Protect Pacific Whales..

A very exciting time for our beloved whales as the focus for 2016 and 2017 SPREP programme, more information on the websites below:

The Pacific Island region is home to over half the world's species of cetaceans, whales and dolphins, including some of the least known, and as such members of the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP) agreed to focus their activities in 2016 and 2017 on a targeted regional campaign on whales. 

The ‘Protect Pacific Whales – Ocean Voyagers’ Campaign provides an opportunity for SPREP and all its Members and partners to celebrate these magnificent creatures, raise awareness on whales and their conservation, but also on ocean conservation. What happens in the ocean will inevitably impact whales.  The campaign will also address the problems facing them as ocean-dwellers that will surely ultimately impact us all.

The programme of work that is envisaged for the Protect Pacific Whales Campaign is an ambitious mixture of scientific research, training and capacity-building, exchange of information, and cultural and artistic celebration.

Join us to celebrate  whales and their place in Pacific cultures, promote their protection in the face of emerging threats, support measures to enhance their conservation, and to maximise the economic return available to Pacific island communities from the development and application of best-practice guidelines for whale-watching.  

For more information, visit our website (English and French versions available) https://www.sprep.org/yearofthewhale  and contact us at pacificwhales@sprep.org.

Nesting Colonies of Vava'u's Outer Islands

posted by Kate Walker

Otu Motu Lalo outlined in red

In the early 1990s the three islands of Maninita, Taula and Lualoli (collectively known as Otu Motu Lalo) were proposed as a protected area by the Tongan government due to their importance as sea bird breeding colonies. Lack of resources and shifting priorities meant that this proposal was never taken any further. In the following years, Vava’u’s emerging eco-tourism market led to these islands being identified as potential tourist attractions and their importance was recognised by the New Zealand Overseas Development Administration funded Tongan Nature Tourism Program in 2002. As part of this program, a baseline survey of Maninita and Taula was commissioned and a rat eradication program was also carried out on both islands.

The baseline surveys, as reported by Dr D Watling from Environmental Consultants Fiji, list the species of flora and fauna that can be found on both islands and maps the ranges of vegetation habitat type. The dominant species of plant found on both islands is the tree locally known as Puko (Pisonia grandis), however their woodland type varies between islands. Maninita enjoys a high Puko tree forest with a solid unbroken canopy suggesting mature woodlands. Taula, on the other hand, is also mostly covered by Puko trees but the woodland is made up of shorter trees with a highly broken canopy. This difference is explained by the human use of Taula, where harvesting of seabird chicks is a known annual occurrence. There are plenty of signs of cut Puko trees which Watling accredits almost certainly to felling of trees to harvest the birds.

Typical coastal vegetation on Taula

The birds that were observed on Otu Motu Lalo are a combination of migrating species from the north and resident species of Tonga year round. During the two baseline studies, 21 species of birds were identified between the two islands. Of these species, three are resident breeding land birds (Wattled Honeyeater (Foulehaio carunculata; Fuleheu), the Banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis; Veka) and the Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris; Sikota)), the rest are seabirds. Of the 21 species identified, five of them nest in these identified islands. The greatest abundance of nesting birds are the Black Noddy (Anous minutes; Ngongo)with an estimated 13,000 breeding pairs, next most abundant are the Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus; Ngongo) with an estimated 1500 nests across both islands and then the White Tern (Gygis alba; Tala) with an estimated 1,000 breeding pairs. 

Black Noddy (photo: 10000birds.com)

Brown Noddy (photo: 10000birds.com)

White Tern (photo: Dave Wiley)

 Red-footed Boobys (Sula sula; Ngutulei) also nest on both Maninita and Taula, but are found in higher numbers on Taula. It is thought that, unlike the noddys and terns, the boobys nest all year round and therefore the number of nests (approximately 50) found during the baseline surveys were not representative of the population size. This was further supported by the large number (compared to number of recorded nests) of Red-footed Boobys coming to roost, rather than nest, on both islands each evening or in high winds.

