A few years ago, when we lived in Tamavua, we used to walk our only dog at the time, Kaia, nearly daily in the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park, and I nearly always combined these walks with my birding passion, carrying my tele lend and trying to photograph the birds living in the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park. Having moved to town, the visits became rarer, but recently I spent several days again in the park with my dogs and camera.
A Barking Pigeon (Ducula latrans) perches on a branch in the Colo-i-Suva Forest park near Suva. Barking imperial pigeons are endemic to the Fiji Islands. Central Division, Fiji, South Pacific.
The Colo-i-Suva Forest Park
The Foret Park was established more than 70 years ago in 1952 and covers just under 5 square kilometres. It is managed by Fiji’s Ministry of Forestry, which set up trails within the park, and there are more than a dozen pools with cold, clear water to take a dip during hot days. Being so close to Suva, Fiji’s busiest population centre, it is the perfect getaway from the city’s hustle. Lush rainforest and a good variety of birding options await you here.
A Fiji White-eye (Zosterops explorator), an endemic bird to Fiji, perched on a branch in teh Colo-i-Suva Forest Park near Fiji’s capital city of Suva. Viti Levu, Fiji.
A Streaked Fantail (Rhipidura verreauxi), an endemic bird to Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, rests on a branch in the Colo-i-Suva Rainforest park, a protected area near Suva, the capital of Fiji. Colo-i-Suva Forest Park, Central Province, Viti Levu, Fiji, South Pacific.
A male Golden Dove (Ptilinopus luteovirens), an endemic bird to the forests of Fiji, rests on a branch in the Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Park, a protected area near the capital city of Suva. Central Province, Viti Levu, Fiji, South Pacific.
You can either park your car right on top at the entrance of the park and walk down the dirt road towards the main parking facility within the park to start a trail walk or drive down directly. From a birding perspective, I recommend the first option, as I have photographed many of the birds right from that right in the adjacent canopy.
A Masked Shining-Parrot (Prosopeia personata), an endemic bird to Viti Levu, the largest island in Fiji, percherd on a tree in the Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Park, a protected site near Suva, the capital of the Fiji Islands. These parrots are considered ‘Vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Central Province, Viti Levu, Fiji, South Pacific.
A Slaty Monarch (Mayrornis lessoni) preched on a tree in the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park near Suva, the capital of Fiji.
Birds of Colo-i-Suva
As usual, there are a few bird species to be found in Colo-i-Suva, that are fairly easy to see and others which are much harder to spot and photograph. Here is a list of birds I have photographed or seen in the forest:
Besides the Fan-tailed cuckoo (which I had seen sitting perfectly for a photo right next to the road when I was passing by but didn’t have my camera with me) and the Fiji Shrikebill, which I have never seen in the park but know from others it lives here, I have photographed all the above. I am sure other species will be found here – if you have seen or photographic any other birds in Colo-i-Suva, please reach out or comment below.
A Fiji Whistler (Pachycephala vitiensis), an endemic bird to Fiji, rests on a branch in the Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Park, a protected area near Suva, the capital of Fiji. Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Park, Central Province, Viti Levu, Fiji, South Pacific.
A Fiji Bush Warbler (Horornis ruficapilla), an endemic bird to Fiji, perched on a vine in the Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Park, a protected site near Suva, the capital of the Fiji Islands. Central Province, Viti Levu, Fiji, South Pacific.
A White-throated pigeon (Columba vitiensis) photographed near Colo-i-Suva Forest Park.
The manumanu vuka project
As some of you will know, my love for birding has really deepened over the last few years in Fiji. About two or three years ago, I launched the manumanu vuka project, an attempt to photograph every bird species in Fiji – breeding and visiting. I managed to get just over 60, and with around 130 species to go, I am just about halfway. But a start is made, and I will continue to bird as long as I am in Fiji. A friend of mine recently told me about the 80/20 rule.
A Chestnut-Throated Flycatcher (Myiagra castaneigularis), formerly referred to as the Azure-crested Flycatcher, is an endemic bird to Fiji. This species is divided into two subspecies, with this individual being Myiagra castaneigularis whitneyi, the subspecies occurring on Viti Levu (western Fiji). Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Park, Central Province, Viti Levu, Fiji, South Pacific.
A Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) photographed in the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park near Fiji’s capital city Suva.
Basically, the first 80% of the work can be done with 20% effort, whereas the remaining 20% work will require 80% of effort. I think this is a fit for the manumanu vuka project, as the “easy” birds can be photographed relatively quickly, but then the rarer they get, the more effort is required to actually get to the location, trek through the first and then be lucky and able to not only spot the bird in question but also photograph it.
A juvenile Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla) photographed in the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park on Viti Levu.
A Vanikoro Flycatcher (Myiagra vanikorensis) photographed in the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park near Suva, the capital of Fiji.
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