Tahiti monarch

Description

Pomarea nigra is endemic to Tahiti in the Society Islands,French Polynesia.It was apparently rare throughout the 20th century and,during the period 1986-1991,was noted in only four valleys (several pairs at each locality) out of 39 visited (Monnet et al.1993).In September 1998,27 birds (12 pairs) were located within these four lowland valleys.This figure has remained stable or perhaps increased slightly and in 2006 there were 12 territories occupied by 19 adult or subadult birds in accessible parts of the valleys,with new pairs even becoming established in abandoned territories,and the total population estimated at 40-45 individuals (P.Raust in litt.2005,Gouni et al 2007).The known population of mature birds numbered 35 individuals in 2010 (Anon 2010,Gouni et al.2011),and 40 individuals (including 7 fledglings) in 2011 (Ghestemme et al.2011).In 2012 there were 43-44 individuals including 38 territorial birds (25 in 2011),25 territories (18 in 2011) and 12 pairs fledged nine young,a record since recovery began (Blanvillain 2012,Anon.2013).Numbers have continued to increase with an estimated 20 breeding pairs in 2014 (M.O'Brien and C.Blanvillain in litt.2015),fledging 12 young (LPO 2014).