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Current status of the endangered Tuamotu or Titi Prosobonia cancellata and recommended actions for its recovery

R.J. PIERCE • & C. BLANVILLAIN 2

WildlandConsultants, PO Box 1305, Whangarei,. raypierce@xtra. co. nz 2Soci•t• d'Omithologiede Polyn•sieFrancaise, BP 21098, ,

Pierce,R.J. & Blanvillain, C. 2004. Current statusof the endangeredTuamotu Sandpiper or Titi Prosobonia cancellataand recommendedactions for its recovery. StudyGroup Bull. 105: 93-100.

The TuamotuSandpiper or Titi is the only survivingmember of the Tribe Prosoboniiniand is confinedto easternPolynesia. Formerly distributedthroughout the Tuamotu ,it has been decimatedby mammalianpredators which now occuron nearlyall atollsof the archipelago.Isolated sandpiper populations are currentlyknown from only four uninhabitedatolls in the Tuamotu.Only two of theseare currentlyfree of mammalianpredators, such as cats and , and the risks of invasionon themare high. This paper outlines tasksnecessary in the shortterm (within five years)to securethe species,together with longerterm actions neededfor its recovery.Short-term actions include increasing the securityof existingpopulations, surveying for otherpotential populations, eradicating mammalian predators on key ,monitoring key populations, and preparing a recovery plan for the species. Longer term actions necessaryfor recovery include reintroductions,advocacy and research programmes.

INTRODUCTION ecologyof the TuamotuSandpiper as completelyas is cur- rently known, assessesthe threatsto its continuedsurvival, The TuamotuSandpiper or Titi Prosoboniacancellata is a and outlinesactions needed for its recovery. little-knownshorebird endemic to theTuamotu Archipelago. It is uniqueamongst in that it is largely a seden- FORMER DISTRIBUTION OF PROSOBONIIDS tarybird of tropicalcoral atolls where it frequentsforest and shrublandhabitats. It hasno closeaffinities with otherliving The genusProsobonia contains one extantand many extinct speciesand is placedin its owntribe, the Prosoboniini, within taxa restrictedto easternPolynesia. The taxonomyof pro- the subfamily Tringinae or shanks (Zusi & Jehl 1970, soboniidsis not straightforwardand someworkers consider Piersma et al. 1996). All other speciesof prosoboniids, the Tuamotu SandpiperP. cancellata (parvirostris) to be includingflightless species, have become extinct during the distinct from the specimenwhich is thought to have past 1,000 years(Wragg & Weisler 1994, Steadman1995, been collected at in the Line in 1778 (see Steadman& Rollet 1996). Walters 1993 for discussion).Table 1 summarisesexisting Formerly widespreadthroughout the archipelago,the taxonomicinformation on the genusProsobonia. TuamotuSandpiper is now confinedto a small numberof The Kiritimati (Prosoboniacancellata, type local- islandsin theTuamotu, and is consideredan endangeredspe- ity), aswell asP. leucopteraof Tahiti andP. ellisi of Moorea cies (Birdlife International2000). Resultsof recentsurveys werelast seen alive in the 18thcentury and probably died out suggesta totalpopulation of little morethan 1,000 individu- then or soon after (Piersma et al. 1996). The Henderson als (Blanvillain et al. 2002, Pierce et al. 2003). There are no islandbirds died outbetween 1200 AD andthe 18thcentury recentdata on populationtrends. (Wragg & Weisler 1994). It is likely that the Marquesan This paper summarisesthe distribution,abundance and taxon alsodied out early in the settlementof thoseislands.

Table 1. Extinct and living prosoboniidtaxa.

Taxon Distribution Status Reference

P. cancellata (type specimen) Consideredto have been collected Extinct c. 18th century Walters 1993 from Kiritimati (Line Islands) in 1778. P. cancellata (parvirostris) TuamotuArchipelago Confined to a small number of atolls Walters 1993, () Piersma et al. 1996 P. leucoptera(Tahitian Sandpiper) Tahiti Extinct c. 18th century Piersma et al. 1996 P. ellisi (white-winged sandpiper) Moorea Extinct c. 18th century Walters 1991 P. new species HendersonIsland, Group Subfossil, extinct Wragg & Weisler 1994 P. new species MarquesasIslands Subfossil, extinct Steadman & Rollet 1996 P. new species , Subfossil, extinct Steadman 1995

93 Bulletin 105 December 2004 94 Wader Study Group Bulletin

TUAMOTU A RCHiPEL A GO

* I•k• .Puk• :!5' 15'

•N•$•ARO• • :•TENARUNC.•

20'

Du• of gloo•

GROUP• ß., ACTEON . N • • •ruteo '•*•9 t •M.n•r•

Morane , CAPRICORN IS:LANDS

150' 145'

Fig. 1. Map of the Tuamotu Archipelago(modified from Blanvillainet al. (2002)).

