populations is essential if we wish to provide amateurs to become involved in bird monitoring decision-makers with the evidence of how birds through an online bird recording system called and other biodiversity are faring in the face of ‘eBird’. eBird (www.ebird.org) is a web-based changing environmental and climatic conditions, global bird-recording database co-ordinated and what conservation or other action is by the Cornell Lab of . The Fiji required. component forms part of the global programme that was established in 2010. Professional expertise in ornithology has been greatly improved recently with a programme of post-graduate studies at the University of the South Pacific which includes three MSc research studies on Fiji’s native birds – the first ever undertaken. This needs to be continued before any response to such issues as climate change, shooting seasons and endangered species is made, as we need to know the basic biology of our birds. Conservation of our threatened species Bird populations are constantly changing. pressures, climate change and other threats. requires this, as well as a knowledge of their Cyclones can cause widespread mortality: applied ecology. Currently, there is no Government-enabled Figure 4: Distribution of observations reported for Fiji. immediately after Tropical Cyclone Evan in 2 Methodologies for surveying our forest birds Each grey square represents a 20x20 km , within which at least December 2012, small straggling flocks of research or monitoring on any of Fiji’s birds. one checklist has been reported. have been developed and the baseline bird Barking Pigeon started flying in to Suva looking Support organisations such as NatureFiji- density data collected during the identification Since then, 50 separate observers have reported for food. Most of these birds will have died. MareqetiViti and BirdLife International are of the IBAs, coupled with knowledge of seasonal around 1000 complete checklists, recording the Changes in water temperature affect fish undertaking the research of Fiji’s threatened detectability changes, provides an initial platform location of 114 different species, with records distribution, impacting colonially nesting seabirds. birds (Fiji Petrel, Collared Petrel, Red-throated for an effective monitoring system. There going back to 1984. Information is available

Lorikeet), monitoring of some IBAs and follow- FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 Weather changes, food supply, and predators up monitoring of seabird islands from which remains to be developed a national monitoring through maps of the distribution of each species frequently affect wild bird numbers. While these rats have been removed. Meanwhile, Vilikesa framework that would enable monitoring to be as reported by observers. In addition, data can are generally short-term changes, in contrast Masibalavu has been steadily increasing our undertaken regularly as well as an appropriate be downloaded through the web-based Avian there are changes in population trends over time knowledge of the distribution of the recently response to findings. Knowledge Network. that reflect the consequences of more serious re-discovered Long-legged Thicketbird. threats to some species. These include habitat Above: Forest of the Viti Levu interior © Jörg Kretzschmar. loss, spread of invasive predators, development Right: Youth group birdwatching, Ovalau. © Guy Dutson.

10 11 STATE Threatened Birds S

Since the arrival of man to the islands, Fiji has or endangered. Some of these are globally How do we determine if a bird is ‘threatened’? T A already lost at least 12 birds to extinction. Two threatened birds while for others it is the Fijian The International Union for the Conservation of E

of these, the Barred-wing Rail and Wandering population that is threatened. Nature (IUCN) Red List of Globally Threatened | THREATENE D BIR S Whistling Duck, became extinct in historic times. Species is widely recognized as the most Several more birds are now seriously threatened authoritative system of assessing the global threat status of birds. It has four threat categories: Common Threat Reason for English Name Fijian Name Status Threatened Status • Critically Endangered (CR) Globally Threatened Species • Endangered (EN) Fiji Petrel Kacaunigau CR by cats, rats, feral pigs • Vulnerable (VU) Red-throated Lorikeet Kulawai CR Predation by rats; habitat loss • Near-Threatened (NT) Long-legged Thicketbird Manukalou EN Predation by , cats, rats; habitat loss Fiji has 11 Globally Threatened breeding birds. White-throated Storm-petrel EN Predation by rats Collared Petrel Kacau, Lagio VU Predation by cats, rats, feral pigs Two of these are Critically Endangered – the Migrant, threat mainly on stopover/wintering Fiji Petrel and the Red-throated Lorikeet; two Bristle-thighed Curlew VU grounds, especially while moulting are Endangered; and severn are Vulnerable. Friendly Ground-dove Ruveniqele VU Predation by mongoose, cats, rats; habitat loss Another Globally Threatened bird, the Bristle- Kadavu Shining Parrot Kaka VU Habitat loss; domestic pet trade thighed Curlew, is an annual migrant to Fiji in Pink-billed Parrotfinch Sitibatitabua VU Predation by rats small numbers. Ogea Monarch VU Restricted distribution Black-faced Shrikebill Kiro VU Predation by rats; habitat deterioration Very important for us in Fiji too, are those birds whose populations are Nationally Threatened, Rotuma Myzomela Armea VU Restricted distribution most of these are seabirds which survive in Nationally Threatened Species* good numbers elsewhere in the Pacific. The Peregrine Falcon Ganivatu AR Not known; possibly inbreeding exception is the Peregrine Falcon – Ganivatu White-browed Crake CC Mongoose, feral cats which may have no more than 20 pairs Historic breeder, no recent breeding

Audubon’s Shearwater DD currently surviving in Fiji (White et al. FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 records; mongoose? 2000). White-tailed Tropicbird Lawedua CC Rats, cats, harvesting Only 4 known breeding sites – Masked Booby Gutulei, Toro AR in low numbers; harvesting Brown Booby Gutulei, Toro CC Harvesting Lesser Frigatebird Kasaqa CC Harvesting Sooty Tern AR Only 3 colonies; harvesting Left: White-tailed Tropic Bird Phaethon lepturus, a nationally Bridled Tern CC Harvesting threatened species © Stuart Chape.

* From Watling (2004): AR – At Risk; CC – Conservation Concern; DD – Data Deficient 12 13 PRESSURE Threatened Birds

While in broad terms we believe we know the In the case of the Fiji Petrel, it is feral cats in Unlike populations elsewhere in the world that P R ESS UR E | THREATENE D BIR S reasons why each of our special birds are so rare conjunction with feral pigs and rats that have have recovered well from the pesticide-induced and threatened, this is not based on scientific all but predated this species to extinction. population crashes of the 1950-70s, Fiji’s research. Ganivatu appears headed for local extinction. Fiji is home to a very distinctive race of the While the reasons are not known, in-breeding Several of our rare birds are close to extinction Peregrine Falcon, a species that elsewhere in may be a factor. and we believe that the Red-throated Lorikeet is the world has become an icon of conservation probably gone from Viti Levu now, but hopefully success. Unfortunately this is not the case in Fiji Our colonial nesting seabirds have come still survives on Taveuni. The opening up of the (White et al. 2000). under a new threat in the last 20 years with highlands of Viti Levu in the early 1980s to build the rapid spread of outboard engines enabling the Monasavu Dam and the subsequent increase The Peregrine Falcon, Ganivatu (AR) is a species landowners to quickly and easily travel to remote and spread of predatory black rats is the likely of widespread cultural interest in Fiji, but only nesting colonies. Over-harvesting and frequent cause of the loss of this small parrot. about 20 pairs are believed to survive. disturbance cannot be indefinitely sustained by these seabirds.

