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 Notes on the Avifauna of Ebon Atoll, Marshall Islandsby Dirk HR Spennemann & Hemley Benjamin
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With the exception of the two northwestern atolls, Enewetak and Ujelang, the Marshall Islands are arranged in two island chains running roughly NNW to SSE: the western Ralik Chain and the eastern Ratak Chain. Not counting the five islands, Jemo, Jabwat, Kili, Lib and Mejit, the atolls of the Marshall Islands range from very small, with less than 3.5km2, such as Nadikdik (Knox) Atoll to very large. With 2,173km2 lagoonal area, Kwajalein Atoll has the distinction to be the atoll with the World's largest lagoon.
Ebon Atoll is located in the Ralik Chain at 4deg.38' North and 168deg.40' East comprises of 22 islets with a combined land area of 5.75 km2 which makes it the 14th largest atoll in the Marshall Islands (not counting Eneen-Kio). The atoll encloses a lagoon area of 103.83 km2 which is the 20th largest atoll in the Marshall Islands (not counting Eneen-Kio). Ebon had (in 1988) a population of 741 people, who lived in 90 households. Of these households 76.7% grow some food for their own consumption, 71.1% engaged in fishing to some degree and 40.0% kept livestock, mainly chicken and a few pigs. Of the households on the Atoll 87.8% made copra and 42.2% made handicraft for sale in the handicraft co-operative outlets on the urban atolls of Majuro and Kwajalein (Data taken from Census 1988; OPS 1989b). Based on these data, as well as on data on infrastructure and western-style amenities, Ebon can be considered as the most "traditional", within the local, Marshallese, framework of assessment.
It has been found that, with the exception of the now extinct Wake Island rail (Rallus wakensis, Bryan 1959), a now extinct rail or crake on Bokak (Spennemann in press), the now very rare or extinct fruit doves (Pilinopus porphyraceaus Hernsheimi) and an extinct, undocumented, but traditionally recorded small land dwelling bird (the annan, possibly a crake, Krämer & Nevermann 1938) all birds of the Marshall Islands are either sea- or shore birds or are migrants who reside temporarily on the atolls, such as the Long-tailed New Zealand cuckoo (Urodynamis taitensis).
European colonisation has brought about the introduction of some resident breeders, such as house sparrows (Passer domesticus), Indian Mynah (Acridotheres tristis), European pigeon (Columba livia), as well as domestic chicken, ducks, geese and turkeys.
According to Amerson's assessment, no species were known to breed on the atoll.
The observations of the avifauna on occasion of the 1992 field trip, much more
numerous than those listed by Amerson, can be split into two categories: those
birds actually seen, and those birds reported by Ebon residents to be present
on the atoll. The veracity of the latter comments appears to be high because
questioning for a number of birds more common in the central atolls, such as
the brown noddy (Anous stolidus; Marshallese name:Pejwak) was met
with firm negative answers.
Comments: A pair of European Pigeons was imported in 1991 by one of the two irooj (chiefs) of the atoll from neighbouring Jaluit Atoll ( 95km NE). The pigeons on Jaluit are descendants from stock introduced in German times (1885-1914). The plumage of the observed birds was grey-black with brown and white wings.
Comments: Three reef herons were seen foraging on the ocean side of Ebon Island. One with white, one with grey and one with mottled plumage.
Comments: A tame juvenile bown booby was seen on Ebon Island. Today, as well as in the past, catching of nestlings and keeping of juvenile birds as pets is a common occurrence throughout the Marshall Islands. While brown boobys are common as pets, so are egrets and frigate birds. Booby's are caught and specifically kept as fighting birds.
Given that American missionaries operated a mission on Ebon since 1857, and given the American penchant for a "proper" Thanksgiving dinners, it is very likely that breeding populations of turkeys were at one point also introduced not only to Arno but also to Ebon. The introduction of European strains of chicken has been documented for 1857, the time of the initial settlement of Protestant missionaries on Ebon (Warren 1860:191).