FORMER DISTRIBUTION OF TUAMOTU SANDPIPER was seenduring a long stayon Tenarunga,two birdsduring a brief visit to Vahanga,none during a brief visit to Matu- Althoughall otherprosoboniids were extinctby the end of reivavao, but many hundredswere presenton Tenararao. the 19th century, the Tuamotu Sandpiperwas still wide- Maria was not visited during this trip, but local people spreadin the TuamotuArchipelago with recordsextending reportedseeing none in 1986 (Blainvillain et al. 2002). If the from (north-westof ) in the north (14øS) to Tuamotu Sandpiperhas disappeared from Matureivavao,it the Gambiersand Morane (about23øS) in the south(Fig. 1). hasdone so in recentyears only, as the specieswas consid- In the 1920s,Tuamotu Sandpipers were presentand breed- ered quite common in 1966 (Lacan & Mougin 1974) and ing in the Raevski Group (betweenTahanea and ) and they were also presentin 1970 and 1982 (Birdlife Interna- they were commonor abundanton four of the five atollsin tional 2000). Morane supported 150-200 birds in 1990 the centred on 21øS (Beck & Quayle in (Birdlife Intemational 2000). Holyoak & Thibault 1984). The Acteon Group atolls were Elsewherein the TuamotuArchipelago, only smallnum- Tenarunga(only onehalf of the islandfrequented), , bers of birds were reportedin the 1980s and 1990s,mainly Matureivavao and Maria Islands in 1922, but on the fifth from islands in the central and northern Tuamotu. These islandin the group,Vahanga, they were rare with only four includedsingle birds on Rangiroaand neighbouringatolls, birdsbeing seen. Presumably they were alsocommon at this and small to moderate numbers on , , and time on Morane (where 150-200 birds were recorded in Anuanararo in the Duke of Gloucester Islands. There have 1990) and possiblyon someother southernTuamotu atolls, alsobeen an increasingnumbers of nil returns,such as from includingMarutea Sud where they were consideredmoder- the Raevski Group in 1999 where it was reported to be ately abundantin 1965 (Birdlife International2000), and on presentin the 1980s(Blanvillain et al. 2002). Details of all some central Tuamotu atolls, e.g. Tahanea,Fakarava and TuamotuSandpiper reports for 1900-2003 are setout in the Anuanararo where birds were reported in the 1980s and Appendix. 1990s. By the 1990s,Morane andTenararo were the only locali- CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF THE TUAMOTU ties whereTuamotu Sandpipers were knownto be presentin SANDPIPER goodnumbers, and they had virtually disappearedfrom all of the Acteon Group where they had been commonin the A surveyof 10 atollsin the Tuamotuand AustralGroups in 1920s (Blanvillain et al. 2002). Thus, in 1999, only one 2003 foundthat Morane was a strongholdfor TuamotuSand-

Bulletin 105 December 2004 Pierce & Blanvillain:Status of Tuamotu Sandpiper and recommended actions for its recovery 95

