Restoration of Nu'utele & Nu'ulua islands, Aleipata island group, Samoa: report of expedition to trial the capture and holding of friendly ground doves (Gallicolumba stairi)

Abstract

The restoration of the Islands of Nuutele and Nuulua is a priority of the Government of Samoa and the communities of Aleipata District. Planning is well advanced on a key element of this, the eradication of Pacific Rats (Rattus exulans) by aerial spreading of toxic baits in mid-2006. The Friendly Ground Dove has been identified as a non-target species that may be at risk of taking the baits and one for which the Nuutele and Nuulua populations are significant. Several approaches for safeguarding these have been discussed and this expedition was designed to test the feasibility of the preferred approach, namely the capture and holding of birds in a safe situation on Nuutele during the aerial operation and their release once the baits are non-toxic.