How much longer can the Fiji Petrel survive? The Last of Fiji’s Sooty Terns Less than 50 Fiji Petrel, Kacaunigau (CR) are The Sooty Tern spends most of its life believed to survive. They nest in burrows in well out at sea. It comes to land only the forested highlands of Gau but spend the to nest in large colonies that are very rest of their lives on the high seas as a truly vulnerable to disturbance and predation. pelagic seabird. Feral cats, rats and feral With a large colony in Ono-i-lau being pigs predate adults as they return to their lost in the last 20 years, only three nests. Unless this is stopped and the nesting colonies remain in Fiji. These are on burrows are protected, the Fiji Petrel will Ha’atana (Rotuma) and Nukucikobia and become extinct. NatureFiji-MareqetiViti is Naevo in the Lau Group. As with many of working with three communities on Gau to our colonially nesting seabirds, traditional

protect the nesting burrows of the Collared restrictions on harvesting of nesting birds FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 Petrel – developing expertise for when nests have been lost or are weakly followed, of the Fiji Petrel are discovered. and motorised boats have allowed easy access to remote nesting colonies. As Forests of © Eleazar O’Connor. a group, our colonially nesting seabirds are highly threatened and need special

Opposite: Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi spends most of its life on the high seas Tubenoses Project & Extreme Gadfly awareness and protection. Petrel Expeditions © Hadoram Shirihai.

14 15 RESPONSE STATE Threatened Birds Protected Areas

Fiji has a rudimentary system of Protected Areas Important Bird Areas R ESP ON SE | THREATENE D BIR S and none has been established specifically to BirdLife International has developed a set of conserve any of Fiji’s special birds, although an global criteria for identifying Important Bird Areas innovative lease for Namenalala Island specifies (IBA) – areas of particular importance to birds but protection for the large Red-footed Booby colony often extremely important for other biodiversity and all the forest habitat surrounding it. too. The IBA Programme is global in scale and, to date, over 10,000 sites have been identified worldwide, using standard, internationally recognised criteria for selection. T A E | PROTECTE D AREAS Over the years, our knowledge of our globally preferences were known and its song recorded, During 2003-2006, the BirdLife Fiji Programme threatened birds has improved, thanks to its presence is now easily confirmed by its identified 14 IBAs in Fiji – 13 terrestrial and one worldwide interest, visiting ornithologists response to any playback of its call. Red-footed Booby Sula sula © Stuart Chape. marine site. The majority are forest sites where and the catalytic endeavours of international Namenalala Island Reserve large numbers of Fiji’s endemic birds are located organisations such as BirdLife International. Over the past five years the University of the or where particular rare species are found. Most South Pacific has co-ordinated an important Namenalala was uninhabited until it of Fiji’s IBAs are also Key Biodiversity Areas NatureFiji-MareqetViti has initiated some in- biodiversity survey of the little-known Lau was leased for a small, low-impact and are therefore important for Fiji’s wider depth work on Fiji’s most highly threatened archipelago. Undertaken by three expeditions, eco-resort in 1983. The resort continues biodiversity needs. birds including the Fiji Petrel, the Collared Petrel this survey has provided new information today, and is bound by lease conditions and the Red-throated Lorikeet. and an important baseline on seabird nesting to restrict resort development to less The IBA programme is now being extended colonies, including new nesting sites for than 4 ha of the island while providing to marine IBAs that start to capture important ‘Re-discovered’ on Viti Levu in 2003 after nearly nationally threatened species such as the active protection to the remaining 35 FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 80 years since the last confirmed record, the pelagic areas in Fiji’s waters. Sooty Tern, Crested Tern, Bridled Terns, both ha of the island comprising undisturbed Long-legged Thicketbird has demonstrated species of Frigatebird and the Masked Booby. dry forest. One of Fiji’s largest colonies the critical importance of basic field research. What remains to be developed in both cases of Red-footed Booby is found there. It Largely through the efforts of Fiji’s leading field is a professional conservation management might be classified as the best managed ornithologist Vili Masibalavu, the Long-legged capability to protect these species in the field. reserve in Fiji today. Thicketbird has been found to be much more widespread than originally realised. Although Above: Long-legged Thicketbird Trichocichla rufa © Timoci Gaunavinaka/BirdLife International. Right: Egg-nest of the extremely difficult to see, once its habitat White Tern Gygis alba © Steve Cranwell.

16 17 STATE PRESSURE Protected Areas Protected Areas S T A FIGURE 5: FIJI’S IBAs AND KBAs E / P R ESS UR E | PROTECTE D AREAS

FOREST

Korobasabasaga Range, Viti Levu, recently excised from the Sovi Basin Conservation Area for mining purposes © Dick Watling. Because of the nature of communal land owner­ ‘traditional’ national parks and protected areas ship in Fiji, there will always be challenges in in Fiji is extremely limited. achieving a representative system of protected areas, as most landowners will understandably Even when this is possible, protection cannot require the greatest immediate monetary return be guaranteed, as the establishment of the Sovi for any land use they choose for their property. Basin Conservation Area has shown. So it must be recognised that the potential for

The IBAs cover about 17% of Fiji’s land area In addition to IBAs, Fiji has identified Key Sovi Basin Under Threat Area, 99% of its landowners signed a consent and about 40% of the country’s remaining forest. Biodiversity Areas that are also places of The Sovi Basin Conservation Area is to lease their land to the National Trust of Fiji These are mostly in the largest areas of natural international importance for the conservation generally regarded as Fiji’s most important for the purpose of conservation. The area forest on the main islands (Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, of biodiversity identified nationally using simple, biodiversity conservation area and the last was formally leased to the National Trust of Taveuni, Kadavu and Gau) plus two small islands standard criteria, based on their importance in wilderness area on Viti Levu. It was first Fiji in early 2011. However, the intervention which each support a specific threatened bird maintaining species populations. formally recommended as a Protected of the Namosi Joint Venture Mining Project FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 (Rotuma, Ogea), and Vatuira, which supports an Area in 1988 and is now listed on the resulted in the environmentally fragile and As the building-blocks for designing the eco- important seabird nesting colony. World Heritage Tentative List. As a result important Wainavadu catchment of the Sovi system approach and maintaining effective of over 25 years of commitment by many Basin Conservation Area being excised as Although designation as an IBA provides no ecological networks, KBAs and IBAs are the stakeholders, active work, research, surveys a waste dump for the mine, even before official protected status, it highlights the area as starting-point for conservation planning at the and consultation with the landowning an Environmental Impact Assessment was particularly important to birds and encourages landscape level. communities of the Sovi Basin Conservation considered. opportunities for conservation. Right: Early morning forest, Viti Levu © Jörg Kretzschmar.

