This morning we made an early entrance through Tiputa Pass into the massive lagoon of Rangiroa atoll. The 1,500 km2 lagoon is so large that is appears more like an inland sea, with the far side of the lagoon invisible over the horizon. Our entrance was accompanied by an exuberant group of bottlenose dolphins playing around the bow in the strong tidal currents.
These strong currents gave the divers some exciting times, while the calmer waters of the lagoon were very well suited for snorkeling and the glass bottom Zodiac. Others spent time onshore, exploring the small town of Avatoru or visiting a black pearl farm.
Meanwhile, the birders boarded a local boat and headed 25 miles across the lagoon to a remote motu on a very special mission to find one of the rarest birds in the world. The Polynesian ground dove was formerly widespread in French Polynesia, but the species has been unable to adapt to the arrival of people and the rats, cats, dogs, pigs etc. that accompanied them, together with habitat changes. It is now only found on a few very remote islands, and the total population may only be about 100 birds.
The mission was successful, with two birds giving good views soon after we arrived on the motu. Both birds we saw were banded, evidence of ongoing studies to try to assess how best to secure the future of this critically endangered bird. We returned to the ship hoping that researchers will find a way to give this beautiful bird a chance for continued survival.
