The Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust (MEIT) was established in 2001. In 2006 the ~3,400 ha forested mountain of Maungatautari was protected by a ~47 km pest fence, and most introduced mammals within the fence have since been eradicated. Since then, 7 locally extinct indigenous bird species have been translocated to Maungatautari, one other has self-reintroduced, and many more avian translocations are planned. There are now 20 indigenous forest bird species present (from 12 at the project’s commencement) and the total is expected to eventually exceed 30 species, many of which will be threatened species. Those avian species will be part of a functioning ecosystem that is likely to include at least 50 indigenous vertebrate species (birds, bats, lizards, tuatara, frogs and fish). The avian translocations and the restoration outcome monitoring programmes are described, and some characteristics and values of the project are discussed.
Plumage states of the long-tailed cuckoo (Eudynamys taitensis) are reviewed and summarised from examination of museum study-skins. Besides the distinctive adult plumage (barred above, white background colour below) and immature plumage (spotted above, pale brown below), some birds (13% of those in the wintering grounds, plus 1 bird from New Zealand) show a “transitional” plumage presumed to be intermediate between the immature and adult condition. Also, some pale birds found in New Zealand may represent a hitherto-unrecognised juvenile plumage. A review of distribution records (museum specimens plus published sight-records) in both the summer and winter ranges of the cuckoo confirms a vast fan-shaped distribution extending 6,000 km north from New Zealand to the tropical Pacific, and 11,000 km from east to west in the tropics. Wake Island (19.3°N) in the north, Palau (134.5°E) in the west, Henderson Island (128.3°W) in the east and the Snares Islands (48.0°S) in the south are the extreme records in this range. Records of museum specimens reveal that almost all long-tailed cuckoos returning to New Zealand in October are in adult plumage. Autumn records show a gradual northward retreat of cuckoos within New Zealand, with a stronger-than-average bias in North Island records from March to May. There is no equivalent North Island bias for the spring influx in September and October. Museum specimens from eastern Polynesia exhibited an uneven sex ratio biased towards males (74%), whereas the sex ratio elsewhere was more even. Our study confirms the vast total range of the long-tailed cuckoo and provides age-specific details of the seasonal waxing and waning of the migratory patterns of the breeding population within New Zealand.
Translocation is an important tool for the conservation management of birds in New Zealand. Early translocations marooned endangered species in predator-free environments, typically remote islands. However, modern integrated pest control, coupled with a proliferation of community-based restoration projects, has led to increased opportunities for translocations, particularly to mainland sites. Effective post-release monitoring of bird translocations is vital for improving overall translocation success. Here, we discuss why post-release monitoring is important and how it can be achieved, and suggest methods for documenting and monitoring translocation projects for birds. Key suggestions include: specifying the characteristics of each translocation, including how many birds are released, demographic composition and transfer processes; conducting post-release monitoring using discreet surveys and consistent sensible methodologies; individually marking birds; distinguishing immediate post-release effects from long-term site-related effects; and documenting the results in an accessible format such as a web-based database or published paper. We advocate a strategic approach whereby the intensity of post-release monitoring is directly related to the need and subsequent use of the data collected.
Monitoring of wetland birds was undertaken at the Avon-Heathcote Estuary and Bromley Oxidation Ponds between Aug 2009 and Jul 2010. Monthly totals exceeded 20,000 birds from Dec to Apr, with the highest count (36,637) recorded in Jan 2010. A total of 38 wetland bird species were recorded and 12 of these exceeded 1000+ individuals during at least 1 month of the study period. The 5 most abundant species were New Zealand shoveler (Anas rhynchotis; maximum 7046), grey teal (Anas gracilis; 5881), New Zealand scaup (Aythya novaeseelandiae; 5739), red-billed gull (Larus novaehollandiae; 5000+) and South Island pied oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi; 4844). Ten species were recorded in numbers that met or exceeded the 1% Ramsar international significance criterion: pied cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius varius), paradise shelduck (Tadorna variegata), grey teal, New Zealand shoveler, New Zealand scaup, South Island pied oystercatcher, variable oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor), eastern bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica baueri), black- billed gull (Larus bulleri) and Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia).
