Ornithological trip to Hunter and Matthew Islands, 11-14 December 2004

• Main Author: Borsa, Philippe
• Other Authors: Biocomplexité des écosystèmes coralliens de l'Indo-Pacifique (CoReUS2), Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Nouméa, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)
• Format: Report
• Language: French
• Published: HAL CCSD 2007
• Subjects: Marine avifauna; volcanic island; Rattus exulans; helicopter; impact; Avifaune marine; île volcanique; hélicoptère; [SDV.BID]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity; Pacific; Arenaria interpres; Ruddy Turnstone
• Online Access: https://hal.ird.fr/ird-00666147; https://hal.ird.fr/ird-00666147v2/document; https://hal.ird.fr/ird-00666147v2/file/RapportMatthewHunterDec2004_v2.pdf

I embarked on a Puma helicopter of the French air force in a joint mission with frigate ship Vendémiaire of the French navy to visit Hunter Island for 18 hours (12-13 December 2004) and Matthew Island for 22 hours (13-14 December 2004). Eleven seabird species were observed on Hunter Island, breeding (black-winged petrel Pterodroma nigripennis, wedge-tailed shearwater Ardenna pacifica, red-tailed tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda, masked booby Sula dactylatra, brown booby S. leucogaster, red-footed booby S. sula, lesser frigatebird Fregata ariel, greater frigatebird F. minor, brown noddy Anous stolidus) or presumed breeding (grey noddy Anous albivitta, white tern Gygis alba). The same species except the red-tailed tropicbird, the red-footed booby, the two frigatebirds and the white tern were observed on Matthew Island, as was the sooty tern Onychoprion fuscatus which breeds there in large colonies (N >8,000 pairs). The Pacific-golden plover Pluvialis fulva and an unidentified passerine bird were sighted on Hunter Island. The Pacific-golden plover and the ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres were sighted on Matthew Island. The Polynesian rat Rattus exulans was present on Hunter Island, while hens and a cock Gallus gallus were sighted on Matthew Island. This trip also provided the opportunity to assess the impact of helicopter movements on the avifauna. Embarqué à bord d'un hélicoptère Puma de l'Armée de l'air, en mission conjointe avec la frégate Vendémiaire de la Marine nationale, j'ai pu visiter l'île Hunter pendant 18 heures, les 12-13 décembre 2004 et l'île Matthew pendant 22 heures, les 13-14 décembre 2004). Onze espèces d'oiseaux marins ont été observées sur Hunter, nicheuses (pétrel à ailes noires Pterodroma nigripennis, puffin fouquet Ardenna pacifica, phaéton à brins rouges Phaethon rubricauda, fou masqué Sula dactylatra, fou brun S. leucogaster, fou à pieds rouges S. sula, frégate ariel Fregata ariel, frégate du Pacifique F. minor, noddi brun Anous stolidus) ou nicheuses présumées (noddi gris Anous ...