Publications Archive

A survey of the distribution of South Island fernbirds (Bowdleria punctata punctata) in relation to vegetation types was made in part of the Kongahu Swamp, Karamea district, West Nelson. The data show that fernbirds have a marked preference for areas with low, dense ground vegetation and emergent shrubbery, and are infrequently seen in cut-over kahikatea forest bordering on swampland, or in level pakihi vegetation lacking shrubs. Observations on fernbird habitat at other places are compared with those for Kongahu Swamp.

Dr Pat Vickers Rich. Bulletin 184. Bureau of Natural Resources, Geology and Geophysics. Canberra 1979.

During 1978, Fiji experienced a minor invasion of Australian pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus). a species not recorded there previously.

Further to the record of a Dunlin (Calidris alpina) at Tapora, Kaipara Harbour (Brown 1974, Notornis 22: 241), birds seen at Taramaire and Miranda in the Firth of Thames provide more records of this species in New Zealand.

Dr. Christopher McGowan. Journal of Morphology. Vol. 160. No. 1 . April 1979.

Beside a Hawkes Ray farm lake in December 1977 I observed a spotless crake (Porzana tabuen plumbea) in response to a playing taped crake calls. Immediately two fernbirds (Bowdleria punctata) appeared. They duetted together and went through their whole repertoire, their bodies vibrating as they gave the “ticking” call.

Past information on the birds of Antipodes Island is reviewed and an account given of the findings of the first scientific party to live ashore, from 28 January 1969 to 12 March 1969. The bird list of 37 species includes 16 for which breeding is proven (11 seabirds and 5 landbirds) ; eight seabirds that almost certainly breed but whose eggs or chicks have yet to be seen; four seabirds and two landbirds that possibly breed and two seabirds and two landbirds that appear to be stragglers. Three seabirds known only from nearby seas complete the tally. Dimensions are given of birds handled or collected. Most were petrels and included a sample of Soft-plumaged Petrels, previously unrecorded in New Zealand, the skins of which were compared with those of other populations and judged to belong to the nominate race. Skins of the Little Shearwaters, collected for the first time at Antipodes Island, agreed with examples of the subspecies elegans from the South Atlantic. A census was attempted of the Wandering Albatross population, and the penguin and Northern Giant Petrel colonies were mapped. The seabird fauna is compared with the seabird faunas of our other southern islands.