The shearwaters and other procellariiform seabirds of Rapa Island in French Polynesiaj

Rapa Island and surrounding islets, from the publication

Tehani Withers (SOP MANU, Taravao, Tahiti, French Polynesia) and colleagues have published open access in the journal Notornis on 11 species of seabirds that breed on Rapa Island in French Polynesia, including seven procellariiforms; among them Christmas Puffinus nativitatis and rare, endemic and Critically Endemic Rapa P. myrtae Shearwaters.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Rapa Island, located in Eastern Polynesia, hosts 12 species of breeding seabirds, now primarily found on its ten peripheral islets.  These seabirds face various threats, such as invasive mammals that prey on eggs and chicks, as well as invasive plants that encroach upon and degrade their breeding habitats. Major island restoration projects are currently underway on several islets, focusing on the removal of invasive mammals and plants. We present data collected here between 2017 and 2024 and, together with published and unpublished surveys since 1921, compile details on the distribution, population, and breeding seasons of these seabird species.”

Reference:

Withers, T., Bretagnolle, V., Butaud, J.-F., Cibois, A., Cranwell, S., Jacq, F., Laitame, T.. Luta, R., Shirihai, H. & Thibault, J.-C. 2025.  Breeding seabird assemblage of Rapa, Austral Islands, Eastern Polynesia. Notornis 72: 23-32.

John Cooper, Emeritus ACAP Information Officer, 06 August 2026