Red-footed Booby & Frigate Bird, Taula

 

Red-footed Booby over Taula

In addition to this, Taula hosts a breeding colony of Black Winged Petrel (Pterodroma nigripennis; Lafu). These birds nest in burrows up to one meter deep that they dig in sandy soil, visiting them late in the evening and at night. While Dr Watlings’ baseline survey was a comprehensive study of all flora and fauna species of the islands, he was unable to quantify the occupancy of the petrel nesting burrows. This is owing to a local village party that had visited the island a week before the survey and ‘devastated the colony’ through harvesting. It was felt by the survey team that additional disturbance of the nests would be detrimental to the health of any surviving birds. Therefore burrow numbers were used as an estimate of colony size and a figure of 200 petrels was derived.

Black Winged Petrel (photo: Nvoaden)

Petrel burrow on Taula (photo: D Watling)

  

The studies conducted by Dr Watling and his team show Maninita and Taula to be very important seabird nesting colonies with intact native flora. BirdLife International’s Important Bird Area proposal document states that these islands are some of the best remaining examples of Tonga’s small island ecosystems. However, the attributes that make them such important ecosystems are under threat from continued human exploitation and the lack of any management framework. 

Remains of a booby at a camp site on Taula

As well as being important nesting islands, the Otu Motu Lalo islands are also important nesting grounds for Vava’u’s marine turtle species and as such will be visited by the Vava’u Turtle Monitoring Program on an annual basis. We will be able to use this time to also monitor the seabird nesting population and human activity on these islands and look for any worrying trends that may emerge. 

 

Busy birds and stormy skies - large flocks of seabirds over the outer islands of Vava'u

 The first turtle surveys were completed during January 2013 and many eggs and chicks were observed on Taula with large flocks of seabirds being visible at all times. Seabird nesting was found on most of the outer islands visits, but without doubt, Maninita and Taula were the busiest. We have since made contact with Dr Watling and will be able to use his baseline data to compare any additional bird data that we collect.

Noddy egg in a nest on Taula

Very young noddy chick on Taula

Black Noddy chick getting close to fledgling on Taula

If you would like to find out more please contact us at info@vavauenvironment.org

Malo, Kate

Exploring Vava'u's Environment

Vava'u Island group comprises of over 40 limestone islands of which only 14 are inhabited. The natural resources of Vava'u are scattered between the marine and terrestrial environments.

Each month we will be writing a blog post on different areas of Vava'u environment to help share in its beauty, we will also be discussing other topics of conservation interest that threaten and potentially effect the environment and the communities who use them.

We would love for people to share with us topics that they would like to hear about so please add comments and share around.

Our first topic which will be for the end of the month is the terrestrial or land environment.

Some of the stunning islands.

Welcome volunteers

we had a little official welcome party for both Elana and Damian last night, few nibbles provided by both members and Lisa from Tropicana. Here are some pics -  thanks to everyone for coming and for their efforts to help and support VEPA.

More pictures are on our Facebook page - so go ahead and tag yourselves if I have not done so.

Big thanks as always to Lisa from Tropicana for hosting our get together.

First week volunteering in Vava'u

When I flew over Vava'u on Monday afternoon I realised what a special place it really is.  I'm so excited to be here for the next 12 months, working with VEPA to help protect Vava'u environment.

Over the last couple of days I have met most of the VEPA board members and come to learn the great things they have achieved with little funding and resources.  It shows what a team of passionate environmentalists can do!

Over the next two weeks I will be helping the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) plan for World Environment Week (1-8 June).  It is a great opportunity to meet the school principles,  local business owners and community organisations.  MECC have a great week planned, which i'll update you on over the next couple weeks.

2011 sucess

2011 has been a very successful year for VEPA. Through funding from both Canada Fund and the US State department, we have made great progress on our waste management and recycling project. Keep Vava'u Green also sponsored bins to the domestic airport. Thank you to all those that were a part of these projects.

Through clean ups and recycling days in communities to placing waste and recycling bins around town, we are already seeing a good difference in the cleanliness of certain areas. There is still much to be done.

Great news already for 2012, is that VEPA will be getting an Aus Aid Volunteer to help us. We can not wait for her arrival and to introduce her to the efforts of VEPA.

So from all the board, we would like to whole heatedly thank everyone that has helped us this year, we are looking forward to more successes in 2012.

May you all have a great and safe New Years Eve and here is to furthering conservation around the world in 2012.