Fig. 2. Tuamotu Sandpiper on the shrub Messerschmidtia. pipersand smaller populations were also found on Reitoruand thesehabitats. Instead, it is more a bird of the upperbeaches Tahanea in the central and northern Tuamotu (Pierce et al. of rubble and sandamongst dwarf shrubsand scattered 2003). Thus in 2003 the following populationswere known: tall shrubs,as well as the adjacentareas of shrublandand interior of the forest (Figs 2 and 3). During surveys of ß Tenararo:500+ in November 2000 and July 2001 Tenararo in November 2000 and July 2001, the sandpipers (C. Blanvillain & R. Pierce pers. obs.) were distributed throughout the forest and especially the ß Morane: 530+ in March 2003 (Pierce et al. 2003) forest edges. On Morane, and Tahanea in March ß Reitoru: 57 in March 2003 (Pierce et al. 2003) 2003, the preferredhabitat was openforest and particularly ß Tahanea: 185 in March 2003 (Pierce et al. 2003). shrubland dominated by Scaevola, Messerschmidtia and Guettarda. Dense stands of were common on It is possiblethat small populationsof the Tuamotu Sand- Morane and thesewere largely avoided by Tuamotu Sand- piperscould persiston isolatedmotu ( separatedfrom pipers. Elsewhere, observershave reported Tuamotu Sand- the main ) at Marurea Sud where they were considered pipersfrequenting atoll shorelinesand lagoonedges (Jutglar moderatelyabundant in 1965 (Birdlife International2000) 1996, Birdlife international 2000). During our surveys, and on other islands,e.g. in the Duke of GloucesterGroup shorelineswere rarely frequentedby the sandpipers,except and possiblyother atolls. when they were attractedout of curiosity to the observers (Pierce et al. 2003). ECOLOGY OF THE TUAMOTU SANDPIPER Food No detailed feeding studies have been carried out on the The atolls of the Tuamotu typically comprisean outer reef Tuamotu Sandpiperand most of the information presented behind which rock-poolsgive way to a beach of coral rub- below was obtainedduring population surveys by the authors. ble and sand,followed by a vegetatedzone extendingfor a Food is taken from a variety of situations,the key ones few hundredmetres inland to the . The vegetationis being from the surfaceof the ground, from litter of Pan- quite simple, reflecting the poor soil and isolation of the danus, Messerschmidtia and other trees, from the under- archipelagofrom large landmasses.It usually comprisesa surface of leaves on low shrubs, from bark of trees and from smallnumber of speciesof eachof grasses,shrubs, vines and the branches,leaves and flowers of shrubsand trees(Fig. 3). trees,with the outerzone dominated by hardyplants such as Food comprisesmainly invertebrates,but also a significant the prostrateshrub Scaevola taccada. The interior is more amount of plant material. On Tenararo and Vahanga in diversewith shrubsand small trees of severalspecies includ- October 2000 and July 2001, invertebrate food observed ing Messerschmidtia(Tournefortia) argentea, Guettarda includedants (at least two species),cockroaches (at least 3 speciosa,Boerhavia tretrandra and Pandanustectorius. On species),sandflies and centipedes.On all atolls, birds were many islands, coconutsCocos nucifera have colonisedor been deliberately planted, and this specieshas begun to dominate the canopy, and in places the undergrowth, of many atolls.Another introduced plant of ecologicalsignifi- cance is lantana Lantana camara which is now established on someislands. In placesthere are marinepassages (known locally as 'hoa') that separatethe seafrom the lagoon.Many of thesepassages are only partially opento the sea,or com- pletely closedexcept during storms. Unlike the three most commonmigratory shorebirdsof the Tuamotu(Bristle-thighed Numeniustahitiensis, WanderingTattler Heteroscelusincanus, and Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialisfulva) which frequentthe reefsand lagoon- edges of atolls, the Tuamotu Sandpiperis seldom seen in Fig. 3. Tuamotu Sandpiper on a tree trunk