18 19 RESPONSE Protected Areas

Protection of Key Sites Payments for ecosystem services, REDD + R ESP ON SE | PROTECTE D AREAS Fiji has a well developed system of Key arrangements and Permanent Forest Estates Sisi Initiative In response to these threats, the Sisi group Biodiversity Areas (including Important Bird are all being looked at by various agencies, The Sisi Initiative is a BirdLife Fiji project has been working with communities to wisely Areas) identified and some of these are conservation organisations and landowner named after the Silktail Lamprolia victoriae, use and manage their natural resources in prioritised for formal protection in the National groups to develop progressive modes of forest which is found only on Taveuni and on the order to conserve the endemic bird, while at Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. protection and/or sustainable management. Natewa Tunuloa Peninsula on Fiji’s second- the same time improving their own way of The foundation lies in better sustainable land- largest island of Vanua Levu. life. On Taveuni, Fiji’s conservation stronghold, use planning. Community-based land use and NatureFiji-MareqetiViti is working with the management plans have great potential to assist The Natewa Peninsula is one of Fiji’s 14 Actively managing more than 6000 hectares landowners, Forests Department and the landowners to identify and implement the most Important Bird Areas. However, the bird’s (almost 15,000 acres) of forest, six villages Provincial Office to develop the existing Forest productive use for their lands. old-growth rainforest habitat is being are turning to income-generating activities Reserve – a site with great potential for World encroached upon by forces such as illegal that are compatible with conservation, Heritage status – into the Taveuni National Park. Community-based Protected Areas logging, forest fires, overgrazing, agricultural including beekeeping, jewelry manufacture The intention is to facilitate greater potential Following identification of IBAs, BirdLife Inter­ expansion and the spread of invasive species. and ecotourism. benefits to the landowners and provide tourism national and its partners have initiated work with to Taveuni with a significant additional attraction. landowner and other communities at some of the IBAs with the intention of focusing on: Closer to Suva and on a smaller scale, a proposal to establish the Wainikavika National Park has • Conservation action on the ground Collared Petrel Colony, The first-ever nesting colony of the Collared been sub­mitted to Government to extend the • Advocacy for action by other stakeholders Savalevu, Gau Petrel was found at Savalevu, in the forest Garrick Memorial Reserve to include a scenic above Navukailagi, Gau, by landowners and • Monitoring change – reservoir and its forest surround as a recreation NatureFiji-MareqetiViti’s Fiji Petrel Project. birds and habitat site for Suva’s growing population. The colony comprises more than 25 nesting • Revision of institutional and supporting burrows but is suffering from severe feral cat As noted above, the potential for ‘traditional frameworks if necessary predation. The landowners have announced protected areas’ in Fiji is limited because of the to the Gau Island Council that they wish to prevailing tenure and landowners’ justifiable • Sustai nable finance to support these activities protect the area and the Fiji Petrel Project aspirations. As such, the future for the protection NatureFiji-MareqetiViti has initiated work with is now working with the landowners to of Fiji’s quite extensive forest resources lies in FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 several landowners to begin conserving sites for control rats and feral cats. Consultations fostering stewardship of the forest by landowners threatened species. These include the Collared will be undertaken for the preparation of a without alienating the land. Petrel in Gau, the Fiji Mastiff Bat at its only management plan and an appropriate form Much more work needs to be done to identify known roosting cave at Nakanacagi on Vanua of protection. Levu, and the Fiji Sago Palm at Culanuku, Serua. innovative methods of rewarding landowners Collared Petrel Pterodroma brevipes © Mark Fraser. for positive forest custodianship instead of Right: Qarani community members installing an artificial subsidising or encouraging forest conversion. nest box for Collared Petrel © Eleazar O’Connor.

20 21 STATE PRESSURE The Importance of Forest The Importance of Forest S

montane rainforest, and cloud forest on the Just over 50% of Fiji’s land area, formerly Adoption of a positive stewardship attitude to T A most exposed ridges and peaks. Little dry forest covered by forest, has been converted to grass­ our forest resources is a national priority and a E

remains as it is much easier to clear, is more land or agricultural crops. The rate of forest loss major element of this will need to be the control / P R ESS UR E | THE IMPORTANCE OF FOREST susceptible to fire and drier areas are preferred has declined in recent years, although a recent of wildfire. for habitation. Many coasts have a very narrow comparison indicates that there continues to be band of littoral forest, with extensive stands of an increase in the extent of Open Forest at the The influence of forest quality on birds is poorly mangroves in some leeward and estuarine areas. expense of Closed forest (Figure 6). known. Ornithologist Mere Valu studied forest Most of Fiji’s forest birds are found in all forest birds near Suva. She focused on a subset of types, but some are restricted to wetter forest, This recorded decline in the extent of closed forest birds that are all able to persist in the which is also much richer in plant diversity. forest represents a reduction of 7000ha per year. face of disruption, and found that the identified changes in behaviour confirm that logging can Relatively large areas of forest are required if we The loss of forest is ongoing and the conversion have subtle effects on forest birds’ ecology are to ensure the survival of our endemic forest of 45,000 ha of mahogany plantation (1970-80s) and behaviour, and that these changes can be Over 99% of Fiji’s endemic biodiversity is found biodiversity. This is readily understood in the from high quality native forest was a devastating measured even eight years after logging has in the nation’s native forests. This is because aftermath of a major cyclone such as TC Evan blow to Fiji’s endemic birds and other forest ceased. Although the interim implications of the originally Fiji was all but completely forested, in December 2012, where extensive forest areas biodiversity, especially when there existed a large change in behaviour observed between the two so its native landbirds and biodiversity evolved can be badly damaged. Birds are more fortunate area of degraded forest where the plantations habitat types remain unknown, the observations as forest species. than other groups and if they are able to survive could and should have been located. highlight the importance of maintaining Fiji’s Any conversion of forest in Fiji may easily result the carnage, they can fly and some will find Fire remains the most serious ultimate cause of undisturbed tracts of forest for the future integrity in the world extinction of a plant or animal refuge in less damaged forest some distance forest loss and the prevalent attitude to wildfire in of tropical ecosystems. (Tabudravu 2009) species, so it represents the greatest threat to away. As the forest recovers, so they can Fiji is casual. birds and Fiji’s terrestrial biodiversity. migrate back into the recuperating area.

