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A bird in the hand: Andreas Reischek and the Stitchbird

Notornis, 31 (4), 300-311

G.R. Angehr (1984)

Article Type: Paper

Early accounts of Little Barrier Island by Andreas Reischek emphasise that the Stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta) was very rare there in the 1880s. Re-examination of the original accounts, in conjunction with dated specimens, suggests that the Stitchbird was in fact very rare in 1880 and 1882 but increased markedly in 1883 and 1885. The rarity of the species on Little Barrier in 1880 and 1882 coincided with its extinction on the mainland and may have been due to introduced disease. However, several fluctuations in population size have taken place since. At least 78 and up to 130 of the 181 extant 19th-century specimens were taken by Reischek.

The North Island Kokako (Callaeas cinerea wilsoni) in the western King Country and Taranaki

Notornis, 31 (2), 131-144

O'Donnell, C.F.J. (1984)

Article Type: Paper

The distribution of the North Island Kokako (Callaeas cinerea wilsoni) in the western King Country and Taranaki was recorded during summer 1980-1981. The survey confirmed that the Kokako was widespread in the study area but showed that its range is continuing to shrink. The status of many populations is still uncertain. Kokako appear to have disappeared recently from large forest tracts in south-eastern and inland Taranaki and from large isolated forests in the north. Within large forest tracts Kokako were not recorded in some locations where they had been present before 1970. Most Kokako were in unmodified rimu-tawa dominant forest and habitat deterioration appears to be an important factor in their decline.

Buller’s mollymawks breeding at the Three Kings Islands

Notornis, 31 (3), 203-207

A.E. Wright (1984)

Article Type: Paper

A small breeding colony of Northern Buller’s Mollymawks (Diomedea bulleri platei Reichenow, 1898) is recorded from the Three Kings Islands off northern New Zealand. The subspecies was previously known to breed only at the Chatham Islands, which lie 10 degrees of latitude south of the Three Kings.

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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