Bulletin 105 December 2004 96 Wader Study Group Bulletin

TuamotuSandpipers have disappeared from many islands that containcombinations of black (ship)rats Rattus rattus, Norway ratsR. norvegicusand Pacific rats (Blanvillain et al. 2002, Pierce et al. 2003). Combinations of rodents and/or catsas well as pigs Susscrofa and other mammalsoccur on many other islandsthroughout Tuamotu Archipelagoand GambierIslands and within the formerrange of the Tuamotu Sandpiper(Seitre & Seitre 1992, Rosair 1995, Thibault & Bretagnole1998, Blanvillain et al. 2003, Pierceet al. 2003). However, data are often lacking on precisespecies compo- sition,their timing of arrivaland whether colonisation of all motu of an was rapid (Holyoak & Thibault 1984, Fig, 4. Dwa• Scaevola plants compriseone of the preferred feeding areas of Tuamotu Sandpipers. Blanvillain et al. 2002). The ecologyand behaviour of TuamotuSandpipers suggests thatthey would be vulnerableto predationfrom catsand all frequentlyseen taking nectarand/or water from flowers of speciesof rats. Their inquisitiveand confidingbehaviour Scaevola (Fig. 4), and unspecified seedswere also taken wouldmake adultsparticularly susceptible to cats.However, (R. Piercepers. obs.). Stomach contents have contained the main mechanismof declinethroughout the archipelago (four species), and a wasp (Juglar 1996). hasprobably been predation of eggsand younginitially by Pacific rats and later by Europeanrats. Breeding Pacific rats were the first rat speciesintroduced to the TuamotuArchipelago and they have colonised all but a very The breedingof the TuamotuSandpiper is poorly known. few atolls.Their presenceappears to be sufficientto cause Nests and/or chicks have been found in March (Pierce et al. the localextinction of TuamotuSandpipers and prevent suc- 2003) andfrom May to October(Juglar 1996, C. Blanvillain, cessfulbreeding of recolonisingbirds from otherislands, as R. Piercepers. obs.), suggestinga prolongedbreeding sea- is the caseon Vahanga (Fig. 6) in the Acteon Group (see son.Nests have beenfound in the partially vegetatedsupra- belowunder Habitat modification). Pacific rats are also likely littoral zone and in shrublandareas. They are constructed to be responsiblefor the extinctionof the HendersonIsland from small shell fragments,coral debrisand plant material Prosoboniaand severalother birds (Wragg & Weisler 1994). and one nestcontained two eggs(Juglar 1996). One nestwas The subsequentarrival and spreadof Norway rats,black rats, 9 cm in diameterand 2-3 cm deepin fine granulesof coral feraland house-based cats and possibly further kiore through- sand(C. Blanvillain pers.obs.). outthe Tuamotu, has placed the Tuamotu Sandpiper in grave dangerof extinction. THREATS TO THE TUAMOTU SANDPIPER Habitat modification and risk of rat invasion Mammalian predators Habitat modification may have contributed to Tuamotu The largestsurviving populations of Tuamotu Sandpiper Sandpiperpopulation declines to varying degrees,but pos- occuron two small (<200 ha), uninhabitedand mammal-free sibly moreas an indirectmechanism through facilitating the atolls, Morane and Tenararo. The third largestpopulation proliferation of rats in plantations (Pierce et al. occurson the largeatoll of Tahanea(Fig. 5) whereit is only 2003). The two largestsandpiper populations occur in rather commonon the few very small motu of that atoll that lack different : on Morane they are in little-modified predatorymammals, and none or very few were found on native forest,but on Tenararothey occupya maturecoconut c.20 motuthat supportedcats Felis cams and/orrats (Pierce plantationthat was plantedin the 1970s and has grown up et al. 2003). The fourth largestpopulation known is on the throughthe forest. The proliferationof (and sup- smallatoll of Reitoruwhere the sandpipersoccur at low den- pressionof indigenousvegetation) could represent a signifi- sities on all three forested motu. All three Reitoru motu also cant threat to the habitat of Tuamotu Sandpiperand other supportedPacific rats or kiore Rattusexulans at moderateto bird specieson Tenararo,but currentlythe sandpipersare still low densities in March 2003. common there. However, the common practise on other atolls of clearing native undergrowthbeneath mature coco- nutswould also degradeTuamotu Sandpiper habitat. Vahanga, which is close to Tenararo, was also planted with coconutsin the 1970s and has very similar habitat to Tenararo,but it hasno residentTuamotu Sandpipers (Fig. 6). The one significantecological difference betweenthe two islandsis the presenceof high densitiesof Pacific rats on Vahanga,which appear to havecontributed to the lossof not only the Tuamotu Sandpiper,but also two pigeons- the PolynesianGround-dove Gallicolumba erythroptera and the Atoll Fruit Dove Ptilinopus coralensis.All three threatened speciesvisit Vahangain small numbersfrom Tenararo,but havenot becomeestablished there. Coconut planting or other Fig. 5. Forest and shrubland habitat utilised by Tuamotu direct human activity cannot be implicated in the virtual Sandpipers at Tahanea. absenceof Tuamotu Sandpipersfrom Vahanga, because

Bulletin 105 December 2004 Pierce & Blanvillain:Status of Tuamotu Sandpiper and recommendedactions for its recovery 97

