Birding in Tahiti
In this post, I will be writing about birding on Tahiti and Mo'orea, two islands in the Windward Islands, an archipelago belonging to French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France. The capital city of the islands, is Pape'ete, on the largest island of Tahiti. Unfortunately, it is not the best for a birding holiday, due to the lack of species diversity, though it has its fair share of endemic species, which are worth seeing.
Map of French Polynesia
Moorea
Moorea is Tahiti’s “wilder sister”, being less populated and less built-up. The island is also much smaller. To see many birds, a good site to visit is Opunohu Valley. Here, you have a chance of seeing, or more likely, hearing a Grey-Green Fruit Dove. This species is endemic to Tahiti and Moorea, and spends most of its time in higher altitude areas. Another species you have the chance of seeing here, is Young’s Society Kingfisher, a subspecies of Society Kingfisher, found on Moorea. The nominate subspecies is found on Tahiti. Unlike the nominate race, the Young’s Society Kingfisher has a brown back, as opposed to the blue back in birds from Tahiti.
Upon entering Opunohu Valley, you will come across a series of small fishponds, a great place to see many interesting bird species. The fishermen there will often let you walk right in and show you some of the birds. These can include Pacific Black Duck, Wandering Tattler, and Pacific Golden Plover. The locals also leave out food for the Black ducks, in the evening, and they can come within a few feet of you. While visiting these pools, you may also see Great Crested Terns and Pacific Reef-Herons, though these two species, as well as the Wandering Tattlers, are fairly regularly found around the coasts of Tahiti and Moorea.
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in all of French Polynesia, and is home to nearly 70% of Polynesian people. It is also home to two endemics, and two near-endemic bird species. By far one of the best locations to see as many of the birds as possible is Papeno’o Valley. Among the valleys in the Windward Islands, this is one of the rare ones open to the public. Here, as long as you come with a guide, you can expect to see Grey-Green Fruit Dove, Society Kingfisher, Crimson-backed Tanager, Tahiti Swallow, and, rarest of all, Tahiti Reed Warbler. The Tahiti Swallow was formerly considered a subspecies of the Pacific Swallow/Welcome Swallow complex, but was recently split following taxonomic advancements.
For most visiting birders, including myself, the main target species, is Tahiti Monarch, this bird is one of the rarest in the world, now only found in 3 small valleys in Eastern Tahiti; Maruapo Valley, Hopuetamai Valley, and Papehue Valley, the latter being the species’ stronghold. Its current extent of occurrence is roughly 4 km², meaning a single cyclone or tropical storm could be the end of this rare and magnificent species. On the other hand, the MANU-SOP (Ornithological Society of Polynesia) are working around the clock, ensuring the survival of the Tahiti Monarch, and safeguarding their future. To see this species, you will need to contact MANU, via social media, or their website (manu.pf). Due to their low population (<100) they are regarded as Critically Endangered. When trying to find Tahiti Monarch, you have good chances of also seeing Tahiti Swiftlet, endemic to the Society Islands.
The canal at Rue Francis Puara Cowan in Papeete is a well-known site due to the presence of Little Heron of the subspecies B. A. patruelie, only found on Tahiti and the Society Islands.
To see the Black-headed Weaver on Tahiti, go to the Vairai Park, in Punaauia, where they breed. You should be able to see them, especially in the middle of the day, when they go to bathe in the stream in the North-West corner of the park.
To get good view of Black Noddy, you can visit the “Black Noddy Tree”, in Taravao, where a colony of about 50 birds can be seen all year round. They are used to people and will fly down to the busy road, to collect nesting material.
If the seas are calm, and you book a tour, then you can have the chance to visit Tetiaroa Atoll, North of Pape’ete. Here, the guides will bring you to Bird Island, where you can see the countless breeding birds here. These include Red-footed, and Brown Booby, Lesser and Great Frigatebirds, Great Crested, White, Sooty, and Grey-backed Terns, and Brown, and Black Noddies. The wooded areas are also home to Long-Tailed Koel (aka New Zealand Cuckoo), from November-January. The Bristle-thighed Curlew, is also found, from September to May, when it can be seen feeding on the beaches, and preparing for its long migration to back to Alaska.
