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The distribution of Buller’s Shearwater (Puffinus bulleri) in the North Pacific Ocean

Notornis, 32 (2), 109-117

T.R. Wahl (1985)

Article Type: Paper

From available records ranging from systematic surveys to casual observations, the known distribution of Buller’s Shearwater (Puffinus bulleri) in the North Pacific Ocean is described. The birds arrive in subarctic waters in June and slowly expand northward and eastward as far as the Gulf of Alaska by August. The mid-ocean distribution after August is poorly known, but many birds, presumably non-breeders, are along the west coast of North America, at least from British Columbia to southern California, until late October-early November. Numbers observed along this coast have increased since the mid-1960s.

The relationship between riverbed flooding and non-breeding Wrybills on northern feeding grounds in summer

Notornis, 32 (1), 42-50

K.F.D. Hughey (1985)

Article Type: Paper

I investigated the relationship between floods on the riverbed breeding grounds of Wrybills (Anarhynchus frontalis) and the number of Wrybills censused on northern harbours the following summer. For the purposes of the study I assumed that most birds oversummering on northern harbours are first-year non-breeders and that flood flows of the Rakaia River are representative of most other Wrybill breeding rivers. A highly significant negative correlation (r2=0.69; p<0.01) existed for the 1968-1982 period. The study’s findings provide some support for the observation that by the early 1960s the Wrybill population, after many years of growth, had begun to stabilise. Serious flooding in the 1982 and 1983 breeding seasons may have again destabilised the population structure.

Snipe in Southland

Notornis, 32 (4), 327-328

Miskelly, C.M., Cooper, W.J., Morrison, K., Morrison, J.V. (1985)

Article Type: Short Note

Breeding success of isolated pairs of Caspian Terns in Canterbury

Notornis, 31 (3), 185-190

Pierce, R.J. (1984)

Article Type: Paper

In Canterbury, Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia) nest mainly as single pairs associated with colonies of Black-backed gulls (Larus dominicanus) on shingle riverbeds. Of 37 nests studied, 28 (75%) hatched and 20 (54%) produced a total of 21 flying young, each pair raising an average of 0.6 young per season. The low productivity is attributed to reduced prey availability.

A census of the South Polar Skua at Cape Hallett, Antarctica

Notornis, 31 (4), 312-319

J.G. Pascoe (1984)

Article Type: Paper

Two counts of skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) at Cape Hallett were made between 17 and 20 January 1983: in one 85 pairs and 83 non-breeding birds, total 253 birds; in the other, 83 pairs and 79 non-breeding birds, total 245 birds. South Polar Skua numbers remain low, suggesting a continuation of the 1960s decline or the influence of climatic factors such as heavy snowfall during critical stages of skua breeding.

The Weka on Macquarie Island

Notornis, 31 (2), 145-154

Brothers, N.P., Skira, I.J. (1984)

Article Type: Paper

Wekas have been on Macquarie Island for just over 100 years. They occur in the coastal tussock grassland, mainly in the northern half of Macquarie Island. Males are larger than females and the sexes can be separated on a combination of culmen and tarsus lengths. The sex ratio in favour of males was considered to be due to behavioural differences. Breeding begins in August and, although four eggs may be laid, only one or two chicks are usually reared. Losses are probably due to predation by feral cats and skuas. Preferred foods are vegetation, insects and spiders. Mammal and bird remains were present in fewer than half the gizzards examined, but rats and mice are thought to be important food because of their size.
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