TuamotuSandpipers were alsovery rare therein the 1920s, 50 yearsbefore coconuts were planted(Beck & Quayle in Holyoak & Thibault 1984). Clearly a hugeconcern is thatrats or catscould be intro- ducedto the few remainingpredator-free islands. This is morelikely to occuron atollson whichcoprah is beinghar- vested or could be harvested in the future, i.e. on three of the four knownislands that supportTuamotu sandpipers (Table 2). For example, Tenararo has two neighbouringatolls, Vahangawhere there is coprahand Pacificrats, and Tena- rungawhere there is coprah,Pacific rats, black rats and cats. Therefore,if harvestingproceeds on Tenararothere is a high Fig. 6. Shrublandhabitat at the edge of a channelon Vahanga risk of ratscolonising this strongholdof the TuamotuSand- piper duringhuman visits from the neighbouringatolls. The smaller sandpiperpopulations on Tahanea and Reitoru are andmaintenance of predator-freeislands with suitablehabi- also threatenedby combinationsof coprah and predators tat throughoutthe naturalrange of Prosobonia. (Table 2). The short-termgoal of preventingthe speciesfrom going The arrivalof ratswould seeany of theseislands, and par- extinct could be achievedthrough the maintenanceof four ticularly onescontaining coprah plantations, become satu- or morewidely separatedand viable populations. This would ratedwith extremelyhigh densities of ratswithin a few years. ensure that one-off localised disasters have less chance of Therewould be verylittle, if any,productivity after the ratin- impactingon the entire population.For example,if viable vasionand the TuamotuSandpiper population would almost populationscould be maintained on the Acteon Group certainlygo into rapid decline.The arrivalof catswould see (Tenararo), Morane, Reitoru and Tahanea (which span high adultmortality as well as lossof eggsand chicks. c.1200 km of the archipelago),the potentialimpact of local disasterson the speciesas a whole would be lessened. Stochastic events Our recommendations for actions needed to secure the TuamotuSandpiper in the shortterm (2005-2010) and long The now greatlyconstricted range of TuamotuSandpipers term (from 2010) are set out below. alsopresents a risk from other chance events, such as cyclones, tsunamisand disease. Tropical cyclones can be devastating Short term conservation actions (2005-2010) to atollhabitat and bird populations (Thibault & Guyot 1987, Birdlife International2000). In the past,any populationsof 1. Developa recoveryplan for the TuamotuSandpiper Tuamotu Sandpipersthat were decimatedby cyclonesor otherevents would have recovered through a combinationof A formalrecovery plan should be prepared urgently in order localrecruitment and immigration of birdsfrom neighbour- to guidethe recoveryeffort in the shortterm and longterm. ing atolls. The loss of the latter capability means that a The plan shouldidentify specifictasks to be undertaken, particularly severecyclone affecting Tuamotu Sandpiper timeframesand persons or agenciesresponsible. These tasks populationscould spell disasterfor the survivalof the spe- shouldinclude legal aspects(e.g. formalprotection of birds cies.The sameconcerns apply in relationto disease,which and islands) as well as tasks 2-10 below. withoutbackup populations, could also be devastatingfor the species.There are also concernsregarding the increased 2. Maintain the pest-free status of existing Tuamotu geneticbottleneck that Tuamotu Sandpiper populations may Sandpiper islands currentlybe in and the associatedrisk of increasedmuta- tional load (A. Baker, T. Piersmapers. comm.). Currentlythere are only two islands(Morane and Tenararo) on whichTuamotu Sandpipers are known to be abundantand RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR THE RECOVERY mammalian predators are absent. It is vital for Tuamotu OF THE TUAMOTU SANDPIPER Sandpipersurvival that theseremain predator free. It is im- portant,therefore, that securitymeasures are put in place In the shortterm (<5 years) the goal must be to ensurethe urgently to ensurethat there is minimal risk of mammalian speciesdoes not becomeextinct. In the long-term (5-20+ pestsor otherpests invading. Measures could include: years) the goal could include the reintroductionof popu- lationsof Prosoboniaacross its former broad geographic ß restrictisland entry to permit holders(permits from own- range.Both of thesegoals are dependent on the availability ers and/or local authorities)

Table 2. Summary of threats to populationsof Tuamotu Sandpipers.

Atoll Habitat used by Tuamotu Sandpipers Main threats

Morane Indigenous vegetation Invasion of rat speciesduring illegal landings Tenararo Indigenousvegetation and widespreadcoconuts Invasionof Pacificrats during coprah harvesting; habitat modification as young coconutsgrow, and habitat clearing Reitoru Indigenousvegetation and local coconuts Pacific rats, which are currentlypresent throughout the atoll Tahanea Indigenousvegetation and widespreadcoconuts Invasionof rat speciesduring coprah harvesting and other visits

Bulletin 105 December 2004 98 Wader Study Group Bulletin

ß limit visitsfor approvedpurposes only, e.g. management of TuamotuSandpipers currently include other membersof and researchon islandecology and pests the Acteon Group and Reitoru, on which the birds would ß implementand maintainpest monitoring probablyrecolonise naturally from Tenararo. Several other ß make the value of islandsand landing procedures known atolls and high islands in the , including to shippingcompanies, local communitiesand immigra- outlying Temoe, and atolls in the northernTuamotu, e.g., tion authorities somemotu at ,may alsobe suitable. ß vesselsand equipment of visitingparties need to be scru- tinisedfor the presenceof mammalianpests (e.g. rats)and 5. Implement monitoringof the Tuamotu Sandpiper invertebratepests (e.g. non-nativeants) populationsand rodent status on key islands and ß maintaina registerof visitingvessels and require a report carry out targeted research from eachvisiting party ß if other islandsare shownto be importantfor Tuamotu It is important to monitor populations on key islands to Sandpipers(see 3 below)ensure that they alsohave a strict determine whether they are healthy or not. This should quarantineroutine as above includeregular indexing of key populations,e.g. at Tenararo ß implement appropriatereserve status for the atolls, e.g. and Morane and surveyingfor rodents. naturereserve for Morane (Pierceet al. 2003) andpoten- Researchis also neededto help determinekey aspectsof tially incorporatingterrestrial and marine values. the life cyclethat impact on populationsize (i.e. survivaland recruitment)such as the breedingseason, nest sites,clutch 3. Survey selected islands for the presence of size and dispersal. Tuamotu Sandpipers and mamalian predaters Long-term conservation actions (from 2010, Several atolls have recently been surveyed for Tuamotu although some could be started earlier as oppor- Sandpipers,mammalian predaters and land-use status. Some tunities arise) areknown to havesupported Tuamotu sandpipers in the past, but have not beenvisited for many years.These include the 6. Determine minimum viable population sizes for following priority islands: Tuamotu Sandpiper

