Endangered Polynesian Storm Petrels Return to Kamaka Island, French Polynesia

Endangered Polynesian storm-petrels, ground-nesting seabirds also known as White-throated storm-petrels, are returning to Kamaka Island, French Polynesia after more than 100 years absence thanks to a successful restoration and rewilding project by Island Conservation, Société d'Ornithologie de Polynésie (SOP Manu), the Reasin family, and the Mangareva Community as part of the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge.  

Once widespread across the south Pacific, Polynesian storm-petrel populations have dwindled due to invasive species such as rats. These predators pose a significant threat to the survival of this seabird species, driving them to the brink of extinction.

“With only 250-1,000 mature individuals estimated to remain in the wild, the restoration of Kamaka Island in the Gambier Archipelago is crucial for the global recovery of the Polynesian storm-petrel,” said Coral Wolf, Conservation Impact Manager at Island Conservation.  “The quick return of these birds scouting for future nesting sites provides an outstanding opportunity to establish another secure breeding population.”

The return of these seabirds is the result of an ambitious project that deployed drones to remove invasive rodents from Kamaka Island, allowing endangered birds to return to what is now a secure breeding site. To attract the Polynesian storm-petrels to Kamaka Island, the team installed two solar-powered sound systems, ready to live in burrows for nesting and motion-sensing cameras. The sound systems, designed by Eric Vanderwerf of Pacific Rim Conservation, broadcast recorded sounds from the nearby Manui Island storm-petrel colony, while the cameras document seabird activity. The four ‘luxury’ burrows were constructed to facilitate monitoring and improve nesting habitat.

After the deployment of sound systems in March just prior to the start of the breeding season, cameras detected individuals visiting one of the sites, once in April and another in May. By June, and through the remainder of the breeding period storm-petrels were visiting both sound systems   and began spending time in the nest boxes. 

“The results of our social attraction efforts were quickly apparent – Polynesian storm-petrels began visiting at the start of the nesting season and became regular visitors, while also spending time in the nest boxes,” said Thomas Ghestemme from SOP MANU. “In total, six seabird species are now confirmed as breeding on the island, with two other species likely, including the IUCN Near Threatened Tahiti Petrel. This species, if confirmed, will be a new addition to Kamaka’s breeding seabirds list.”

This project was generously funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and dedicated conservation supporters like you. The Kamaka Island Restoration Project is part of the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge founded by Island Conservation, Re:wild, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography which aims to begin restoring 40 globally significant island-ocean ecosystems by 2030. Kamaka Island was restored thanks to the support of European Union (BEST+) and Island Conservation donors.

“This remarkable progress brings hope for the future, as the Polynesian storm-petrels reclaim their island home,” said Tehotu Reasin, landowner of Kamaka Island. “These seabirds bring critical nutrients from the ocean to the island, which cascades down into the surrounding marine environment benefiting fish and corals. The entire ecosystem can once again thrive.”

Bell Laboratories, a longtime supporter of rodent eradication initiatives in sensitive environments, as well as a supplier of rodenticide for Island Conservation projects, was involved in this project.