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NEWS & VIEWS


ATTEMPTING TO SAFEGUARD PACIFIC PARROTS


A record £215,000 (approx. US$430,000) was raised by Birdfair (The

British Birdwatching Fair) 2006 to support BirdLife International’s effort to

conserve parrots and other threatened birds in the South Pacific region.


Earlier this year, as part of the project, a group of Rimatara Lorikeets

Vini kuhlii was translocated from Rimatara in French Polynesia to Aitu in the

Cook Islands. The multidisciplinary project team, which included members

of the BirdLife International Partnership in French Polynesia and the Cook

Islands, San Diego Zoo and community members from Aitu, arrived on

Rimatara in April 2007. Two teams used mist nets to trap the birds in their

favoured feeding areas around flowering trees and bananas. This proved

unexpectedly successful and 27 were caught in the first week. The birds

were housed in preconstructed aviaries and cared for by the staff from San

Diego Zoo. All of the birds adapted well to confinement and were examined

by a vet and given a clean bill of health.


The birds, accompanied by the project team and community members

from Rimatara, were flown to Aitu on April 24th, on two aircraft generously

provided by Air Rarotonga. Since their release small groups of birds have

been seen regularly moving around the island and early indications are that

they are settling in well. Evidence of breeding is eagerly awaited.


* * *


HELP FOR GURNEY’S PITTA


In 2005, the Birdfair raised £200,000 (approx. US$400,000) towards

the long-term conservation of Gurney’s Pitta Pitta gurneyi in the lowland

forests of Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand.


Activities in Burma have focused on securing a Memorandum of

Understanding with the Forest Department, promoting the gazetting of Lenya

National Park, securing co-financing from other donors and undertaking

research on Gurney’s Pitta. In Thailand an Action Plan has been agreed and

activities there have resulted in improved forest protection, which has almost

succeeded in stopping illegal forest clearance in the most important areas.

The intensive guarding of nests has also led to increased breeding success.

Furthermore, a tree nursery has been established to replant illegally cleared

land. The population of Gurney’s Pitta in Thailand now numbers 20 pairs

and is continuing to grow steadily but the situation remains critical.