ß MaruteaSud (Acteon Group) - TuamotuSandpipers were All Tuamotu Sandpiper populations are in comparative recordedas moderatelyabundant in 1965, but they may bottlenecksituations and could therefore be experiencingan have disappearedfrom the main motu sincethen increasein negativemutational lead. Their geneticsshould ß Maria (ActeonGroup) - althoughlocals visiting the island be examined to assistwith determining minimum viable in 1986 reported no sandpipers,but "many rats on the populationsizes and thereforethe selectionof appropriate ground",this situationneeds confirming islandclusters for speciesrecovery. Interim recoveryactions ß Anuanararo (Duke of Gloucester Islands) - this island (especially Recommendedaction 4 above) should aim at containedsmall numbersof sandpipersin the 1980-90s. restoringsites that providefor large populations. Other islandsin the vicinity shouldalso be surveyed. 7. Involve local communities in the conservation of 4. Eradicate predaters on additional islands in strate- Tuamotu Sandpipers and other biota and the opportu- gic locations, reintroduceTuamotu Sandpipers if nities that stem from that required, and maintain their predator-free status Ratsare regarded as a pestthroughout the Tuamotubecause Following the outcome of the recent surveys (Action 3 of the high densitiesthat they are reportedto reachand their above)islands should be strategicallyselected for pesteradi- consequentimpacts on lifestyle and economicvalues. This cation.Key questionsand considerationsinclude: includesimpacts on food-storesand particularlycoprah pro- duction.There are clear opportunitiesto work with the De- ß geographiclocation - doesthe sitecontribute towards the partmentof Agricultureand/or local communitiesin collabo- security of another metapopulationof Tuamotu Sand- rative rat eradicationinitiatives that will achieveobjectives pipers,i.e. a new clusterof islands? across a spectrum of economic and environmental pro- ß doesit improvethe securityof an existingmetapopulation grammes.Potential benefits of collaborativework include: of Tuamotu Sandpipers? ß does the island contain sufficient habitat to support a ß economic benefits to the community, for example in viable populationof TuamotuSandpipers or doesit re- increasedcopra production quiresupporting islands and if sowhat is theirstatus, habi- ß economicbenefits to the communitythrough ecotourism tat quality and future prospectsfor sustainingTuamotu opportunities Sandpipers? ß shared costs of pest eradication and bio-security pro- ß is the future of the island and its habitats and biota secure? grammes ß would the island in a pest-freestate contribute signifi- ß increasedcommunity commitment in TuamotuSandpiper cantly towardsthe conservationof otherbiota, e.g. Poly- recovery and other conservationinitiatives nesian Ground-dove and other threatened birds? ß Are thereprospects for involvingthe local communityin 8. Advocate for the security of Tuamotu Sandpiper TuamotuSandpiper conservation and perhapseconomic populations ventures,e.g. ecotourism? The isolationof the TuamotuIslands and the infrequentvisits Potentialcandidates for pesteradication and reintroduction of conservationists,means that it is very importantto achieve • Bulletin105December2004 Pierce & Blanvillain:Status of Tuamotu Sandpiper and recommended actions for its recovery 99 local understandingof the ecologicalissues on the islands ing institutionsfor fundingand otherfield supportin 2003: and that responsiblemanagement and safeguardsare imple- New Zealand Agency for International Development, La mented. Considerable advances have been made over the last Societed'Ornithologie de Polynesie,Pacific Expeditions few yearsin raisingthe profile of theTuamotu Sandpiper and Inc., U.S. Fish andWildlife Service(), U.S. Geologi- otherthreatened biota locally in the Tuamotu(Blanvillain et cal Survey(Alaska) and Wildland Consultants Ltd. Logistic al. 2002, Pierce et al. 2003, Father J. Am6ran pers.comm.). supportand/or advice were providedby FatherJ. Aum6ran, However,there is a longway to go beforethe security of high G. Dutson, R. Hay, P. Raust, D. Saulnier, A. Saunders, value islands can be ensured. C. Serra, G. Sherley and J.-C. Thibault. Captain G. Wragg Some additional courses of action could include: and crew of the Bounty Bay providedtransport and other logisticsupport in 2003. Illustrationswere providedby the ß talksand discussions with key communitieswhere island authorsand L. Tibbits. Many usefulcomments on a draft of visitors(mainly coprah harvesters, fisherman, -shell this manuscript were provided by C. Denny, V. Kerr, divers,etc.) are domicilede.g. ,Raeo, Tena- T. Piersma,P. Raust,A. Saunders,L Tibbitsand G. Wragg. runga,building on work that hasalready been done ß opendays and field tripsat key conservationsites when REFERENCES opportunitiesarise ß pamphletsand/or documentary videos highlighting the Birdlife International. 