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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

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

Article Type: Short Note

Long-tailed skuas Stercorarius longicaudus in New Zealand

Notornis, 32 (1), 51-73

D.S. Melville (1985)

Article Type: Paper

A wreck of long-tailed skuas (Stercorarius longicaudus) on North Island beaches in early 1983 is reported. Characters used to identify long-tailed and Arctic skuas in the hand are reviewed with reference to New Zealand material. It is suggested that there may have been several New Zealand records of long-tailed skuas before the first accepted specimen record in 1964. The importance of retaining all small skuas found on New Zealand beaches for critical examination is emphasised. The 1983 wreck may be related to the 1982/83 El Nino, which apparently caused a reduction of food for at least some seabird species.

Distribution of yellowheads (Mohoua ochrocephala) in New Zealand

Notornis, 32 (4), 261-269

P.D. Gaze (1985)

Article Type: Paper

Historical records show that yellowheads (Mohoua ochrocephala) were once present in most forest habitats of the South Island and Stewart Island but they have become less widespread over the last 100 years. Disappearance from some areas was rapid at the end of the last century but yellowheads survived in other forests until quite recently. Reasons for this decline should be investigated in the hope that appropriate management may prevent this species from becoming endangered.

A ruff in Southland

Notornis, 32 (4), 329-330

C.M. Miskelly; W.J. Cooper (1985)

Article Type: Short Note

Birds of the Western Chain, Snares Islands 1983-84

Notornis, 31 (3), 209-223

C.M. Miskelly (1984)

Article Type: Paper

Birds observed during landings on four islets of the Western Chain, Snares Islands, in February 1984 are discussed. A census of Salvin’s mollymawk revealed 586 chicks on two of the islets and one stack, and so the population is not likely to exceed 650 pairs. The numbers of the eight other bird species known to breed on the Western Chain were estimated, and their distribution is described. Measurements of 20 chicks of Snares crested penguin indicate that the breeding cycle on the Western Chain is about six weeks later than on Main Island. Buller’s mollymawk, mottled petrel, sooty shearwater, southern skua and red-billed gull are new breeding records for the Western Chain, and eight other species observed had not been reported previously.

Seabirds found dead on New Zealand beaches in 1982 and a review of penguin recoveries since 1960

Notornis, 31 (2), 155-171

R.G. Powlesland (1984)

Article Type: Paper

In 1982, 3,705 kilometres of coast were patrolled and 6,957 dead seabirds were found. Large numbers of sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) were found on Stewart Island beaches (mainly in July) and Auckland West beaches (November-December). Large numbers of blue penguins (Eudyptula minor) were found on Auckland West and Auckland East beaches in January-February and August-September. Unusual finds were single specimens of long-tailed skua (Stercorarius longicaudus), Black-fronted tern (Sterna albostriata), Arctic tern ( S. paradisaea) and little tern (S. albifrons). A summary is given of the coastaI and monthly distribution for each species of penguin found over the 1960-1982 period.
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