Birds demonstrate this dependence on forest For trees and other plants, this process of FIGURE 6: Change in the extent of Forest types in Fiji very well. There are 35 native landbird species recolonisation of cyclone-ravaged tracts takes between 1991 and 2007. 800 (excluding ground and waterbirds) on Viti Levu much longer. a r es ) and only two of these are not found in forest. 600 At stake however, is the need to have extensive Although they all fly well, only 17 of them might Closed Forest areas of forest, some of which can remain FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 be seen in open, agricultural habitats and only 400 undamaged during even the most damaging Open Forest 12 in suburban gardens. 200 cyclone. Pine Production Forest varies with rainfall from semi-deciduous 0 Hardwood Plantation Plantation dry forest in lowland rain-shadows, to wet rainforest at higher altitudes facing the prevailing f or es t a r ea (1000 h e ct 1991 2007 southeasterly winds. Lowland rainforest extends Above: Kauvula Endospermum macrophyllum © Jörg up to about 600-800m where it grades into Kretzschmar. Right: Mt Tomaniivi cloud forest © Stuart Chape. Data from FRA 2010 – Country Report, Fiji

22 23 RESPONSE The Importance of Forest

Forest Conservation: R ESP ON SE | THE IMPORTANCE OF FOREST the Way Forward Traditionally and to a large extent currently, landowners had few if any options for benefiting financially from protecting their forests. Government and the private sector generally encouraged landowners to log their forests without ensuring sustainability, or convert to mahogany, cocoa or coconut plantations, or fell their forest for agricultural crops. Conservation of forests has been regarded as a beneficial land use, but the benefits accrue largely to the public in free ecosystem services without any monetary benefits accruing to the landowners.

The future for forest protection in Fiji lies in rectifying these anomalies. Forest custodianship or conservation needs to be a recognised land use and the landowners Maintaining Fiji’s forest cover is the key to The key objective of the Permanent Forest Estate should benefit financially as a result. Innovation protecting all of its endemic birds as well as its is to replace the ad hoc logging of recent years is required in enabling forest owners to benefit other terrestrial biodiversity. As such, the priority and the incremental loss of productive forest from wise stewardship of their forests rather land areas currently identified for protection in through unplanned and unsustainable agriculture, than expecting this to happen only through ad the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action with an area that will enable sustainable forest hoc logging or a variety of conversion options. Plan are all forest areas. However, conservation management and conserve all the attributes of of viable and healthy populations of birds Fiji’s significant forest resources. Forest harvesting needs to be undertaken requires more than the establishment of a few on a sustainable basis. Forest conversion

The Forests Department, with assistance from FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 statutory Protected Areas that cover only a small schemes should be prohibited and plantations NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, is undertaking an portion of the landscape; it needs conservation established in open or degraded forest areas. awareness campaign of the Permanent Forest in the ‘working’ landscape. A new Forest Policy Ecosystem services need to be fully costed Estate provision amongst forest landowners and for Fiji was adopted in 2007 after extensive and paid for. National biodiversity conservation registering those who indicate their interest. nationwide consultation. One of its key provisions needs should be recognised as a land use intended to safeguard the forest sector is the Above: Deforested, fire-climax grassland hills in west and the forest owners should be advantaged need to establish a national Permanent Forest Viti Levu © Stuart Chape. Right: Habitats of endemic birds like the Many-coloured Fruit Dove are threatened by accordingly. Estate. unsustainable logging © Jörg Kretzschmar.

24 25 STATE SEABIRDS AND SHOREBIRDS S

Seabirds evolved in Oceania in the absence T A of mammalian predators and as a result are E

extremely vulnerable when they become | SEABIR D S AN SHOREBIR established. They are especially vulnerable to the presence of humans. The numbers and distribution of breeding seabirds in Oceania today is a vestige of what it was prior to the coming of man.

In Fiji, seabirds are believed to be declining. What we are sure of is that there is an almost universal lack of information to reliably assess their condition. At present we know little more than which species still breed in Fiji and where the main breeding colonies are, although we know these are confined to remote, relatively Nesting colony of Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata © Steve Cranwell. undisturbed sites. We have no information on Migrant shorebirds and voyaging seabirds are land for three to four years, and when it does how they are faring. a distinctive and culturally important component so, it will likely return direct to its nesting burrow. of the Fijian avifauna. In September each year, This is yet another marvel of nature. the Bar-tailed Godwits arrive at Suva Point. As far as we know, they fly direct from Alaska to Prior to human settlement, all the islands of Suva, a non-stop journey of eight to nine days. Fiji are believed to have supported very high Some fly direct from Alaska to New Zealand, an densities of nesting seabirds that functioned 11-day non-stop flight. The migrations that our as major ecosystem drivers by transporting Dilio (Pacific Golden Plover), Bar-tailed Godwits nutrients from the ocean to land and by and other shorebirds undertake twice a year are cultivating soil with their burrowing.

marvels of the natural world. Following human settlements, seabirds have FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 Similarly, when a young Kacaunigau (Fiji Petrel) provided benefits such as food, feathers and leaves its burrow somewhere in the forest near nutrients for farming (seabird guano). Some Delaco on Gau, there will be no parents watching of our seabirds were key to the navigating over it. Instinct dictates it flies out to the sea and prowess of the Pacific’s first voyagers, while then, we believe, due south to cooler temperate today seafarers still use seabirds for locating schools of fish. waters. It will not return to Gau or visit any other Above: White-faced Storm Petrel © Jörg Kretzschmar. Left: Red-footed Booby Sula sula © Jörg Kretzschmar.

26 27 PRESSURE SEABIRDS AND SHOREBIRDS

Fiji’s seabirds suffer from unsustainable harvest­ Levu’s west coast, another listed Site of National Potentially 320,000 seabirds are killed annually P R ESS UR E | SEABIR D S AN SHOREBIR ing by man, predation by rats – augmented by Significance for coastal habitat of shorebirds has as bycatch in the world’s longline fisheries feral cats and pigs at certain sites – and loss of been leased by Government for conversion and (Andersen et al. 2011). Fiji has become a breeding habitat to developments like tourism. development. regional hub for longline fishing vessels in the Some important seabird nesting sites are Southwest Pacific, yet we have little information vulnerable to sea-level rise and climate change. and have developed no effective form of control or mitigation. Our colonial nesting seabirds have come under increased threat in the last 20 years with the An additional new threat now being actively rapid spread of outboard engines enabling discussed in the region is deep-sea mining for landowners to quickly and easily travel to remote minerals. What effect this will have on marine nesting colonies. Over-harvesting and frequent ecosystems and seabirds is largely conjecture disturbance cannot be sustained indefinitely by at this stage. However, Fiji’s under-resourced these seabirds. environmental administration has already demonstrated that it is unable to appropriately Poor planning and environmental control has led regulate mining on land; mining at sea will be to some significant seabird nesting sites being just an added dimension of difficulty. leased to tourism operators without any provision for the nesting birds. Prominent amongst these Rats AND Seabirds are Wailagilala (Fiji’s only true atoll), which has Invasive rats are among the largest Suva Foreshore Under Threat one of Fiji’s largest colonies of Brown Noddy contributors to seabird extinction and and several other seabirds; Nanuku (Ringgold endangerment worldwide. In the Pacific, Fiji’s seminal ‘State of the Environment Isles); Vunavadra (Mamanuca Group – South the first voyagers brought with them Report’ (1993) identified the mudflats Sea Island), which had a large Black-necked the Pacific rat Rattus exulans, which of the Suva Peninsula as an important Tern colony and was a Black Noddy roosting has become a serious predator of some migratory shorebird habitat. As a result, site; and (Mamanuca Group), which of the smaller seabirds. It was the later it was approved and listed as a ‘Site of supported a Wedge-tailed Shearwater colony. introduction of the Ship rat R.rattus National Significance’. and the Norway rat R.norvegicus by The coastal habitats of shorebirds are threatened Recently, the Government has called for FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 Europeans that greatly increased the in many parts of the Pacific. Even in Fiji, ‘Expressions of Interest’ from developers severity of rat predation on seabirds. important coastal flats are being or have been for conversion of the foreshore, initially considered for development. The mudflats of for the mudflats and more recently for Above: Predation of seabirds by rats is a serious the last remaining significant areas of the Suva Peninsula – a listed Site of National problem in Fiji and the islands of the tropical Pacific Significance – support over a thousand migrant © Steve Cranwell. Right: Mottled Petrel Pterodroma mangrove. shorebirds each year, yet these are now inexpectata pass through Fiji waters in large numbers on their southerly migration each October © Jörg threatened with development. At Saweni on Viti Kretzschmar.