We report Records Appraisal Committee (RAC) decisions regarding Unusual Bird Reports received between 1 Jan 2011 and 31 Dec 2012. Among the 137 submissions accepted by the RAC were the 1st New Zealand record of Pacific gull (Larus pacificus), the 2nd record of emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), and the 3rd & 4th records of a crane (Grus sp., unidentifiable to species). Other notable records included the 1st accepted sighting of a South Island kokako (Callaeas cinerea) since 1967, the 1st record of New Zealand dabchicks (Poliocephalus rufopectus) breeding in the South Island since 1941, and the 1st records of Snares crested penguin (Eudyptes robustus) from the Auckland Islands, sooty albatross (Phoebetria fusca) from the Chatham Islands, white-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) from Antipodes Island, and Australian coot (Fulica atra) and common sandpiper (Tringa hypoleuca) from Stewart Island. In addition, notable influxes of plumed whistling ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni), great shearwaters (Puffinus gravis), Australian pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus), gull-billed terns (Gelochelidon nilotica) and Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) occurred during 2011-12.
The shore plover (Thinornis novaeseelandiae) is a highly threatened shorebird endemic to New Zealand. It is particularly susceptible to introduced mammalian predators, and has a very small total population and a very limited range. This paper lists the translocations that have formed the core of the shore plover recovery programme over the past 22 years, and summarises the outcomes. In the early 1990s, a captive population was established in mainland New Zealand using birds reared from eggs transferred from the last self-sustaining wild population on the Chatham Islands. Since 1994, captive-bred birds have been released on 5 offshore islands around the New Zealand mainland in attempts to found new populations. There have also been transfers of wild-bred birds from South East I to Mangere I in the Chatham Is. Between 1994 and April 2012, 404 juvenile and 28 adult shore plover have been released at a total of 6 sites. Birds bred at 4 of the 6 sites, and breeding populations established at 3 of them. However, recent mammalian predator incursions at 1 (and probably 2) of those, and habitat limitation at the 3rd, mean that the translocated populations are all currently small (6 pairs or less), and their long-term future is uncertain. Other challenges faced during the programme include avian predation of released birds, high rates of dispersal, and outbreaks of avian pox. In spite of recent setbacks, the risk of extinction for the species has gradually been reduced. Since 1990, a self-sustaining captive population has been set up, the number of breeding pairs has increased, and the number of breeding populations in the wild has risen from 2 to 4 (although 1 is currently facing extirpation). Features of the shore plover programme that have contributed to these outcomes are outlined. Aspects of shore plover ecology revealed by the translocations are noted. While progress has been made, existing populations will need to grow, and further populations will need to be established before the shore plover’s threat ranking improves.
Bone samples from 2 surviving populations of New Zealand’s endemic and endangered brown teal (Anas chlorotis) had a much smaller distribution of stable isotopic values (δ13C, δ15N) than those from Holocene-age fossil bones of the same species. Comparison with δ13C and δ15N values from 2 other taxa of known ecologies indicated that some brown teal were forest floor omnivores. The results indicate that the riparian and estuarine wetlands occupied by present natural populations represent only an extreme, truncated part of the species’ potential habitat. To aid present conservation efforts we suggest that brown teal be released into forested areas and islands managed as mammal-free enclaves to test whether modern birds can survive in habitats once occupied by now-extirpated populations. Palaeoecological studies, including stable isotope analyses, can be used to identify conservation options not obvious from research on declining remnant populations in anthropogenic environments.
A number of studies have found that birds in urban areas alter singing behaviour, possibly to increase signal transmission and avoid masking by high levels of anthropogenic background noise. However, few studies have focused on how these song differences might be interpreted by receivers. We investigated differences in song between populations of urban and rural Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen), an Australian species abundant in both habitats. First, we compared urban and rural magpie songs to determine if magpies shift the frequency, duration and output of songs in response to anthropogenic noise. Unlike some songbirds, urban magpies did not shift minimum frequencies to avoid masking, however they did sing shorter songs. We then played back unfamiliar urban and rural songs to groups of both urban and rural magpies, and monitored their territorial responses. Results showed that differences in song across both habitats do not affect receiver responses, indicating that magpies from both urban and rural habitats can readily communicate with each other. Interestingly, rural magpies responded with more aggression to rural songs than to either urban songs or to control songs. We propose that the flexibility of Australian magpie songs aids this species in its ability to adapt successfully to urban environments.
A unique Pterodroma petrel shot at sea near the Antipodes Islands in 1926 has features intermediate between white-headed petrel (Pterodroma lessonii) and soft-plumaged petrel (Pt. mollis). Its mitochondrial DNA indicates that its mother was a Pt. mollis and we conclude that it is a hybrid. We theorise that Pt. mollis had begun colonising Antipodes Island by the 1920s and some pairing with the locally abundant congeneric Pt. lessonii occurred. Hybridisation in Procellariiformes is rare worldwide but several cases have now been reported from the New Zealand region.