Surfbirds News

Fossil and historical evidence show the bird was native throughout the Southern Cook Islands, and Rimatara, a small nearby island in French Polynesia. It was hunted to extinction for its red feathers, except on Rimatara, where it was protected by a tapu (taboo).

After the release in April 2007, the lorikeets were seen in large flocks on many parts of the island, except at the two release sites. Later in the year they settled into small groups which appeared to establish themselves in particular areas.

In October 2007 posters were distributed to advertise a contest with prizes for residents finding the first, second and third juvenile Kura.

Gerald McCormack, who master-minded the reintroduction, explains that although little is known about the breeding cycle of the lorikeet, the behaviour of other native birds suggested that nests would mainly start between September and December.

From knowledge of other lorikeets, it was likely that incubation would take about 25 days, and nestling feeding about 60 days – about 12 weeks in total from egg-laying to fledging. Adult lorikeets have bright orange beaks and legs and bright red breasts, while newly fledged lorikeets have dark grey beaks and legs, and bluish-red breasts. It was thought that this difference persisted for at least three months.

The first juvenile was reported by Roger Malcolm and George Mateariki on 21 February 2008. This young bird, or other juveniles, was seen a few more times during March and April. Because the observers were participants in the reintroduction programme, the prize money remained intact.

On 22 June a nest was reported in an albizia tree Falcataria moluccana, and a special prize of $100 was awarded. This nest, near the island's sawmill, was about nine metres off the ground, in the end of dead branch about 15cm thick and half-a-metre long. It was photographed by Danish photographer Finn Neilson on 20 July. One photograph showed a Common Myna Acridotheres tristis inspecting the entrance of the nest, and Neilson reported that a Kura was in the nest at the time.

At dusk on 10 August, two large and two small Kura were seen flying from the nest to a nearby tree and back to the nest. This sighting earned the $200 for the first juvenile reported by a resident. The prize was presented by Rongomatane Ariki, president of the council of chiefs of the Cook Islands, in a ceremony beside the plaque commemorating the reintroduction at Atiu's administration office.

However, the Common Mynas, introduced early in the 20th Century to control the coconut stick insect, proved a threat. "In the case of one fledgling, two mynas twice made serious physical contact", Gerald explains. "One of these encounters lead to a prolonged contact conflict between the parents and the two mynas, which extended into a less intense conflict with more than 15 mynas. The fledgling survived – partially aided by the presence of observers and the removal of several mynas." Gerald recommends the number of mynas on Atiu should be drastically reduced to give the lorikeets a head start in establishing a more robust population.

Despite the community-to-community arrangement that no birds would be transferred from Atiu to any other island or nation, within two months of the reintroduction four birds flew 50 km to the neighbouring island of Miti'aro. A survey throughout June 2008 by Hannah Wheatley of Leeds University confirmed that Miti'aro still has four birds, although she was unable to confirm reports of a fifth. "Her trapping showed an abundance of Ship (Brown) Rat and Pacific Rat", says Gerald. "These birds will be monitored to learn more about the effects of Ship Rat on the Rimatara Lorikeet, which is larger than the Blue Lorikeet Vini peruviana and the Ultramarine Lorikeet Vini ultramarina that have been devastated by Ship Rat in French Polynesia."

Atiu was chosen for the reintroduction because it has similar vegetation to Rimatara, has no other lorikeet species, and is currently free of Ship Rats. A programme has been implemented to help keep the island Ship Rat free. This involves monitoring incoming goods, and reporting any fallen coconuts with the tell-tale signs of gnawing. "Ship rats gnaw a side-hole going through the coconut, while the more common holes at the base of fallen coconuts can be made by Pacific Rats", said Gerald.

More recently, there has been a confirmed report of another Kura nest, although so far, no confirmation of eggs or juveniles.