Amerson, A.B., 1969, Ornithology of the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin 127. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution.
Baker, R.H., 1951, The avifauna of Micronesia, its origin, evolution and distribution. University of Kansas Publications Museum of Natural History 3(1), 1-359.
Berger, A.J., 1987a, Avifauna of Enewetak Atoll. In: Devaney, D.N., E.S.Reese, B.L.Burch & P.Helfrich, The Natural History of Enewetak Atoll. Volume I. The Ecosystem: Environments, Biotas, and Processes. Oak Ridge, Ten.: U.S.Department of Energy, Office of Scientific and Technical Information. Pp. 215-220.
Berger, A.J., 1987b, Birds of Enewetak Atoll. In: Devaney, D.N., E.S.Reese, B.L.Burch & P.Helfrich, The Natural History of Enewetak Atoll. Volume II. Biogeography and Systematics. Oak Ridge, Ten.: U.S.Department of Energy, Office of Scientific and Technical Information. Pp. 331-332.
Bryan, E.H., 1959, Notes on the geography and natural history of Wake Island. Atoll Research Bulletin 66. Washington: Pacific Science Board.
Bryan, E.H., 1972, Life in the Marshall Islands. Honolulu, Hawaii: Pacific Scientific Information Center.
Doane, 1861, Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Erdkunde NF 9, 1861, 218.
Erdland, A., 1906, Wörterbuch und Grammatik der Marshallsprache nebst ethnographischen Erläuterungen und kurzen Sprachübungen. Archiv Deutscher Kolonialsprachen. Vol.IV. Berlin: Georg Reimer.
Erdland, P.A., 1914, Die Marshall Insulaner. Leben und Sitte, Sinn und Religion eines Südsee-volkes. Anthropos Bibliothek. Internationale Sammlung Ethnologischer Monographien, Vol.2(1). Münster: Aschendorffsche Verlagsbuchhandlung.
Finsch, O., 1893, Ethnographische Erfahrungen und Belegstücke aus der Südsee. Annalen des K. & K. Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums 7. Vienna: K. & K. Naturhistorisches Hofmuseum.
Fosberg, F.R., 1956, Military Geography of the Northern Marshalls. Engineer Intelligence Dossier, Strategic Study Marshall, Subfile 19, Analysis of the Natural Environment. Prepared under the direction of the Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army by the Intelligence Division Office of the Engineer Headquarters United States Army Forces Far East with personnel of the United States Geological Survey.
Fosberg, F.R., 1966, Northern Marshall Islands land biota: birds. Atoll Research Bulletin 114. Washington: Pacific Science Board.
Fosberg, F.R., 1988, Vegetation of Bikini. Atoll Research Bulletin 315. Washington: Smithsonian Institution.
Grösser, H., 1902, Wörterbuch der Marschall-Sprache nach hinterlassenen Papieren des verstorbenen Stabsarztes Dr. Erwin Steinbach. Hamburg.
Gulick, L.H., 1862, The Marshall-Islands. Nautical Magazine P.298
Hager, C., 1886, Die Marshall Inseln in Erd- und Völkerkunde, Handel und Mission. Leipzig: G.Lingke.
Hatheway, W.H., 1957, Agricultural notes on the Southern Marshall Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin 55. Washington: Pacific Science Board, National Research Council.
Krämer, A., & H.Nevermann, 1938, Ralik-Ratak (Marschall Inseln). In: G.Thilenius (ed.), Ergebnisse der Südsee-Expedition 1908-1910. II. Ethnographie, B: Mikronesien. Vol. 11: Hamburg: Friedrichsen & de Gruyter.
Kubary, J., 1873,Die Ebon-Gruppe im Marshall Archipel. Journal des Museums Godeffroy Heft I, 1873, 33-39.
Marshall, J.T., 1950, Vertebrate ecology of Arno Atoll. Atoll Research Bulletin 3. Washington: Pacific Science Board.
Pratt, H.D., P.L.Bruner, and D.G.Berrett, 1987, A field guide to the birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton, N.J.: Prineton University Press.
