Observations of the Kuramoo (Vini peruviana) on Aitutaki Island, Cook Islands

Abstract

The Kurämoó, or Blue Lorikeet (Vini peruviana), is listed by IUCN as threatened (Collar & Andrew 1988). Formerly, the species was widespread on the Society and Tuamotu Islands, but it became extinct on Tahiti, Moorea and other large islands in the Society Group early this century and is now also extinct on many other islands on which it once occurred (Forshaw 1978). Today, in French Polynesia, it apparently survives only on two small islands in the Society Group and several in the Tuamotu Group (Forshaw 1978, Kuhn 1989). Elsewhere it is only on Aitutaki Island, Cook Islands, where, although Forshaw believed numbers to be low, other visitors have described it as common (Holyoak 1980, Child 1981). Observations reported here were made between 14 and 18 February 1991. The main objective of the visit to Aitutaki was to make preliminary observations on the distribution, abundance and habitat preferences of Kuramoo and to investigate the feasibility of further research on the species.