Publications Archive

by Arbocco, G., L. Capocaccia, L., Violani, C.

1979. Ann. Mus. Civ. St. Nat. Genova 82: 184-265

“Waterfowl: ducks, geese and swans of the world” by Frank S. Todd. Sea-World Press. Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, New York and London.

During 1970, 2,152 kilometres of coast were patrolled by 82 persons. 4,613 dead seabirds, including high numbers of Lesser Broad-billed Prions (Pachyptila salvini), were found. During 1971, 2,470 kilometres of beach were patrolled by 148 persons. 6,244 dead seabirds, including high numbers of Fairy Prions (P. turtur),were found. During 1972, 2,748 kilometres of beach were patrolled by 117 persons. 4,046 dead seabirds were found but there were no major wrecks. During the three years there were new beach patrol records of Soft-plumaged Petrel (Pterodroma mollis), Fulmar Prion (Pachyptila crassirostris) , Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster), Lesser Frigate Bird (Fregata ariel) and Antarctic Skua (Stercorarius skua maccormicki). The single specimen of Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) is a new record for New Zealand.

Records were kept of seabirds seen during 30 watches, totalling about 45 hours, on a voyage from Sydney to Buenos Aires via New Zealand and the Straits of Magellan.  Results are presented in the form of an annotated species list.  Passage movements of Puffinus griseus and Pterodroma lessonii were observed, and records of Pterodroma axillaris, P. inexpectata, Pufinus bulleri and P. puffinus appear to be of distributional significance.  A probable sight record of Pterodroma magentae is discussed in detail.

The Pukeko, or Purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus), has monomorphic plumage, which makes sexing of the living bird difficult. A method of sexing using body measurements has been proposed (Williams & Miers 1958), but it uses measurements and cut-off values which are not fully reliable. While cut-off values may vary geographically, the reliability of the different measurements should not. This paper uses multivariate techniques to investigate the reliability of combinations of measurements for sexing swamphens and outlines the problems with the existing method.

Obituary, pages 179 to 186. Bibliography, pages 187 to 195.