Fiji

Birdwatching in Fiji is becoming increasingly popular.  It has the richest avifauna in Western Polynesia. Fiji has recorded around 179 species of  bird. A large number are seabirds including the rare Fiji Petrel. 31 species are endemic to the islands. Many of the birds are beautiful, including the bright sunburst orange of the Orange Fruit Dove, the stunning Golden Dove, Many-coloured Fruit Dove, Whistling Dove, Fiji Parrot Finch and the rare Pink-billed Parrotfinch, the Maroon Shining Parrot, Red Shining Parrot, Azure crested Flycatcher, Fiji Whistler and Pacific Robin. The calls of the Barking Dove (a loud bark), Orange Dove (a click) and Golden Dove (yapping) plus the tremulous Fiji Shrikebill are very memorable and distinctive.

Birdwatching on 3 islands, Viti Levu, Taveuni and Kadavu, will give you the greatest number of birds. However, the Natewa Silktail on Vanua Levu has been recently split from the Taveuni Silktail. This laid back island may also soon become a popular birding destination.  While most birds are relatively easy to see, a couple need a lot of effort and a pretty good level of fitness. In some cases this includes long sea voyages in open boats. These birds are not included in standard tours.

Fiji is a popular tourist destination. It is made up of over 330 different islands. Some of these are mere rocky islets and only 110 are inhabited. There are a wide range of tourist facilities and many are set up with a particular market in mind, such as families, couples, divers, surfers etc. Birding is fast becoming  popular.

Fiji was once a British colony where there was a high reliance on outside labour. At the start this labour was obtained by “Blackbirding”.  This was a practice of taking of slaves from other Pacific Islands (notably the Solomon Islands) and was used to grow cotton. Later indentured workers were brought over from India for work in the sugar cane fields. There is still a huge population of Indian descent in Fiji. Fiji now has one of the strongest economies in the Pacific. It became a republic in 1970. English is still the language of education and government.

Sicklebill Safaris offers guided birding tours to Fiji and our standard tour can be shortened or lengthened as desired. For those who are combining birdwatching with a family holiday we can also arrange  day or longer itineraries using local guides, where available.  We also run tours which include Fiji and other Pacific Islands such as New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Why not join us to come Birdwatching in Fiji.