Awesome John McKeen Pics

Sunrise at Matava on Kadavu (Fiji) from our thatched Fijian bure (hut)

Collared Kingfisher

Pacific (or Eastern) Reef Egret - dark morph

Orange-breasted Myzomela (Honeyeater)

Silvereye

See more of John's great pictures here

BirdLife International Fiji Programme

Tan Suryadi Irvan (www.naturepixels.org) The Black Naped Tern is shown tending her egg on the island of Vatuira. Zoom In

The Secretariat also manages a country programme in Fiji pending the development of an eligible conservation NGO there. The Fiji Programme was founded in 2003, and currently employs 5 staff (February 2009).

Key Activities

From 2003 to 1997, the BirdLife International Fiji Programme implemented a project funded by the UK Government’s Darwin Initiative to conduct field research across the country to identify sites important for Fiji’s biodiversity. This led to the identification of 14 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and the publication of an IBA directory – the first for the Pacific region. Attention has now turned to working with local communities to safeguard these areas with further funding from the Darwin Initiative and also for the Australian Government’s Regional Natural Heritage Programme.

In January 2007, the Fiji Programme commenced two 2-year projects, both funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, to identify islands important for seabirds and to restore islands important for seabirds through the eradication of invasive alien species, mainly rats. A forerunner of the latter project saw the island of Vatu-i-Ra being declared rat-free in early 2008 following successful eradication efforts there in mid-2006. This was another first for Fiji.

In November 2003, a field team led by Birdlife’s Fiji Programme team rediscovered the endemic Long-legged Thicketbird Trichocichla rufa which had not been sighted in 108 years. Searches continue for the elusive Red-throated Lorikeet Charmosyna amabilis which has not been seen for the past 13 years.

The Fiji Programme operates under a Memorandum of understanding with the Government of Fiji and works closely with the Departments of Environment and Forestry, the National Trust of Fiji and the University of the South Pacific (USP). Two Fijian Masters’ students are at USP under BirdLife sponsorship completing work on endemic ornithology.

In June 2007, with support from the Fiji Programme, NatureFiji/MareqetiViti was established as Fiji’s first indigenous conservation NGO and is now closely collaborating with BirdLife in its work.

Contact

For enquiries about the BirdLife Fiji Programme, contact Miliana Ravuso at milly@birdlifepacific.org.fj or birds@birdlifepacific.org.fj. Postal address: GPO Box 18332, Suva, Fiji

BirdLife International Fiji Programme

Infohub - Review Matava Resort

Matava Resort provided my husband and I and our two teenage daughters with the experience of a life time! We thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful serenity of the property, the rare opportunity to truly experience a foreign culture, the native cuisine and the relationships we built with our Fijian friends. One should be so lucky as to have the opportunity to visit Matava. We will DEFINITELY be back!! Oh, did I mention the beautiful beaches, world-class diving, snorkeling, kayaking, whale watching, kava . . . .

Infohub - Review Matava Resort