28 29 RESPONSE SEABIRDS AND SHOREBIRDS

areas important for migration or congregation. R ESP ON SE | SEABIR D S AN SHOREBIR Twelve such sites have been identified on a Rat Eradication from preliminary list for Fiji (see Figure 7). Seabird Nesting Islands

Better knowledge of the distribution of seabird Rats have reached about 80% of the nesting sites and marine IBAs has provided world’s islands and are among the an initial focus for conservation action on the most successful invasive mammals. In ground. Conservation organisations have initiated Fiji, there are three species: the Pacific work with communities associated with seabird rat Rattus exulans, Brown rat Rattus nesting sites, notably BirdLife in Kadavu and Vatu norvegicus, and Ship rat Rattus rattus. I Ra and NatureFiji-MareqetiViti on Gau with the The Ship rat is an agile climber and a Figure 7: Fiji’s preliminary set of Marine Important Bird threatened Fiji Petrel and Collared Petrel. serious predator of nesting birds. Areas (Source: BirdLife 2012). Most significantly, BirdLife International has While our seabirds remain very poorly known by undertaken the eradication of rats from 11 comparison with our landbirds, information has islands with important seabird nesting colonies. improved greatly in the last 10 years as a result On several of these islands, nesting habitat of surveys of the Lau Group and identification of has improved, numbers of nesting birds have Marine Important Bird Areas. increased and new species nesting on the island Until recently, the breeding seabirds of the have been identified.

entire Lau Group were virtually unknown. Three Cranwell. © Steve surveys co-ordinated by the University of the The Enigmatic Fiji Petrel Successful Fiji rat eradication campaigns South Pacific of North, Central and Southern Lau coordinated by BirdLife Fiji Programme No more than 20 pairs of the Fiji Petrel have provided an important baseline on seabird have re-created nearly 300 ha of are believed to survive. Eleazar O’Connor nesting colonies, including new nesting sites for predator-free habitat on 11 islands. and Posa Qalo are Fiji Petrel Project nationally threatened species such as the Sooty Now permanently cleared of introduced Officers for NatureFiji-MareqetiViti in Tern, Crested Tern, Bridled Terns, both species rats, these islands are being used for charge of two New Zealand-trained of Frigatebird and the Masked Booby. restoration of colonial nesting seabirds detector dogs. In their first year on FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 and recovery of threatened species such BirdLife International has applied its global the island they have found more than as , lizards, forest birds, Important Bird Area criteria to seabird population 50 petrel nests. All those nests whose and some species of plants. By applying estimates, especially of globally threatened occupants have been identified are lessons learned from these campaigns, species, to confirm the most important sites Collared Petrels, but nearly 20 nests the cost-effectiveness of eradication in the tropical Pacific for seabirds, now known remain to be identified. campaigns has greatly improved. as Marine Important Bird Areas. These are identified on the basis of breeding, feeding or Right: Masked Booby Sula dactylatra © Steve Cranwell.

30 31 STATE Introduced Predators S

not how it was: their absence today is due to the T A introduction of the mongoose1, which represent Much-maligned Mynas not adapted to using open, cleared habitats. E just the most obvious impact.The mongoose is | INTRO D UCE PRE ATORS On the other hand, Mynas and Bulbuls are responsible for the absence of several other birds Myna birds and Bulbuls are conspicuous, adapted to open, disturbed habitats and as well as even more extensive impacts to Fiji’s introduced birds frequently blamed for do not go far into the forest. So there is reptiles and native frog. Fortunately, there are ‘chasing the native birds into the bush’. little or no displacement, just adaptation a few forest and hence biodiversity-rich islands Certainly they are both aggressive birds, and to different habitats. Fortunately there are such as Taveuni, Kadavu, Gau, Ovalau and Koro, Mynas are proven egg thieves – but they are some exceptions – the Kula (Collared Lory) that retain sizeable areas of biodiversity-rich not forest-adapted species, so it is incorrect to blame them for the scarcity of native birds is a conspicuous one, as it is at home from Evolving without predators forest and crucially are without the mongoose. in our gardens and farmland. Our native birds mountain forest through gardens to city Introduced predators are one of the major Preventing from spreading to these are primarily forest-evolved birds and are centres and out to the mangroves. contributors of species on islands. islands is of the highest priority. They also pose a threat to economic develop­ Recognising the culprits: ment, human health and food security. Since research required 1800, 90% of all bird extinctions have occurred of these is the arboreal Ship rat, which has Currently, while there is general interest in on islands and more than half of these extinctions penetrated all forest types. Many of our forest The Big Bad Five alien invasives, little research has been done have been caused by introduced predators. birds would be found at much higher densities : ‘Unseen’ voracious predators, to determine the significance of the various Rats in the absence of the Ship rat, and these rats most seriously the arboreal Ship rat The Pacific has experienced one of the world’s introduced predators in respect of our birds are likely responsible for the threatened status Rattus rattus; most disastrous examples of the chance intro­ and other biodiversity. There is a pressing need of some of our forest birds such as the Red- duction of an alien predator. Guam is currently for research to provide data and evidence on throated Lorikeet, the Long-legged Thicketbird Feral cats: Serious predators of birds; struggling to control the 3 million Brown tree exactly what is happening in Fiji and not to rely and the Pink-billed Parrotfinch. snakes (Boiga irregularis) that have caused on experiences elsewhere. Much of the current Mongooses: Two species extinctions and continue to cause power ‘invasives’ concern is based on perception rather Studies in the United States have shown that in Fiji – responsible for the loss of many outages, as well as health and infrastructure than evidence. the combined forces of ‘outdoor’ and feral cats ground-nesting birds as well as lizards problems. may be responsible for tens of millions of bird and frogs on islands where they occur; Conspicuous species such as Myna birds and fatalities each year. In Fiji too, feral cats are Bulbuls are often blamed, while inconspicuous Feral pigs: Serious predators of ground-

