Eurasian tree sparrows, Majuro

[gmckinlay]

Brand new arrivals, unfortunately. I saw 4 individuals, at least one a juvenile. They haven't been recorded in Majuro before. This species has been gradually making it's way and establishing across the Micronesian region: Guam in the 60s, then Kwajelein, Yap late 70s, Pohnpei and Palau early-mid 2000s and now here, ship assisted I expect. They appear to keep to human inhabited, or modified habitats. If what has happened in Pohnpei and Palau is anything to go by I expect they will be common in urban Majuro in 10 years time.

[andrewcrossland]

They've expanded greatly in the last few years in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands too. A few were occasionally spotted around the docks at Honiara, but Scott Butcher found a small pop at a palm oil estate 20+km from town. He took us there back in late Feb and we counted something like 70!

[gmckinlay]

Hmm... Does anyone know if they have turned up elsewhere in the Pacific? I have a theory that they are hitching rides with the fishing fleets. Majuro is major transhipment port or purse seiners. I know that those same fleets also ply the Solomons. Next stop Tarawa?

This morning I discovered that the Majuro birds are actually a small flock. Counted at least 8 birds, but it looked like 10-15 flew up into a tree when I first spotted them.

[andrewcrossland]

Solomans Birding Trip 296.JPG (53.99 KiB) Viewed 4629 times

Here's 2 of the ones on Guadalcanal

[andrewcrossland]

We wondered if they'd come in with a boat bringing equipment or picking up goods for the oil palm industry, but ofcourse the port is miles away in Honiara, where those fishing boats pull in, so yep, ship-assist is the most plausible theory. Lets hope House Crows don't come next (Mynas ofcourse, are already there!)