Spennemann, Dirk H.R. (in press) A note on a 19th century sighting of a rail or megapode species on Bokak, the northernmost atoll of the Marshall Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin
Spennemann, Dirk H.R. and Hemley Benjamin, 1992, A survey of the proposed airport location, Ebon Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Report trepared for the Ministry of Public Works . HPO-Report 1992/9. Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands: Historic Preservation Office.
Thomas, P.E. (ed.), 1989, Report of the Northern Marshall Islands Natural Diversity and Protected Areas Survey, 7-24 September 1988. Noumea: SPREP.
Warren, J., 1860, The Morning Star: History of the Children's Missionary vessel and of the Marquesan and Micronesian Missions. Boston: American Tract Society.
Wiens, H.J., 1957, Field Notes on atolls visited in the Marshalls, 1956. Atoll Resarch Bulletin 54. Washington, D.C.: Pacific Science Board.
Checklist of birds reported for Ebon Atoll on the background of all species known to occur in the Marshall Islands. Given are scientific names, family, common (English) names and local names. Birds are shown as tickmarks. The birds have been listed in alphabetic, rather in taxonomic order (nomenclature after Pratt et al. 1987). The total table has been compiled from the following sources: Abo et al. 1976; Amerson 1969; Berger 1987a; 1987b; Bryan 1957; Erdland 1906; 1914; Fosberg 1966; 1990; Krämer & Nevermann 1938; Marshall 1950; Pratt et al 1987; Thomas et al.. 1989; as well as from own unpublished field observations. Status: A - Accidental; IC - Imported Captive; IR - Imported (European times) resident; M - Migratory breeder; R - Resident; S - Straggler; V - Visitor (Passage migrants and vagrants); W - Winter resident; X - Extinct; ; Frequency: A - Abundant; F -Frequent; O - Occasional; R - Rare; X - Extinct.
| Scientific Name | Family | Common (English) | Marshallese Name | Status in M.I. | Observation on Ebon | Status on Ebon | Frequency on Ebon |
| Acridotheres tristis | Sturnidae | Indian Myna | IR | ||||
| Actitis macularia | Scolopacidae | Spotted Sandpiper | S | ||||
| Anas acuta | Anatidae | Northern Pintail | Ronanpat | iar | |||
| Anas anas | Anatidae | Duck | Ran [Jekak] | iB | 1870s | x | x |
| Anas clypeata | Anatidae | Northern Shoveler | [Ronanpat] | a | |||
| Anas crecca | Anatidae | Common Teal | a | ||||
| Anas ganter ?? | Anatidae | Goose (Domestic) | a | ||||
| Anas penelope | Anatidae | European Widgeon | a | ||||
| Anas platyrhynchos | Anatidae | Mallard | Ronanpat | a | |||
| Anas querquedula | Anatidae | Gargarey | w | ||||
| Anas strepera | Anatidae | Gadwall | V | ||||
| Anatidae sp. | Anatidae | Duck sp. | [Rak, Drak, Djekak] | IB | |||
| Anous stolidus | Laridae | Brown noddy | Pejwak [Rabit] | rb | |||
| Anous tenurostris (A. minutus) | Laridae | Black noddy | Jekad, Jökar | rb | 1992 | rb | a |
| Arenaria interpres | Scolopacidae | Ruddy turnstone | Kötköt [Kötköt, Nakdik (Ralik), Aerar Ralik), Wüla (Ratak), Na (Ratak) | rb | 1992 | rb | f |