Fiji’s birds evolved in the islands without any another unseen but highly destructive predator FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 mammalian predators, so it’s not surprising that species like rats and feral cats are overlooked of birds and may well be primarily responsible nesting birds; or their role downplayed. The mongoose is when introduced, these have had a devastating for the extreme rarity of the Fiji Petrel, as the Goats: On small islands, unmanaged diurnal and everyone knows of it, even if they are impact. Today, few of us wonder why the Jungle NatureFiji-MareqetiViti-led Fiji Petrel Project has goats can devastate nesting habitat for not aware of what it is responsible for. Few of us Fowl (Toaniveikau), the Banded Rail (Bici), and found cat predation of nesting Collared Petrels to both seabirds and landbirds. the Purple Swamphen (Teri) are not found on Viti are aware of the devastating impact of unseen be high on the island of Gau where the Fiji Petrel Levu or Vanua Levu – ‘it’s just how it is’. But it’s predators on our forest birds. The most serious also nests.

1 We learned only in 2009 that there are two species of introduced mongoose in Fiji, Herpestes javanicus and H.fuscus. Fiji has Left: Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer © Mark Fraser. the dubious distinction of being the only country in the world (as far as we know), with two introduced species of mongoose.

32 Above: Preventing further spread of the mongoose to biodiversity-rich islands is of the highest priority © Craig Morley. 33 PRESSURE Introduced Predators

While we know that rats, mongooses and feral being felt and the decline of the Red-throated The world is becoming a smaller and more The issue for small island national governments P R ESS UR E | INTRO D UCE PRE ATORS cats are serious predators of our birds, the Lorikeet in the last 30 years could be attributed accesible place, and with a constant increase such as Fiji’s is not just to be able to detect severity and extent of their impact remains to be to Ship rats. Whatever, the predatory pressure in international shipping and air transport, invasive species arriving in the country but to clarified. It is likely to vary between bird species. remains and we urgently need to know the the chances of the accidental introduction of be able to quickly recognise the significance It is quite likely that the impact of the introduction extent of it in respect of our threatened birds. additional serious predators or competitors of of a situation and mount an effective response of the Ship rat less than 200 years ago is still our birds is very real. Recently an air link was as promptly as possible. The recent arrival of opened between Guam and Fiji, providing a the American (Green) Iguana Iguana iguana to ready conduit for entry of the Brown Tree Snake. Fiji has illustrated the difficulties of mounting Does the Red-throated Fortunately, for the time being at least, the air a national-level commitment with appropriate Lorikeet still survive? link has been suspended. funding and the necessary 5-10 year eradication time-frame. There has been no confirmed sighting of Kulawai, the Red-throated Lorikeet, since 1993, despite over 2100 hours of searching by local and overseas ornithologists. It is Preventing the establishment of the American (GREEN) Iguana now considered lost from Viti Levu and our in Fiji and the Pacific hopes for its continued survival rest on a island ecosystems. NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, possible population on Taveuni. Disturbance working with the Biosecurity Authority of and increased predation by rats following Fiji, has undertaken an extensive awareness Red-throated Lorikeet Charmosyna amabilis © W.A. Beckon. the opening of the Viti Levu highlands for programme and training among the the construction of the Monasavu Dam is communities on and surrounding believed to be the reason for its apparent islands to encourage their support for this local extinction on Viti Levu. iguana’s eradication.

However, the newly-established Biosecurity Collared Petrel killed Authority of Fiji has not yet been able to by feral cat acquire sufficient resources to have any A very successful invasive pest that is The first-ever nesting colony of the Collared chance of eradicating the iguana. Qamea,

spreading fast through the Caribbean and FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 Petrel was found by the Fiji Petrel Project at where the iguana is established, neighbours on mainland USA, the American Iguana’s Savalevu, Gau in May 2012. Feral cats had Taveuni, Fiji’s conservation stronghold, and arrival in Fiji represents the first established killed at least seven Collared Petrels at the the iguana’s spread to that island would be population in the Pacific and is a potential twenty-nest colony by the time some of the a biodiversity conservation disaster. bridgehead to the world’s most isolated chicks had departed in August of that year.

Setting a cat trap © Eleazar O’Connor. Left: Collared Petrel killed by a cat © Eleazar O’Connor. Above: American Iguana Iguana iguana © Rick van Veen.

34 35 RESPONSE INTRODUCED PREDATORS

In order to confront the problem of invasive assessments for the introduction and spread Eradication of introduced R ESP ON SE | INTRO D UCE PRE ATORS pests, the Government has recently established of the Brown Tree Snake and the Mongoose invasives on small islands the independent Biosecurity Authority of Fiji in Fiji and incursion response plans for the To date, successful Fiji rat eradication campaigns to address such issues in an independent and establishment of American Iguanas on Taveuni co-ordinated by BirdLife Fiji Programme have professional manner. Vigilance at our borders is and beyond. re-created nearly 300 ha of predator-free habitat essential; this is not mere rhetoric, as we know on 11 islands. The island of supports a full well with the arrival of the American (Green) These risk assessments and associated ‘response large colony of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. Iguana to Fiji. plans’ will enable government, private sectors and communities to prevent and respond to an While rats and feral cats are usually nocturnal incursion in an effective and efficient manner. and unseen, few people apart from scientists appear to be aware of how serious these predators are, which is a problem when encouraging support for their control. However, over the past few years, with the support of landowners, a successful start has been made with removing rats from islands that have important seabird nesting colonies. More of a challenge will be the establishment of rat and cat- free protected areas of native forest to benefit some of our threatened endemic forest birds.

Ensuring that the mongoose does not spread further than its current distribution of 11 islands There is also advocacy and capacity-building to in Fiji, and preventing the entry of extremely key government agencies and communities to serious invasive species such as the Brown Tree strengthen biosecurity and border surveillance Snake, are vital to minimising the chances of any at inter-island and national ports. further invasive predators that could threaten FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 Fiji’s birds and biodiversity. With the support of the landowners, rats and With the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, NatureFiji- goats were eradicated from the island in 2011. MareqetiViti is currently implementing a capacity-building project to prevent the spread of invasive alien species, focusing on Mongooses, Left: Rats and goats have been removed from Monuriki the Brown Tree Snake and the American Iguana. Above: Nukupureti and Nukubasaga, two seabird breeding Island © Stuart Chape. Top: Feral goats on Monuriki Island islands in the Ringgolds Group, from which rats have been before their removal © Steve Cranwell. Lower: Polynesian Actions have included the production of risk removed © Steve Cranwell. rat eating Sooty Tern egg © Steve Cranwell.

