Gerald McCormack, CINHT,
Pacific rat, Adult – Cook Islands, Rarotonga – Gerald McCormack
When the Polynesians first sailed through the Cook Islands, probably more than 2000 years ago, they carried the Pacific Rat, also called the Polynesian Rat (Kiore, Rattus exulans). Whether they carried it accidently, or purposefully, is unknown. Either way, the Kiore established itself throughout Polynesia, and was often used as a source of food. Continue reading →
Adult in flight – Cook Islands, Takūtea – Gerald McCormack
Gerald McCormack, CINHT
The Red-tailed Tropicbird (Tavake Phaethon rubricauda) is a snow-white seabird with a red bill and slender red tail. It nests during the winter months in moderate numbers on the cliffs behind Avarua and is often seen flying over the island. It has a raucous call and performs dramatic loop-the-loop courtship displays. The largest Cook Islands colonies are on Takutea (near Atiu), Suwarrow, and Palmerston and a small population on Mā’ina-iti, Aitutaki.
It is a rare nester on most peopled-atolls because it is a favourite traditional food and domestic dogs often disturb the nests. Palmerston is an interesting exception because the tropicbird remains common despite more than a hundred years of harvesting. The secret of its survival has been that Palmerston islanders harvest the “mature” nestlings only every 28th day, and enough fledge between harvests to maintain the colony.
Gerald McCormack, CINHT,
Pacific Fruit-bat, Adult in flight 1 – Tonga, Tongatapu – Gerald McCormack
The Moa Kirikiri lives on Mangaia and Rarotonga and is often called a flying-fox, although it is not closely related to the fox. It is really a bat, a fruit-eating bat.
Our Pacific Fruit-bat (Pteropus tonganus), which lives on many islands from the Cook Islands westward to New Caledonia and Vanuatu, is the most widespread species in the South Pacific. This situation is reflected in the name South Pacific Fruit-bat, although it is also known as the Tonga Fruit-bat, White-necked Fruit-bat and Insular Fruit-bat. Continue reading →
Gerald McCormak, CINHT,
Map depicting the names of the Half-flower different islands of the Cook Islands
Grand Balloon‑vine, Leaves, flowers and fruit – Cook Islands, Rarotonga – Gerald McCormack
Gerald McCormack, CINHT,
Weeds are plants growing in the wrong place; plants which take time, effort and money to control. The weeds of taro plots, lawns, home gardens and horticultural areas are often encountered and well known. Less obvious are weeds which damage the native forests of inland Rarotonga. The forests which reduce erosion and protect the water supply; the forests which are an economic asset in the tourist industry; the forests which are an aesthetic asset to us all; and, the forests which contain plants and animals not found anywhere else in the world. Continue reading →
