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- Title
Assessment of the Birds of Swains Island, American Samoa.
- Authors
Titmus, Andrew J.; Arcilla, Nicole; Lepczyk, Christopher A.
- Abstract
Swains Island is an uninhabited 210 ha former copra plantation 360 km North of American Samoa. The island, dominated with coconut palm ( Cocos nucifera), was last surveyed in 1976. The goal of this 17-26 September 2012 survey was to identify the bird species present, and document relative abundance, distribution, and breeding activity across the island. Two shoreline surveys recorded a seabird community dominated by Black Noddy ( Anous minutus), White Tern ( Gygis alba), and Brown Noddy ( Anous stolidus), while the reef flat community was dominated by Pacific Golden Plover ( Pluvialis fulva) and Wandering Tattler ( Tringa incana). Inland surveys revealed four roosting or breeding species, including Black Noddy, White Tern, Brown Noddy, and Red-footed Booby ( Sula sula). Seabird densities were highest in the northwest section of the island, furthest from former settlements. Although feral pigs ( Sus scrofa) were recently eradicated, feral cats ( Felis cattus) remain present, and Pacific rats ( Rattus exulans) were observed over all island sections, likely posing threats to seabird populations. Predator control and restoration of preferred nesting tree species would likely increase seabird populations.
- Subjects
SWAINS Island (American Samoa); BIRD habitats; COCONUT palm; COPRA; GYGIS albo; PACIFIC golden plover; WILD boar
- Publication
Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 2016, Vol 128, Issue 1, p163
- ISSN
1559-4491
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1676/1559-4491-128.1.163