17 Apr 2016

A warm welcome at Anuta Village

Day 17 - Sunday 17 April

We arrived early in the morning off Anuta Village.  The Birding Group made a very early start and walked up a logging track to sight species while the other group spent time snorkelling and exploring the island from the ocean.  Both groups enjoyed their first foray on and around the islands. It was a very early start for the birders as they boarded the zodiacs and headed to Anuta Village to pick up local guides and then walk along a logging track through the forest to try and find some more Makira endemic birds. THe group had great success and got some wonderful views of spectacular eclectus parrots and several Makira honeyeaters, flycatcher and cicadabird.

  By 11am we were all back around the vicinity of the ship and then made our way together into the Anuta village area - children lined the beach and we could see the people gathering to welcome us.  We were greeted into this community by the Women's Choir on the beach and the children presented each of us with a colourful flower lae.  Our birding leader, Chris Collins, has made seven visits to this village and there was mutual respect shown and warm greetings exchanged.  It was evident that this village had a collective vision of what they want to achieve and being sustainable and valuing their younger generation were two high priorities.  After several songs from the children and speeches from the Chief we had time to wander around their well-kept village.  We ended by having the smiling children push our zodiacs out from the beach as we departed.  The afternoon saw us making our way towards Honiara, many using this time to catch up on sleep and download images from the day.