Wildlife· Tetiaroa· French Polynesia — Society Islands

Tetiaroa Bird Island & Turtle Sanctuary (Tetiaroa Society)

17° 2.5′ S · 149° 32.7′ W

Motu Manu, 'Bird Island', on the south-east of the atoll, has the densest seabird colonies in the Windward Islands: boobies, frigatebirds, noddies and terns. Tetiaroa is also one of the last important green-turtle nesting sites in the Society Islands.

Society IslandsTahiti & Moorea

Practical

Coordinates: Motu Tahuna Rahi as mapped on OpenStreetMap, on the south-east rim; Tahuna Iti, which French Wikipedia calls the bird island and reserve, adjoins it. Tetiaroa has 16 bird species, 11 of them breeding seabirds (Tetiaroa Society). Brown noddies are the most abundant (5,000–10,000 pairs). Motu Tahuna Rahi is the only breeding site of the greater crested tern in the Windward Islands, and the atoll is the Society Islands' most important site for red-footed and brown boobies; frigatebirds nest on the northern motus (CASUP). Green turtles nest here; hawksbills are also common in Polynesian waters. The Society's conservation plan proposes full protection with restricted access for Aie, Tahuna Iti, Tahuna Rahi and Reiono, and sees day charters on Rimatu'u and Bird Island as the main visitor activity. Keep to marked areas, don't walk among ground nests, and use no lights on turtle beaches at night. Tahiti Tourisme says Bird Island is a nature reserve where nobody may set foot: watch the colonies from the water's edge only.

Best for

Seabird colonies and turtle conservation

Nearby