The red-throated Lorikeet charmosyna amabilis in the Fiji islands

Abstract

Nearly all land in Fiji is communally owned and permission was needed to survey it. Permission to visit the site was initially obtained in Suva from the Provincial Administrator for that region. Permission to survey the land was obtained from the Tui (Chief) of the main land-owning village. We were usually introduced to the Tui by the Turaga- ni-koro (administrative head). We presented some kava, a letter of introduction from the NTF, showed pictures of the lorikeet and other parrots and discussed our study with the Chief and a group of between 10 and 20 villagers. The meetings drinking kava were a good way of obtaining local knowledge about the lorikeet, about parrots and wildlife in general and to find out about campsites and trails. We paid for local guides, and villagers who helped transport equipment.