FIJI PETRELS RETURN

Have you ever gone to a doctor, knowing there is something wrong and you are in acute pain, only to have the doctor say, "I can't find anything; there is nothing wrong with you." The absence of recognized proof does not disqualify the possibility that there is a problem that is just not manifest. Similarly, just because man does not see something does not, happily, mean that the something is extinct.

From Wikipedia: "The Fiji Petrel (Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi), also known as MacGillivray's Petrel, is a small, dark gadfly petrel.

The Fiji Petrel was originally known from one immature specimen found in 1855 on Gau Island, Fiji by naturalist John MacGillivray on board 'HMS Herald' who took the carcass to the British Museum in London. It was rediscovered in 1983, since when there have been a further seven records, which included the capture and photographing of one adult in April 1984. This species is classified as critically endangered as it is inferred from the number of records that there is a tiny population confined to a small breeding area.

This bird is described as being 30cm tall dark with chocolate-coloured feathers, a dark eye and bill and pale blue foot patches. It may be seen in waters around Gau Island but is believed to disperse to pelagic waters far from the island.

The rarity and significance of this species is known to local residents of Gau and it is featured on a Fijian bank note. It is protected under Fijian law. In 1989, research on the ridge around possible nesting areas was terminated since it was felt that such activities, without complementary conservation action, could encourage cats to follow paths into the area.

In August 2007, a recent skin of an injured Fiji Petrel, that subsequently died was made available for study in Fiji.

In May 2009, the first photographs of the bird at sea were taken approximately 25 nautical miles south of Gau Island."

Matt Walker writes about the Fiji Kestrel which 'went missing' for 130 years and has been seen again. It is amazing that it has taken the use of night vision glasses to see. "The use of night vision equipment has enabled Will to make some very interesting observations of skuas hunting in the petrel colonies in the middle of the night." "The use of night vision equipment has enabled Will to make some very interesting observations of skuas hunting in the petrel colonies in the middle of the night." Click here for Matt Walker's article in Earth News.