French Polynesia - The Marquesas Islands - Page 5

Marquesas Fairy Tern Gygis microrhyncha (also called Little White Tern, Little Fairy Tern) were common at sea and in villages flying around trees, often many kilometres inland. They have longer narrower bills than White Tern. It was thought to be endemic to the Marquesas but hybrids have been reported from Phoenix-Line Islands. Clements treats it as a subspecies of White Tern Gygis alba microrhyncha.

 

Marquesas Fairy Terns and White Terns lay one egg on a tree branch without making a nest. They incubate the egg between their legs until it hatches. This Marquesas Fairy Tern chick looks barely a few days old as it hangs on to the branch. Oa Pou on 23 November 2010.

 

Endemic to the Marquesas Islands, Ultramarine Lorikeet is being reintroduced to boost its population. Ua Huka between the church and the restaurant on 29 November 2010. Our group saw three at the Vaipee Botanical Gardens.

 

Endemic to the Marquesan Islands, male Iphis Monarch, Ua Huka subspecies Pomarea iphis iphis, at Vaipaee Botanical Gardens on 29 November 2010. We also saw the endemic Fatu Hiva Monarch on Fatu Hiva and learned about the efforts to control rats and wrap the tree trunks with metal sheeting so rats can't climb up to the nests, but I wasn't able to get a photo.

 

Female or young male Iphis Monarch at Vaipee Botanical Gardens on 29 November 2010.

 

Endemic to the Marquesas Islands, White-capped Fruit-Dove at the Vaipee Botanical Gardens on Ua Huka on 29 November 2010.

 

Endemic to the Marquesan Islands, Marquesan Reed-Warbler on Ua Huka, subspecies Acrocephalus mendanae idae. 29 Nov 2010.

 

We returned to the Aranui in whaleboats, lifted aboard by muscular Polynesian crew.

 

 Semi-wild horses of Ua Huka graze on sparse vegetation. The prolonged drought has meant hardship for them.

 

Now go to Page 6