| Asio flammeus | Strigidae | Short-eared owl | lijemao, mao | V | |||
| Aythya fuligula | Anatidae | Tufted Duck | V | ||||
| Aythya valisineria | Anatidae | Canvasback | W | ||||
| Branta canadensis | Anatidae | Canada goose | Kalo | V | |||
| Bulweria bulwerii | Procellaridae | Bulwer’s Petrel | A | ||||
| Cairina moschata | Anatidae | Muscovy Duck | A | ||||
| Catharacta skua | Laridae | Great Skua | A | ||||
| Chalidria (Crocethia) alba | Scolopacidae | Sanderling | Kwöl [Kwöl ] | m | |||
| Chalidria (Erolia) acuminata | Scolopacidae | Sharp-tailed Sandpiper | m | ||||
| Chalidria (Erolia) melanotos | Scolopacidae | Pectoral Sandpiper | m | ||||
| Chalidris alpina | Scolopacidae | Dunlin | m | ||||
| Chalidris pusilla | Scolopacidae | Semi-palmated Stint | Kwöl [Gallang ] | A | |||
| Chalidris ruficollis | Scolopacidae | Rufous-necked Stint | Kwöl | M | |||
| Charadrius dubius | Charadridae | Ring-necked Plover | V | ||||
| Charadrius mongolus | Charadridae | Mongolian Plover | [Poled ] | V | |||
| Charadrius semipalmatus | Charadridae | Semipalmated Plover | [Mirleb ] | S | |||
| Chen caerulescens | Anatidae | Snow Goose | S | ||||
| Columba livia | Columbidae | Rock (Domestic) dove | [Jokud ] | IR | 1992 | IR | r |
| Diomedia immutabilis | Diomedidae | Laysan Albatross | Le | v | |||
| Diomedia nigripes | Diomedidae | Black-footed Albatross | Le | v | |||
| Ducula oceanica | Columbidae | Micronesian Pigeon | Mule [Mule ] | rb | |||
| Ducula pacifica ratakensis | Columbidae | Pacific fruit pigeon | [Mule ] | rb | |||
| Egretta sacra | Ardeidae | Reef Heron | Kabaj [Kabaj,Gai ] | rb | 1992 | rb | f |
| Fregata ariel | Fregatidae | Lesser Frigatebird | Ak, Toorlön [Ak ] | rb | Reported | ||
| Fregata minor | Fregatidae | Great Frigatebird | Ak, Toorlön [Ak ] | rb | Reported | ||
| Gallicolumba erythroptera | Columbidae | Ground Dove | rb | ||||
| Gallicolumba stairi | Columbidae | Friendly Ground Dove | rb | ||||
| Gallinago (Capella) hardwickii | Scolopacidae | Japanese Snipe | a | ||||
| Gallus gallus | Phasianidae | Chicken | Gen: bao; ¹Kako; ėLolo. [Kako, Lalo, Lolo ] | rb | 1992 | rb | r |
| Gallus gallus | Phasianidae | Jungle fowl (feral) | Mannimar | rb | Reported | rb | r |
| Gygis alba | Laridae | White Tern | Mejo [Mejo ] | rb | 1992 | rb | a |
| Heteroscelus brevipes | Scolopacidae | Polynesian Tattler | M | ||||
| Heteroscelus incanus | Scolopacidae | Wandering tattler | Kidid [Kidid, K¶tk¶t; Giri (Finsch) ] | M | |||
| Himantopus sp. | Recurvorostridae | Stilt sp. | V | ||||
| Larus articilla | Laridae | Laughing seagull | Mannimuuj (?) [Meni mar ] | R | |||
| Larus pipixpan | Laridae | Franklin's gull | jouj | V | |||
| Limosa lapponica | Scolopacidae | Bar-tailed Godwit | Kolej | RB | Reported | RB | R |
| Nesofregetta fuliginosa (albigularis) | Hydrobatidae | White-throated Storm Petrel | [Lijemao ] | v | |||
| Numenius phaeopus | Scolopacidae | Whimbrel | Kowak [Kowak (Goak) ] | w | |||
| Numenius tahitiensis | Scolopacidae | Bristle-thighed curlew | Kökkök [Kökkök ] | w | |||