2000. Threatenedbird,' of the world., U.K. Lynx plightof threatenedspecies and ways in whichpeople can Edicionsand BirdLife, Barcelonaand Cambridge. assist Blanvillain, C., Florent, C. & Thenot, V. 2002. Landbirdsof Tuamotu Archipelago,: relative abundanceand changesduring the ß use of the media and cultural occasionsto promotecon- 20th century with particular referenceto the critically endangered servationof TuamotuSandpipers and otherisland biota. Polynesianground dove ( Gallicolumbaerythroptera). Biol. Cons.103: 139-149. 9. IntroduceTuamotu Sandpipers to islandsfrom Holyoak, D.T. 1973. Notes on the birds of Rangiroa,Tuamotu Archi- pelago,and the surroundingocean. Bull. B. O. C. 93: 26-32. whichpredators have been eradicated Holyoak, D.T. & Thibault, J.C. 1984. Contribution• l'dtudedes oiseaux de Polyndsie orientale. M•moires du Museum National d'Histoire Several islands and atolls outside the Tuamotu have been Naturelie, nouvelle s•rie, S•rie A, Zoologie, Tome 127. clearedof rats,including some atolls in the PitcairnGroup Lacan, F. & Mougin, J.L. 1974. Les oiseaux des iles Gambier et de wherea prosoboniidonce occurred. The ability of birdsto quelquesatolls orientauxde l'Archipel des Tuamotu (Ocean Paci- disperseacross long-distances is unknown,but the lack of fique). L'Oiseau et la RevueFrancaise d'Ornithologie 44: 193-280. recentrecords from Mangarevain the Gambierssuggests that Lovegrove, R., Mann, I., Morgan, G. & Williams, I. 1989. Tuamotu the c.200 km betweenMorane and the Mangarevamay be a Islands expedition March-April 1989: report of an expedition to ascertain the statusof Red Data Book speciesin the TuamotuArchi- barrierto dispersal.Internationally, considerable knowledge pelago, .Unpublished report. of wader translocationshas been built up throughspecies Pierce, R., Raust, P. & Wragg, G. 2003. Report on an avifaunasurvey recoveryprogrammes which will invaluable. of atolls of the Tuamotuand A ustral ,French Polynesia. Wildland ConsultantsLtd Contractreport no. 638. Preparedfor New 10. Evaluate the phylogeneticaffinities of the Zealand Agency for InternationalDevelopment and Haut-Commis- sariatde la R•publiqueen Polyn•sieFranqaise, 30 pp. TuamotuSandpiper Pierstoa, T., van Gils, J. & Wiersma, P. 1996. Family Scolopacidaepp 444-533 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliot, A. & Sargatal,J. (eds).Handbook of In orderto fully understandthe needsof the TuamotuSand- the Birds of the World. Vol. 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, piper andestablish its trueconservation status, further stud- Barcelona. ies are requiredto clarify its placein shorebirdphylogeny. Rosair, D. 1995. Tuamotusandpiper in focus.Birding World 8: 432-433. Consideringthe radiationof Prosoboniain Polynesia,it is Seitre, R. & Seitre, J. 1992. Causesof landbird extinctionsin French quite possiblethat the speciesrepresents an entirefamily Polynesia.Oryx 26: 215-222. within ,enhancing its uniquebiological and Steadman, D.W. 1995. Prehistoric extinctions of Pacific Island birds: biodiversitymeets zooarchaeology. Science 267:1123-1130. conservation value. Steadman, D.W. & Rollet, B. 1996. A chromostratigraphicanalysis of landbird extinctions on , . J. Archaeol. CONCLUSION Science 23: 81-94. Thibault, J.C. 1998. Menaceset conservationdes oiseauxde Polyn•sie Urgent actionis neededto secureand recoverthe Tuamotu Franqaise.Pp. 87-124 In: Thibault,J. & Guyot, I. (Eds). Livre rouge Sandpiperand significantinternational assistance will be desoiseaux menaces des r•gions franqaises d' Outre-mer,Monographie No 5, Conseil International pour la protectiondes oiseaux, CIPO, neededby FrenchPolynesia in orderto achievethis. Much . practicalassistance can be sourcedfrom the Pacific Thibanlt, J.C. & Bretagnolle, V. 1999. Breeding birds of Gambier andinvolve different organisations and groups, including the Islands,Eastern Polynesia: numbers and changes during the twentieth partnersof thePacific Programme of theCooperative Islands century.Emu 99: 100-107. Initiative.Funding, however, remains the greatest need. Sub- Thibault, J.C. & Guyot, I. 1987. Recent changesin the avifauna of ject to funding,immediate actions for 2005 and2006 include Island (Tuamotu, Central Pacific). Atoll Res. Bull. 300:1-13. the surveyof additionalislands (Recommended action 3) and Walters, M. 1991.Prosobonia ellisi, an extinctspecies of sandpiperfrom Moorea, SocietyIslands. Boll. Mus. Reg Sci. nat Torino 9: 217-226. the eradication of rats from key atolls (Recommended Walters, M. 1993. On the status of the Christmas Island sandpiper, action 4). Aechmorhynchuscancellatus. Bull. B.O.C. 113: 97-102. Wragg, G.M. & Weisler,M.I. 1994.Extinctions and new records of birds ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS from HendersonIsland, Pitcairn Group, SouthPacific. Notornis 41: 61-70. We wish to thankThe Pacific Developmentand Conserva- Zusi, R.L. & Jehl, J.R. 1970. The systematicrelationships of Aech- morhynchus,Prosobonia and Phegornis(Charadriiformes: Charadrii). tion Trust for fundingRJP's work in 2001, and the follow- Auk 87: 760-780.