36 37 FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013

STAT E | Laws, Restrictions AND Sustainable Natural Resource Use 39 , the legendary nt Act gement Act al Mana aveuni © Jörg Kretzschmar. aveuni ct) Medinella waterhouesi agimoucia ent Environm a 2005 (extr are: Act The purposes of this use apply the principles of sustainable To of natural resources; and and development of the coastal (a) the preservation lakes of wetlands, environment, margins and rivers; natural (b) the protection of outstanding features; landscapes and natural of significant (c) the protection of areas and significant habitat indigenous vegetation of indigenous fauna; (d) the relationship of indigenous Fijians with sites, sacred their ancestral lands, waters, areas and other treasures; or (e) the protection of human life and health. Left: T forest blossom from T ND ND Fiji is a signatory and has set up an active Fiji is a signatory and has set up an active administration for implementing CITES – the in Endangered on International Trade Convention Species. Another important cornerstone of Fiji’s cornerstone of Another important legislation is the conservation biodiversity (2003 Act and Protected Species Endangered which provides and currently being amended), Fiji’s participation legislation for administrative for birds and other as protection in CITES as well biodiversity. and Action Strategy The National Biodiversity updated plan regularly Plan is a responsive, and responsibilities. The that identifies priorities is responsible Department of the Environment with assistance from for maintaining the plan departments and government other relevant conservation agencies, together with the various organisations operating in Fiji. rce Use esou tural R ble Na a ain

TE

A In recognition of this, sustainable natural resource use is incorporated as a key component which of Fiji’s Environmental Management Act came into force in 2007. Sustainable natural resource use is the key to Sustainable natural resource use is the key long-term national and landowner prosperity, protection. as bird and other biodiversity as well In general, what is good for people is good for birds. Sustainable resource use, clean air and lead to a healthy environment for clean water birds and people. Such national inclusive lists of protected species lists of Such national inclusive into the last quarter of the a rarity until well were and for many countries Until then, 20th century. protected, birds were only named still today, An inclusive all others being unprotected. list, such as Fiji has had since 1923, is more easier to administer, and offers comprehensive, better protection for all birds within a country’s borders. Sust remarkable legislative received Fiji’s birds have and Fiji’s Birds nearly 100 years. protection for for all of full protection 1923 afforded Game Act birds while specifying which the country’s native introduced not protected (certain species were during the annual one- birds and certain pigeons month shooting season). A estrictions ws , R La ST 38 PRESSURE Laws, Restrictions AND Sustainable Natural Resource Use

Eroding Natural Resources role in the conversion of forest to degraded forest Harvesting AND ‘Shooting’ of boats with outboard engines has meant that P R ESS UR E | Unsustainable resource use is still conspicuously and grassland. Traditionally, Fijians and other Pacific Islanders isolated islets where the seabirds breed are much practised in many sectors, none more so have harvested eggs or nestlings from colonially more easily accessed. than in our rivers and streams with rock and Birds are most severely impacted by the nesting seabirds. This harvesting is likely to have With only one exception (the Fiji Petrel Kacau­ gravel extraction, water abstraction and the conversion of native forests, but our migrant resulted in the loss of certain birds that no longer nigau), these threatened seabirds are found blocking of migratory fish routes. Unsustainable shorebirds have limited feeding habitat and nest in Fiji and the current rarity of some others. L aws , R estrictions AN D S ustainable N atural R esource U se elsewhere in the Pacific or even in other oceans; resource use is also conspicuous in sloping-land key sites such as the Suva Peninsula mudflats Over time, traditional controls were developed as such their Fijian populations are not of major agriculture, forest and mangrove conversion, are threatened by Government-encouraged or and would likely have assisted in a sustainable global interest and therefore their conservation plantation management, foreshore modification approved development. harvesting regime. attracts little attention. This is unfortunate and mining. Wildfire continues to play a major Today, colonially nesting seabirds are the most because many of these birds are of great national COMMONPLACE UNSUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE threatened group of our birds, primarily because interest and we should be identifying our national traditional controls have been lost or are weakly conservation priorities rather than blindly follow­ followed. Further, the widespread acquisition ing global priorities.

Pity the Poor Pigeons To enable this requires clear identification “The Minister of Agriculture may, each year, of the birds concerned, research into pigeon allow a shooting season of one month for the ecology and population dynamics, and Fiji Wood Pigeon and the Chili Pigeon under a regular monitoring system. All of this, the Birds and Game Protection Act 1923.” together with the costs of shotgun control Unfortunately for all our pigeons, no Fijian by the police, should be paid for by those who indulge in the archaic Pigeon Shooting Gravel and river rock extraction © Dick Watling. Unsustainable agriculture practices: ginger growing in the or scientific names are used in the Act and Waibau area, Viti Levu © John Morrison. neither of these pigeon names are in use Season, and not the ordinary taxpayer. in any authoritative book on Fijian birds or In recent years, Government has moved pigeons of the world. to replace or update much of Fiji’s archaic Treaties and conventions to which Govern­ legislation. Fiji’s Pigeons are eagerly awaiting their turn. FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 LOGGING ment is a signatory, require it to ensure than PIC TO COME any ‘wildlife management’ such as pigeon shooting, be undertaken on a sustainable basis.

Unsustainable logging practices threaten Fiji’s entire Forest destruction by wildfire © Dick Watling. Left: Fair game in the pigeon shooting season? A Fiji Wood Pigeon? A Chilli Pigeon? Neither; this is a Pacific Pigeon ecosystem © David Olson/Wildlife Conservation Society. Ducula pacifica – so is it protected? © Paddy Ryan

