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French Polynesia

Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra �Ian Montgomery http://birdway.com.au

French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory (Papeete). Although not an integral part of its territory, Clipperton Island was administered from French Polynesia until 2007.

The islands of French Polynesia have a total land area of 4,167 square kilometres (1,622 sq. mi) scattered over 2,500,000 square kilometres (965,255 sq. mi) of ocean. It is made up of several groups of islands, the largest and most populated of which is Tahiti. The island groups are:
Austral Islands
Bass Islands often considered part of the Austral Islands
Gambier Islands often considered part of the Tuamotu Archipelago
Marquesas Islands
Society Islands (including Tahiti)
Tuamotu Archipelago

Aside from Tahiti, some other important atolls, islands, and island groups in French Polynesia are: Ahe, Bora Bora, Hiva 'Oa, Huahine, Maiao, Maupiti, Mehetia, Moorea, Nuku Hiva, Raiatea, Tahaa, Tetiaroa, Tubuai, and Tupai.

contributor

Wikipedia
(GNU Free Documentation License)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Polynesia

Philippe Raust
Soci�t� d'Ornithologie de Polyn�sie
(Papeete - Tahiti)
sop@manu.pf
http://www.manu.pf

numbers

Number of bird species: 31 Terrestial Species

numbers

Number of endemics: 28
Blue lorikeet, Vini peruviana, Lori nonette, vini
Ultramarine lorikeet, Vini ultramarina , Lori des Marquises, pihiti
Tahiti swiftlet, Aerodramus leucophaeus, Salangane de la Soci�t�, `ope`a
Marquesas swiftlet, Aerodramus ocistus , Salangane des Marquises, kopekapeka, kope`a
Chattering kingfisher, Halcyon tuta, Martin-chasseur de Polyn�sie, ruro
Tuamotu kingfisher, Halcyon gambieri, Martin-chasseur de Niau, kote`ute`u
Marquesan kingfisher, Halcyon godeffroyi , Martin-chasseur des Marquises, Pahi
Tahiti kingfisher, Halcyon venerata, Martin-chasseur v�n�r�, Ruro
Pacific swallow, Hirundo tahitica, Hirondelle de Tahiti, `ope`a
Tahiti monarch, Pomarea nigra, Monarque de Tahiti, `omama`o
Iphis monarch, Pomarea iphis , Monarque pie,
Marquesan monarch, Pomarea mendozae, Monarque marquisien, koma`o, pa
Fatuhiva monarch, Pomarea whitneyi , Monarque de Fatu-Hiva,
Tahiti reed-warbler, Acrocephalus caffer, Fauvette � long bec, `otatare, manu ofe, kotiotio
Marquesas reed-warbler, Acrocephalus mendanae, Fauvette des Marquises, Komako
Rimatara reed-warbler, Acrocephalus rimatarae , Fauvette de Rimatara, oromao

Murphy`s Petrel, rodroma ultima, P�trel de Murphy, e`upo
otu Sandpiper, Prosobonia cancellata, B�casseau polyn�sien, titi
Polynesian ground-dove, Gallicolumba erythroptera, Gallicolombe �rythropt�re, u`uaira`o, tutururu
Marquesas ground-dove, Gallicolumba rubescens, Gallicolombe des Marquises,
Gray-green fruit-dove, Ptilinopus purpuratus, Ptilope de la Soci�t�, `u`upa
Atoll fruit-dove, Ptilinopus coralensis, Ptilope des Tuamotu, o`o
Makatea fruit-dove, Ptilinopus chalcurus, Ptilope de Makatea, `u`upa
White-capped fruit-dove, Ptilinopus dupetithouarsii, Ptilope de Dupetit-Thouars, kuku
Rapa fruit-dove, Ptilinopus huttoni , Ptilope de Hutton, koko
Polynesian pigeon, Ducula aurorae, Carpophage du Pacifique, rupe
Nuku Hiva pigeon, Ducula galeata, Carpophage des Marquises, upe
Kuhl`s lorikeet, Vini kuhlii, Lori de Kuhl, `ura

useful information

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clubs

Societe d'Ornithologie de Polynesie - Manu

http://www.manu.pf/
Societe d'Ornithologie de Polynesie Manu BP 21 098, Papeete, Tahiti FRENCH POLYNESIA. + 689 42 6808; sop.manug@mail.pf - Polynesia's terrestrial avifauna consists of some thirty species. This relatively low number, however, masks a high rate of endemism. Only Reef Heron, Spotless Crake and Grey Duck have a large distribution throughout the South Pacific. The rest are only found in French Polynesia...

reserves

Protected Areas

http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/bio_cou_258.pdf
AREA The approximately 130 islands and islets of French Polynesia have a total land area of 3,521 sq.km, distributed over more than 4,198,000 sq.km of territorial seas. Tahiti, the largest island and centre of government and commerce, has an area of 1,042 sq.km. PDF

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can�t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page� give them a try!

2000 [July] - Sandra Eadie

http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/tripreports/Polynesia00.html
This summer, I travelled to the Cook Islands for a family holiday. On the way, I had a three-day stop in French Polynesia. It is south of the equator and east of Hawaii. I didn`t manage to do much birding as such, but I did keep my eyes open...

2005 [March] - Bruno Caula

http://www.cuneobirding.it/file/trip/polinesia.htm
In italian.

2005 [September] - Ron Hoff

http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/polynesia/tahiti2/tahiti-2005.htm
This part of the world holds some very rare endemics and that was our goal on this trip. Our trip was offered and run by Susan Myers� company, Birding Worldwide...

places to stay

Manihi Pearl Beach Resort

http://www.pearlresorts.com/manihi/main.php
Located on one of the most beautiful atolls in the Tuamotu archipelago the Manihi Pearl Beach Resort is perfectly integrated on the coral reef, reflecting its devotion to the sea and the lagoon. Manihi is also considered to be the birthplace of Polynesian black pearl farming industry...

Tiare Beach Resort

http://www.tetiarebeachresort.com/dining.htm
Open in March 1999, the Tiare Beach Resort is the most recent luxury hotel developed on Huahine, the Garden Island. Tucked away in a small bay and accessible only by boat, a mere 20 minutes to the main town, this resort features 19 Garden, 6 Beach and 16 Overwater Bungalows all facing west for a wonderful views of Raiatea and Taha`a islands as well as spectacular sunsets...