Tahiti Bird Life
p. 51 · Read in the full issue
A new book depicting the bird life of Tahiti has just been published in French. It is Oiseaux de Tahiti by Jean-Claude Thibault and Claude Rives, published by les Editions du Pacifique.
All the birds pictured in the book can be seen around the shores of Tahiti, which has the most varied bird life in all the Society Islands.
It is claimed that of the 90 bird species noted in French Polynesia, 59 are seen in the Society group. Simi larities are noted with the bird life of Australia, Asia and especially Papua New Guinea.
The writers note the various
characteristics developed by birds
living in an isolated island environ ment, where the absence of competi tive or predatory birds leads to a change in feeding habits or ability to
fly •
The book also notes migratory birds which fly in from as far as New Zealand to spend the winter in Polynesia.