A few photos from a recent research trip to the Mariana Islands
In May and June of 2016 I travelled to Guam and Rota in the Mariana Islands on a research trip. My focus was the critically endangered aga or Mariana Crow (Corus kubaryi). During the trip I took photos of a range of related things. A few of them are included below.
High resolution copies of these photos can be found at my Flickr site by clicking on the images below.
![Ko'ko mural](https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7547/27587999405_a337dbb3f8_z.jpg)
This beautiful mural can be found in downtown Hagåtña, Guam. It depicts a Ko’ko (Guam Rail, Gallirallus owstoni). Now extinct in the wild on Guam, I was lucky enough to get to see some of these birds in captivity on Guam. Hopefully they will start being released soon on nearby Rota.
![A view](https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7619/26979309823_48b1ed0f7a_z.jpg)
One of the many spectacular coastlines on Rota, CNMI.
![Aga (Mariana Crow)](https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7445/27310973360_cd739b1eac_z.jpg)
One of the few decent photos I managed to get of a free living aga (Mariana Crow, Corus kubaryi). These birds are now critically endangered: extinct on nearby Guam and in decline on Rota.
![The big fig](https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7403/27515206171_1a349cfd68_z.jpg)
This massive fig tree grows by the side of the south road on Rota, CNMI.
![Collapse](https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7306/27489027732_55de23edd7_z.jpg)
A building has fallen on this machinery (a crane?) in the most recent typhoon.
![Collared Kingfisher](https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7236/27587915875_10b65990cd_z.jpg)
A Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris). A very common bird on the island of Rota, CNMI and other nearby islands.
![Coconut trap](https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7351/26979248353_1c205eaf43_z.jpg)
A traditional Chamoru coconut crab trap. The coconut has been cut open and tied to a small tree to attract crabs and stop them caring it away. The trapper will return at night and collect all the crabs feeding on the coconut.
![Pandanus](https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7411/27587881625_8d658cb79a_z.jpg)
Pandanus trees burnt in a fire on Rota, CNMI. Likely caught up in some of the very unpopular burning being done by a few hunters trying to make it easier to spot prey from the road.This is a serious and ongoing conservation issue, both for the island’s jungle and for the surrounding reefs that catch all the runoff from cleared/burnt land.