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A banding study of North Island brown kiwis in an exotic forest

Notornis, 30 (2), 109-124

Colbourne, R., Kleinpaste, R. (1983)

Article Type: Paper

Territory, distribution and dispersal of the North Island Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis mantelli) were studied at Waitangi State Forest, Northland, from February 1981 to July 1982. In all, 84 kiwis were banded and individually coded and 220 resightings were recorded. Weights and bill measurements are given, together with some growth rate data. Territories of 23 birds are shown and these approximate 5 ha per adult pair, but territory size may decrease with greater abundance of food and with immigration from logged areas. Kiwis frequent many burrows within fixed territories, and males defend these territories from other pairs, primarily by calling. Juveniles under 1 year old are accepted in these ranges, whereas larger juveniles and some females do not have regular haunts. Kiwis try to retain their territories in the face of logging and other forest management practices and this behaviour demonstrates the importance of site attachment. Swamp margins and swamp arms are important to kiwis as a temporary refuge after clearfelling and as feeding areas during dry periods of the year. Despite the forestry practices the Waitangi kiwi population is thought to be viable.

Territories of South Island fernbirds

Notornis, 30 (3), 199-216

Barlow, M. (1983)

Article Type: Paper

South Island Fernbirds near Invercargill, Southland, were studied for two years. Adult birds had year-round preference for areas with low dense ground vegetation and emergent shrubs. The preferred habitat occurred in a linear strip along an estuary margin. Territories were contiguous and distributed in linear fashion along the strip. Territory areas varied from 530 m2 approximately to 2870 m2 approximately. Territories were strongly defended during the prebreeding and breeding seasons, and defended to some degree at other times. Juveniles were often found outside the preferred adult habitat. There were indications that total Fernbird population needs may include an area adjacent to but exclusive of adult territory areas. Fire had a prolonged adverse effect on breeding habitat.

Seabirds found dead on New Zealand beaches in 1981

Notornis, 30 (2), 125-135

Powlesland, R.G. (1983)

Article Type: Paper

In 1981, 3,654 kilometres of coast were patrolled by 182 members of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand and their friends, and 5,627 dead seabirds were found. New records for the Beach Patrol Scheme were a Kermadec Petrel (Pterodroma neglecta) and a Long-tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus). Unusual finds were Yellow-nosed Mollymawk (Diomedea chlororhynchus), Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus), Wilson’s Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), Black-bellied Storm Petrel (Fregetta tropica) and Black-fronted Tern (Sterna albostriata). A major wreck of Kerguelen Petrels (Pterodroma brevirostris) and Blue Petrels (Halobaena caerulea) occurred in spring along the western coast of the North Island.

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) roosts and flightlines near Wellington

Notornis, 30 (3), 217-226

Brockie, R.E. (1983)

Article Type: Paper

Information on flightlines of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) to and from roosts is summarised, and a map shows sites and areas served by roosts in the Wellington area. Four offshore islands in the area are used as roosts. In midwinter birds may spend 16 hours nightly in roosts. One roost has remained in use since at least 1913, and others have shifted or been used intermittently. The number of starlings flying to the major roosts in the region has fallen during the 1970s.
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