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South Polar Skua breeding colonies in the Ross Sea region, Antarctica

Notornis, 33 (3), 155-163

Ainley, D.G., Morrell, S.H., Wood, R.C. (1986)

Article Type: Paper

Using ground and aerial surveys between 1980 and 1983, we increased the number of known breeding sites of the South Polar Skua in the Ross Sea region from 21 to 55. Some 20 more sites may occur along parts of the coast which we did not survey, especially between Cape Adare and Cape Jones. We estimate that the Ross Sea region has about 15000 skuas. Up to 20% of breeders do not nest in association with penguins. Since the late 1950s, several colonies have increased, while others have decreased. Some colony changes have apparently been due to human activity. Information on banded birds indicates a low rate of exchange between colonies; some movement may be related to more food being available at refuse dumps at scientific bases.

The food of the white-rumped swiftlet (Aerodramus spodiopygius) in Fiji

Notornis, 33 (1), 1-16

Tarburton, M.K. (1986)

Article Type: Paper

Diptera (flies), Homoptera (planthoppers), Hymenoptera (social insects), Isoptera (termites), and Coleoptera (beetles) were the most numerous prey in 32 food boluses being delivered by parent White-rumped swiftlets (Aerodramus spodiopygius) to their chicks inside two Fijian caves. Numerically the main food items were flies (37%) and planthoppers (33%). Both the season and the habitat over which the birds had been feeding seemed to determine whether flies or planthoppers predominated in a particular bolus sample. Flies predominated in the prey of swiftlets foraging over open country, whereas planthoppers predominated in the prey of swiftlets foraging over both forest and open country. The number of insects in each food bolus ranged from 47 to 750 (mean = 236). The average weight of a bolus was 0.225 g (range 0.1- 0.43 g). The average length of all prey was 2.48 mm, which is larger than the average length of available prey (1.63 mm). The number of prey species ranged from 2 to 83 (mean = 30 per bolus). Altogether, 167 species were recorded in food boluses. The White-rumped swiftlet bred during the wet season, when insects were more abundant. This study, along with others (largely unpublished) shows for the first time that Hies are often the most common insect in the prey of swifts, swiftlets and swallows.

The sexual dimorphism of Snares Cape Pigeons (Daption capense australe)

Notornis, 33 (4), 259-263

Sagar, P.M. (1986)

Article Type: Paper

The males of Snares Cape Pigeons (Daption capense australe) breeding at the Snares Islands are larger than females, especially in head plus bill length, mid-toe plus claw, bill length, bill depth, tarsus, and weight. By using the measurements head plus bill length and mid-toe plus claw, one can reliably sex about 82% of the Snares Islands birds. The amount of sexual dimorphism is similar in both races of cape pigeon. The importance of having a wide range of calls during breeding is favoured as the reason for dimorphism having developed in fulmarine petrels.

Birds of the Solander Islands

Notornis, 33 (2), 77-89

Cooper, W.J., Miskelly, C.M., Morrison, K., Peacock, R.J. (1986)

Article Type: Paper

Birds observed on the Solander Islands 25-27 July 1985 are discussed in relation to previous records from the islands. Black Shag, Banded Rail, Song Thrush and Greenfinch have not been reported previously. Solander Island had a major colony of Buller’s mollymawk, with an estimated 4000-5000 pairs. A further 300 pairs bred on Little Solander Island, which also had a large colony of Common Diving Petrels. On Little Solander, New Zealand’s southernmost gannet colony, were 20-10 Australasian Gannets. Red-crowned Parakeets seem to have displaced Yellow-crowned Parakeets on the Solander Islands since 1948. The faunal relationships of the Solander Islands are discussed, as is the apparent effect of predation by introduced weka on Solander Island.

An early account of some birds from Mauke, Cook Islands, and the origin of the “Mysterious Starling” Aplonis mavornata Buller

Notornis, 33 (4), 197-208

Olson, S.L. (1986)

Article Type: Paper

Overlooked manuscript notes made by Andrew Bloxam during the voyage of HMS Blonde detail his observations of birds on the island of Mauke, southern Cook group, on 9 August 1825, nearly 150 years before birds were again collected on the island. These notes establish that the unique type of the “Mysterious Starling” Aplonis mavornara Buller, a valid species previously of unknown origin and now extinct, was one of the three specimens collected on Mauke by Bloxam. The other two, which have not yet been located, if they still exist, were the kingfisher Halcyon tuta mauke and the fruit dove Ptilinopus rarotongensis cf. goodwini, the latter otherwise unknown on Mauke and probably now extinct there.
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