The world-leading RSPB operation to restore Henderson Island, the remote UK Overseas Territory in the South Pacific, where introduced rodents are killing over 25,000 petrel chicks every year, will proceed this summer. An international partnership with two other island restoration projects means that a single vessel with helicopters and highly skilled eradication experts will sail, in turn, to Palmyra Atoll (USA), the Phoenix Islands (Kiribati) and Henderson Island (UK), restoring crucial seabird habitats at every stop by removing the introduced rats that have proved so devastating.
One million nesting seabirds, including large colonies of Sooty Terns Onychoprion fuscatus and the world’s second-largest colony of Red-footed Boobies Sula sula [I've taken out of parentheses as Lesser Frigatebirds and Red-tailed Tropicbirds aren't in parentheses.], are found on Palmyra, while Lesser Frigatebirds Fregata ariel and Red-tailed Tropicbirds Phaethon rubricauda nest on islands in the Phoenix group.
Although costs for the Henderson Island project have been reduced by sharing very expensive resources, the RSPB still needs further funding to ensure success. Seabird expert and wildlife artist Peter Harrison is supporting the restoration by painting all five endemic birds of Henderson Island and selling prints to raise funds. A strictly limited print run of 36 copies of each painting have been produced and these are now available to buy. The five endemic birds are the Henderson Petrel Pterodroma atrata, Henderson Lorikeet Vini stepheni, Henderson Fruit Dove Ptilinopus insularis, Henderson Crake Porzana atra and Henderson Reed Warbler Acrocephalus taiti. The prints can be viewed online at www.rspb.org.uk/hendersonprints
All prints are individually numbered and come with an original signature by the artist and a certificate of authenticity. Prints are £90 each or a set of five for £400 (plus £5 p&p in each case). All proceeds will go directly towards the Henderson Island Restoration Project. Please contact Heather Mitchell (RSPB) on 01767 693451 or e-mail heather.mitchell@rspb.org.uk
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