Publications Archive

Observations of the Cape Pigeon (Daption capense) have been made during 16 years in the Tasman Sea and in New Zealand coastal waters, and for three years between New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Norfolk Island. Abundance and seasonal distribution have been plotted on four charts and a transect diagram. The relationship of abundance and distribution in the Tasman Sea and New Zealand is shown on three graphs. Between November and June (hydrological summer and autumn), few birds were recorded but during the rest of the year Cape Pigeons were widespread and abundant, even as far north as 24 degrees S in September.

Records of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus) made between 1960 and 1978 in the South-west Pacific are collated to indicate changes in their annual distribution between New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. The absence of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters from the study area on migration from June to September is shown, and migration tracks to and from their supposed wintering grounds in the eastern Pacific are suggested. Reference is made to feeding, and to birds seen in feeding flocks with Wedge-tailed Sheanvaters. The apparent absence of avian food piracy on the species is discussed. An attempt is made, with little success, to deduce the location of breeding sites in the study region.

1977. McPherson Natural History Unit, P.O. Box 21083, Edgeware, Christchurch

Paradise Shelducks (Tadorna variegata) were found moulting at 13 sites in the Gisborne – East Coast district in 1977. These moulting sites were mainly large empoundments that had open aspects with steep pasture-covered hillsides rising from the water’s edge and overhead escape-cover nearby. Individual birds mainly moulted at the same site each year and were flightless for about four weeks. Males took longer to moult than females. Non-breeding birds and failed breeders were flightless in January, successful breeders in February and March, and both sexes arrived to moult at the same time. The areas to which birds dispersed after completing their moult were determined from the return of bands by hunters. About 60% of all banded birds shot were within 32 km of their moulting site, females being recovered closer to the moulting site than males, and aImost all recoveries were from the Gisborne – East Coast area. Moult gatherings allow the wildlife manager to monitor annual changes in regional and local populations. By constructing empoundments in new localities and inducing shelducks to moult there, regional populations may be subdivided into smaller units and managed with greater sensitivity.

The feeding and roosting of the Banded dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus), Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), Eastern golden plover (Pluvialis dominica fulva) and Far-eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) were studied for six days on Farewell Spit. Five habitat zones are defined and the use of these zones by the four species and their behaviour in them are given.

Te Anau, 5-6 May 1978. Prepared and published by the Fiordland National Park Board.

Available from author, Balingu 6253, Western Australia