Report on friendly (shy) ground dove (Gallicolumba stairi) work on Nu'utele Island and Upolu Island, Samoa

Abstract

Between the 5th and 17th of August 2006 RP was contracted by Dave Butler to carry out a survey of the Samoan subspecies of the friendly (shy) ground dove (Gallicolumba stairi stairi). This was to assess whether there were sufficient birds on Nu'utele and Nu'ulua Islands, Aleipata Islands to capture them, and protect them in captivity while rodents were eradicated from these islands. Butler (2006) had previously attempted to capture some friend ground doves on Nu'utele Island but only saw one bird. He concluded that there are perhaps no more than 5 - 10 pairs there, and that catching sufficient birds immediately prior to the rat eradication was impractical. However, he deemed it worthwhile to carry out this additional survey. In addition, the present survey also included searching an area on Upolu Island (Vaisigano River, accessed through Maagiagi village), where a friendly ground dove had been previously seen. The latter part of this survey was to assess whether sufficient birds were present at Vaisigano River to translocate them onto the Aleipata Islands after the rodent eradication if few were present on these islands, or if catching them there proved difficult.