| Oceanodroma lecorhoa | Hydrobatidae | Leach’s Storm Petrel | v | ||||
| Passer domesticus | Sturnidae | House Sparrow | ib | ||||
| Phaethon aethereus | Phaetonidae | Red billed Tropic Bird | v | ||||
| Phaethon lepturus | Phaetonidae | White-tailed Tropic Bird | Jipkoröj [Jik, Tschik ] | rb | |||
| Phaethon rubricauda | Phaetonidae | Red-tailed Tropic Bird | Lokwajek | v | |||
| Philomachus pugnax | Scolopacidae | Ruff | v | ||||
| Pluvialis dominica | Charadriidae | Golden Plover | Kwölej; black variety in breeding plumage: Lukeke [Kwölej ] | v,w | |||
| Pluvialis squatrola | Charadriidae | Black-bellied Plover | a | ||||
| Poliolimnas cinereus micronesiae | Rallidae | White-browed Rail | x | ||||
| Porzana cinerea | Rallidae | White-browed crake | Annan(?) [Annan(?) ] | X | |||
| Procelsterna cerulea | Laridae | Blue-gray Noddy | Löum Pikaar | rb | |||
| Psittacidae sp. | Psittacidae | Parrot sp. | IC | ||||
| Pterodoma externa | Procellaridae | White-necked petrel | [Lekejoda ] | v | |||
| Pterodroma alba | Procellaridae | Phoenix Petrel | [Lekejoda, Lijemao ] | v | |||
| Pterodroma hypoleuca nigripennis | Procellaridae | Black-winged Petrel (Bonin P.) | [Lekejoda ] | v | |||
| Pterodroma neglecta | Procellaridae | Kermadec Petrel | [Lekejoda ] | v | |||
| Ptilinopus porphyraceus hernsheimi | Columbidae | Grimson-crowned Fruit Dove | x | 1870s | x | x | |
| Puffinus assimilis | Procellaridae | Little Shearwater | Jadmüm | m | |||
| Puffinus carneipes | Procellaridae | Pale-footed Shearwater | m | ||||
| Puffinus griseus | Procellaridae | Sooty Shearwater | Mantöl | m | |||
| Puffinus Iherminieri | Procellaridae | Audubon’s Shearwater | m | ||||
| Puffinus nativitatus | Procellaridae | Christmas shearwater | m | ||||
| Puffinus pacificus | Procellaridae | Wedge-tailed shearwater | m | ||||
| Puffinus tenuirostris | Procellaridae | Slender-billed shearwater | Mantöl | m | |||
| Rallus wakensis | Rallidae | Wake Island Rail | x | ||||
| Stercorarius | Laridae | Jaeger | v | ||||
| Sterna albifrons | Laridae | Little Tern | w | ||||
| Sterna anaetheta | Laridae | Brown-winged Tern | a | ||||
| Sterna bergii | Laridae | Crested Tern | Kear [Kearlap, Kaarlap ] | rb | |||
| Sterna fuscata | Laridae | Sooty Tern | Mmej, Jipila (juvenile) | rb | |||
| Sterna hirundo nigripennis | Laridae | Common Tern | rb | ||||
| Sterna lunata | Laridae | Gray-backed Tern | rb | ||||
| Sterna paradisaea | Laridae | Artic Tern | s | ||||
| Sterna sumatrana | Laridae | Black-naped Tern | Kear [Kear, Kaar ] | rb | 1992 | RB | f |
| Sula dactylatra | Sulidae | Blue-faced Booby | Löllap [Biguak ] | rb | |||
| Sula leucogaster | Sulidae | Brown Booby | Kalo [Kalo ] | rb | 1992 | Rb | r |
| Sula sula | Sulidae | Red-footed booby | Uten, Nana | rb | |||
| Tringa gareola | Scolopacidae | Wood sandpiper | Kwöl | m | |||
| Tringa melanoleucus | Scolopacide | Greater Yellowlegs | [Kötköt ] | RB | 1992 | RB | f |
| Tryngites subruficollis | Scolopacidae | Buff-breasted Sandpiper | m | ||||
| Urodynamis taitensis | Cuculidae | Long-tailed New Zealand Cuckoo | Wüdeej [Uridj, Wurij ] | w |