Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Garnett (1983) noted that only Phaeton lepturus, Phaeton rubricauda, and Sterna fuscata
may be breeding on Manra (Sydney). The rest of the birds listed were visitors, vagrants, or
migrants.
Government of Kiribati (1995) reported on bird observations on Abariringa, Enderbury,
Manra, Nikumaroro, and Orona (see Table III-3.19 above). Eleven species of birds were
reported from Manra. The masked booby (te mouakena), white tern (te matawa) did not
breed on Manra.
Kepler (2000) reported on bird counts on Abariringa (Canton), Enderbury, Manra, Orona, and
Nikumaroro (see Table III-3.20 above).
In 2000, no sea birds were noted for Manra (Stone et al 2001).
Neilson (2002) reported the presences of various bird species on Abariringa (Kanton), Birnie,
Enderbury, Manra, Nikumaroro, Orona and Rawaki (see Table III-3.22 above).
In 2002, bird surveys were conducted on all Phoenix Islands, except McKean (Obura and
Stone 2003; Yoshinaga 2002; see Table III-3.23 above). No petrels, shearwaters, Pacific reef
herons, or blue-gray noddies were observed.
In 2002, birds were identified and counted in Abariringa, Birnie, Manra, McKean,
Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki (Bukaireiti and Rabaua 2002). Results of these counts are
provided in Table III-3.21 above.
Di Piazza and Pearthree (2004) provided a list of bird species observed on Rawaki (Phoenix),
Enderbury, Manra, Orona, and Abariringa (Canton) (see Table III-3.24 above).
Pierce et al (2006) completed preliminary estimates of the number of seabird pairs on all of
the Phoenix Islands (see Table III-3.26 above).
Pierce et al (2006) provided population estimates of shore and land birds in all eight of the
Phoenix Islands (see Table III-3.28 above).
MCKEAN
Hartlaub and Finsch (1872) reported that nestlings of Puffinus dichrous from Pelews (now
known as Belau) were precisely similar to those found in M’Kean.
Lister (1891) noted the presences various bird species on Abariringa (Canton), Birnie, Manra
(Sydney), McKean, Nikumaroro (Gardner), and Rawaki (Phoenix) (see Table III-3.16 above).
Maude (1937) reported that McKean was probably the favorite breeding place of the frigate
bird.
In 1937, Bevington (1990) observed mutton-birds, gannet, frigate birds, and white terns on
McKean.
Bryan (1941 and 1942) reported that bird life was abundant and that terns predominated.
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