10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 23, 2011

More importantly the airport in Nadi (pronounced Nandi) on the main island of Viti Levu is a major air hub and frequent stop on flights between the United States and Australia or New Zealand. Whereas most of Fiji shares the Streaked Fantail with New Caledonia and Vanuatu, Kadavu has its own species, the Kadavu Fantail.

Fiji 171

Fiji Solomon Islands Parrots Los Angeles 171

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2012

As 10,000 Birds’ New Zealand beat writer, I sometimes should write about New Zealand birds, but today I thought I’d talk about a bird that people thought was one but almost certainly wasn’t. It is one of the many species that went extinct in New Zealand, only for once it didn’t.

New Zealand 184

New Zealand Pelicans Solomon Islands Palau 184

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 14, 2015

The species was in the news because some scientists had finally managed (or bothered – it’s much the same thing) to locate the population high in the mountains of the Solomon Islands, and catch and photograph one. New Zealand Bitterns. Bush Wrens.

Collecting 231

Collecting Solomon Islands New Zealand Fiji 231

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 22, 2014

While I sometimes complain about the lack of variety of birds in New Zealand, there are at least some birds here that are a) hard to find but b) can be found in many places. In New Zealand that’s kind of a big deal for me, and there, sitting on a dead branch in plain view, was a damn Shining Bronze-cuckoo.

New Zealand 170

New Zealand Solomon Islands Sanctuary Vanuatu 170

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2011

Vanuatu has five subspecies, Fiji has three, and the far flung Solomon Islands have twelve. The species is absent, however, from the neighbouring New Caledonia group; here instead you’ll find the closely related (and similar) Sacred Kingfisher , which also occurs in inland Australia and New Zealand.

Samoa 172

Samoa Vanuatu United Arab Emirates Tonga 172