40 41 CLIMATE CHANGE FIJI: STATE OF BIRDS 2013 43 est oud For titude Cl e Vulnerable: te Chang w Al While the people of Fiji are unlikely to have While the people of Fiji are unlikely to have any measurable effect on climate change, their significant response to the problem may have Increased impacts on birds and biodiversity. frequency of deliberately-lit wildfires could have effect on Fiji’s remaining forest and a devastating Ill-considered its endemic birds and biodiversity. – including increasing foreshore development numbers of badly-designed and constructed – could damage shorebird foraging seawalls areas. Climate change is the subject of great bilateral and multilateral donor interest but Fiji’s birds by despite being of great value and biodiversity, for international standards and a good indicator to be the subject yet in general, have biodiversity strategy studies. of any resilience or adaptive Home of the on Gau Island – Fiji Petrel in the upland forests The Fiji Petrel nests only that it has a of Gau and scientists believe the cool cloud forest remnant distribution in ridges of an island on the highest forested cloud altitude that has some of the lowest (Watling in the world forest found anywhere it may be uniquely & Gillison 1995). As such, susceptible to climate change. Clima Lo ulnerable Low Altitude Cloud Forest . The pragmatic approach is to per se Climate Change V on Gau Island, Home of the Fiji Petrel © Eleazar O’Connor. Climate change will likely impact birds and by amplifying pressure of existing biodiversity The problem with threats in indefinable ways. current approaches is they tend to ignore current threats and focus on ill-defined climate change issues improve our capacity to address existing threats our capacity improve such as those identified in this document, and all birds, our state of knowledge of to improve – especially our threatened and endemic species alone are fully responsible. those for which we The small populations of some island birds, especially those restricted to a single island in Fiji), make them seven have (of which we events weather particularly vulnerable to severe or to marked changes in rainfall amount and of the more widely predicted distribution – two impacts of climate change. onies © Jörg Kretzschmar. Puffinus griseus change. These include measurable effects include measurable change. These during through mortality on bird populations sea changing events, weather severe emergence, temperatures, mis-timed seasons of birds decoupling of the breeding and collapsing food- from those of their prey, webs. birds, which may lead to their abandonment. birds, which may lead to their abandonment. N. Lau group, has at least Nukucikobia, species of nesting seabird including seven and nesters in Fiji, the Sooty Tern rare very is also an Nukucikobia the Masked Booby. important turtle-nesting site. ying Seabird Nesting Col w-l NGE A TE CH te Change Vulnerable: Lo

Sooty Shearwater Right: Sooty Shearwater sand cay © Dick Watling. Nukucikobia Above: Clima of Fiji’s most important colonial Several seabird nesting colonies such as Nukucikobia, and Ha’atana, are on isolated low- Naevo lying islets that are no more than 3m above These may suffer increased mean sea level. inundation from storms affecting the nesting CLIMA There is much speculation on all aspects relating speculation on all There is much on island and its likely impacts to climate change As environments and biodiversity. people, their attempt to study there has been no serious yet in on birds or biodiversity climate change impacts studies bird however, Fiji. Elsewhere in the world impacts of climate are showing demonstrable 42 REFERENCES

Anderson, O., C. Small, J. Croxall, E. Dunn, B. Morrison, C. 2003a. A Field Guide to the Sullivan, O. Yates, and A. Black. 2011. ‘Global Herpetofauna of Fiji. Institute of Applied Sciences, seabird bycatch in longline fisheries.’ Endang The University of the South Pacific, Suva. Species Res.:14: 91–106. doi: 10.3354/esr00347 Tabudravu, Mere S.V. 2009. Spatial relationships BirdLife International (2012) Country profile: between forest birds and habitats in degraded Fiji. Available from: www.birdlife.org/datazone/ and nondegraded forests in IBA FJ 10. MSc. country/fiji Thesis, University of the South Pacific, Suva.

Lagataki, Samuela, Josua Wakolo, Akosita Lewai, Watling, D. (2001) Guide to the Birds of Fiji & Viliame Tupua, Luke Delai, and Ilisaniasi Koroi. Western . Environment Consultants Fiji, 2010. ‘Global Forest Resources Assessment Suva. 2010. Country Report. Fiji.’ In Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010, 47. Rome: Forestry Watling, D. and A.N. Gillison. 1995 Endangered Department. Food and Agriculture Organisation Species in Low Elevation Cloud Forest on Gau of the United Nations. Island, Fiji. In Hamilton, L.S., J.O. Juvik and F.N. Scatena (Eds). Tropical Montane Cloud Forests. Jackson, D.B. and R. Jit. 2007. ‘Population Ecological Studies, Vol. 110 Springer-Verlag. densities and detectability of 3 species of Fijian forest birds.’ Notornis 54: 99-111 White, C.M., D.J. Brimm & J.H. Wetton 2000. ‘The Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus in Fiji and Naikatini, A.N. 2009. Monitoring comparative .’ Chancellor, R.D. & B.U. Meyburg (eds). spatial and temporal variation in the landbirds of Raptors at Risk. WWGBP/Hancock House. Vago-Savura Forest Reserve, a native lowland rainforest in south-east Viti Levu, Fiji. MSc. Thesis, University of the South Pacific, Suva.

Masibalavu, V. & G.Dutson 2006. Important Bird Areas in Fiji: Conserving Fiji’s Natural Heritage. BirdLife International, Suva, Fiji.

44 atureFiji MareqetiViti About NatureFiji-MareqetiViti

NatureFiji-MareqetiViti is the membership-based search for the Red-throated Lorikeet, which working arm of the Fiji Nature Conservation we fear may already be extinct, there being Trust, registered under the Charitable Trust Act no confirmed sighting since 1993. (Cap 67) in June 2007. Registered Charitable Trust #817. Become a Member By joining NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, you will What We Do become a member of Fiji’s leading local The mission statement of the Fiji Nature conservation organisation. As a non-profit Conservation Trust is: “to enhance biodiversity and non-government organisation, NatureFiji- and habitat conservation, endangered species MareqetiViti depends on membership protection and sustainable use of natural subscriptions, donations and bequests. It is resources of the Fiji Islands for the benefit your support and generosity that will enable of communities and the Fijian people”. NatureFiji-MareqetiViti to work actively for the conservation of Fiji’s unique natural heritage. Since our establishment in 2007, we have launched or are currently undertaking over 30 projects. These include internationally ground- breaking work such as those projects focusing on globally endangered species – the Fiji Petrel, the Fiji Flying Fox, the Fiji Sago Palm, the Lau Skink For further information, contact us: and the Yaqaga Crested Iguana. Other projects Email: [email protected] are even more challenging such as our current Website: www.naturefiji.org

Acknowledgements NatureFiji-MareqetiViti and Dick Watling are grateful to the core group of ornithologists and interested colleagues who contributed to this report with conceptual ideas, information or with comments on drafts. The photographs speak for themselves and we are grateful to all of the photographers, who without exception contributed their images without charge. None more so than Jörg Kretzschmar, a Life Member of NatureFiji- MareqetiViti, and Stuart Chape, whose continued support is highly appreciated. Mark O’Brien of BirdLife International Pacific Programme provided unpublished information on shorebird numbers at Suva Point and provided valuable comments on the manuscript. Sialesi Rasalato drafted the IBA Map on pg 18. NatureFiji- MareqetiViti works with many partners in Fiji and in particular the Government, all of whom have contributed in one way or another to the production of this report. We are grateful to you all. Photographs, from top left: Male Orange Dove Ptilinopus victor © Paddy Ryan; Kauvula Endospermum macrophyllum © Jörg Kretzschmar; Golden Dove Ptilinopus luteovirens © Baravi Thaman. atureFiji MareqetiViti

Fiji: State of Birds 2013 www.naturefiji.org ISBN 978-982-9131-02-7