Bulletin 105 December 2004 100 Wader Study Group Bulletin

APPENDIX

Reports of Tuamotu Sandpipers during 1900-2003

Northern Tuamotu

Island Year Number/observations Source

Mataiva 2003 1 on 17 April Cam Keppler in Te Manu No. 44, September2003 Rangiroa 1972 1 Holyoak 1973 1990s 1 Birdlife International 2000 1990s 1 Birdlife International 2000 1923 1 in March, 4 collected in May Beck in Holyoak & Thibault 1984 Fakarava 1923 Collected Beck & Quayle,in Holyoak & Thibault 1984 1980s Reportedpresent by fishermen Birdlife International 2000 2003 1 in March Pierce et al. 2003 Tahanea 1923 Collected Quayle in Holyoak & Thibault 1984 1989 12-15 Birdlife International 2000 1997 3 on Toreatai Motu in March P. Agnew pers.comm. 2003 185 in March mainly on motu of south-westernchain Pierce et al. 2003 1923 Collected Quayle in Holyoak & Thibault 1984 Tuanake 1923 Collected Beck in Holyoak & Thibault 1984 1980s Reportedpresent by fishermen Birdlife International 2000 1999 None Blainvillain et al. 2002 1921 7 in October Quayle in Holyoak & Thibault 1984 1923 Two eggscollected Holyoak & Thibault 1984 1980s Reportedpresent by fishermen Birdlife International 2000 1999 None Blainvillain et al. 2002 Tepoto 1923 Severalcollected Beck in Holyoak & Thibault 1984 1999 None Blainvillain et al. in press

Centra'l

Anuanuraro 1990 30-40 Birdlife International 2000 1981 Present Birdlife International 2000 1922 Collected Holyoak & Thibault 1984 Reitoru 2003 57 in March Pierce et al. 2003

Acteon Group

Tenararo 1922 Abundant in June Beck & Quaylein Holyoak & Thibault 1984 1999 500+ Blanvillain et al. 2002 Vahanga 1922 4 Quayle in Holyoak & Thibault 1984 1999-2001 Up to 3 C. Blanvillain & R Pierce pers. obs. Tenarunga 1922 Large numbers,but mainly restrictedto one side of the atoll Beck & Quaylein Holyoak & Thibault 1984 1999 Rare visitor, 1 seenduring 18 days C. Blanvillain Maturei Vaovao 1922 Hundreds Beck & Quaylein Holyoak& Thibault 1984 1966 Quite commonbur sometimeskilled by local people Lacan & Mougin 1974 1982 Present Birdlife International 2000 1999 None seenduring one day visit in October C. Blanvillain 2002 2 in October C. Serrapers. comm. Maria 1922 Very common Beck & Quaylein Holyoak & Thibault 1984 1986 Absent accordingto local people C. Blanvillain 1922 Common on Motu Kaveka only: presenton a secondmotu Beck & Quaylein Holyoak & Thibault 1984 1965 Less abundant Lacan & Mougin 1974 1997-1998 A few on an isolated motu V. Bretagnole,per G. Wragg

Gambier-Morane

Gambier Islands 1922 Small numbers on the islands , , Holyoak & Thibault 1984 and Motu Teiku 2000 None R.J.Pierce,C. Blanvillain & G. Wragg pers.obs. Morane 1990 150-200 Birdlife International 2000 2003 530+ Pierce et al. 2003

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