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The diet of the Australasian harrier (Circus approximans) in the Manawatu-Rangitikei Sand Country, New Zealand

Notornis, 28 (4), 241-254

Baker-Gabb, D.J. (1981)

Article Type: Paper

Of the 477 food items identified in the diet of the Australasian Harrier (Circus approximans), mammals (46%) were the main food. Birds and their eggs (41%) were the next most numerous food, and insects (8%) and fish and frogs (5%) were in about equal numbers. Live prey was numerically more important than carrion in all seasons and especially during summer. However, the biomass of carrion eaten annually was greater than that of live prey. Food items were taken according to their availability, and not according to preferences of the predator. The legal protection of the Australasian Harrier in New Zealand is recommended.

The external morphology and taxonomic status of the orange-fronted parakeet

Notornis, 28 (4), 292-300

Nixon, A.J. (1981)

Article Type: Paper

Size and shape differences between museum specimens of the Orange-fronted Parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi) and the Yellow-crowned Parakeet (C. auriceps) are investigated using discriminant function analysis. No significant differences were found between the two groups, and the plotted discriminant scores show very poor separation, whereas the technique distinguishes both groups from Red-crowned Parakeets. These results support the view that C. malherbi is a colour variant of C. auriceps.

The subfossil distribution of extinct New Zealand coots Fulica chathamensis subspp. (Aves: Rallidae)

Notornis, 28 (1), 1-9

Millener, P.R. (1981)

Article Type: Paper

The mainland form of the Extinct New Zealand Coot, Fulica chathamensis prisca (Hamilton), is recorded from 11 North Island and 21 South Island localities. Two published North Island records are shown to be invalid. It is noted that the Chatham Island form, Fulica c. chathamensis (Forbes), has been recorded from 18 named localities on Chatham Island and is also present in many collections for which no more detailed locality record than “Chatham Island (s) ” is available.

The distribution and numbers of crested grebe in New Zealand 1980

Notornis, 28 (4), 301-310

Sagar, P.M. (1981)

Article Type: Paper

The first national survey of the Southern Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus australis was carried out in the South Island, New Zealand, from 29 November to 14 December 1980. 170 adults were counted and 20+ more estimated on 28 of the 84 lakes covered during the survey. When other recent records are included, this survey indicates that the New Zealand population of adult Crested Grebes is about 240-250. The bulk (c. 55%) of the population was in Canterbury, where most birds were concentrated on two groups of lakes. Total numbers were probably greater than those recorded in 1970 but local declines have occurred. Some breeding data are also presented.

Specific and sexual differences in body measurements of New Zealand honeyeaters

Notornis, 28 (2), 121-128

Craig, J.L., Douglas, M.E., Stewart, A.M., Veitch, C.R. (1981)

Article Type: Paper

Morphometric measurements of the three New Zealand honeyeaters show that Stitchbirds and Bellbirds are of a similar size and both are markedly smaller than Tuis. Males are larger than females in all three species but few measurements appear reliable discriminators of sex. Some implications of these differences are discussed briefly.

Notes on moult and seasonably variable characters of the Antarctic blue-eyed shag Phalacrocorax atriceps bransfieldensis

Notornis, 28 (1), 35-39

Bernstein, N.P., Maxson, S.J. (1981)

Article Type: Paper

A summary of timing and patterns of moult is presented for adult Phalacrocorax atriceps bransfieldensis based on 14 months of continuous observation. Changes in flesh characters are also noted. Observations differ from reports in the literature, and the significance of the new data on taxonomic studies of the blue-eyed shag complex is discussed
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