Samoa guide. 49. American Samoan Christmas bird count

The observation of Bridled Terns is noteworthy. This species has been considered a rare visitor to American Samoa and is not a confirmed breeder. However, during the Christmas Count, we observed at least two pairs of birds repeatedly landing on ledges of the Pola Islet. This is the primary breeding area for boobies and frigatebirds on Tutuila. The terns' behavior suggested breeding activity, but we could not confirm this. We have repeatedly observed Bridled Terns in Pago Pago Harbor and at various points along the coast between October and March.

The count circle was centered at the peak of Matafao Mountain and included the entire island except the areas west of Fagamalo and Nua villages, and east of Aoa and Alofau villages. The total viewer-hours were 9.5: 3.5 hours on foot and 6 hours by vehicle. Participants traveled 2.5 miles on foot and 35 miles by vehicle. Percentage of time in each habitat was: 30% in villages, 30% in nearshore/reef, 10% in plantations, 10% in montane scrub, 10% in rainforest, and 10% in shore/scrub.

Four of the species recorded are introductions. The Rock Dove is not established as a breeding bird in the territory and we believe that the one observed is an escapee from a small colony of homing pigeons maintained by a private individual in Tafuna. The Red-vented Bulbul has been established on Tutuila since at least the early 1960's. Both species of mynas became established here in the 1980's and are currently undergoing rapid range expansions in urban areas.

227	Red-footed Booby	21	Collared Kingfisher
143	White Tern	14	Pacific Pigeon
131	Pacific Golden Plover	13	Reef Heron
118	White-rumped Swiftlet	12	Wandering Tattler
116	Wattled Honeyeater	9	Polynesian Starling
97	Samoan Starling	7	Lesser Frigatebird
91	Red-vented Bulbul (alien)	6	Bridled Tern
86	Brown Noddy	4	frigatebird spp.
46	Jungle Myna (alien)	4	Great Frigatebird
31	Brown Booby	4	Many-colored Fruit-Dove
30	Purple-capped Fruit-Dove	3	Sanderling
27	Cardinal Honeyeater	1	Purple Swamphen
25	Common Myna (alien)	1	Blue-gray Noddy
24	White-tailed Tropicbird	1	Rock Dove (alien)
23	Ruddy Turnstone	1	Barn Owl
21	Banded Rail

“Christmas counts” are conducted by bird enthusiasts almost everywhere, including American Samoa. The survey is conducted on a single day during the period December 14 to January 5. Counts are made within a 15-mile diameter circle. The numbers and species of birds seen will depend on the number of observer teams. On 17 December 1992, seven observers traveling in three parties recorded 1337 birds of 30 species on Tutuila Island, American Samoa: