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Sexual differences in vocalisations and playback-response behaviour of the Vanuatu petrel (Pterodroma occulta)

Notornis, 59 (3&4), 97-104

S.L. Totterman (2012)

Article Type: Paper

Sexual differences in vocalisations of the Vanuatu petrel (Pterodroma occulta) are described. Qualitative differences in burrow calls could be used to sex adults with 63-100% accuracy in listening experiments. Males sounded “clear” and females sounded “hoarse”. Higher accuracy is possible with the aid of spectrograms. Playback experiments demonstrated a male-bias in responses of incubating Vanuatu petrels to “war-whooping” and flight calls. Acoustic methods have practical and ethical advantages over handling breeding petrels and further studies of the vocal behaviour of gadfly-petrels are encouraged.

Birds of the Aleipata Islands, Samoa

Notornis, 59 (3&4), 153-162

R. Parrish; G.H. Sherley (2012)

Article Type: Paper

An annotated checklist of birds recorded or reported on the Aleipata Is, Samoa is presented. Nu’utele and Nu’ulua Is were the focus of an attempt to eradicate Pacific rats (Rattus exulans) in 2009. The data presented are from bird surveys intended to provide baseline information to determine the effect of rodent eradication on the bird fauna. Fanuatapu or Namu’a Is were surveyed as experimental controls. A total of 42 species were recorded or reported, comprised of 24 species of land birds (including 3 introduced species) and 18 species of seabirds and shorebirds. Morphometric data are also presented from Friendly ground-doves (Gallicolumba stairi) that were removed from Nu’utele I and held in captivity during the rat eradication attempt.

Habitat use by the critically endangered orange-fronted parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi) on Maud Island: its relevance for future translocations

Notornis, 59 (3&4), 148-152

L. Ortiz-Catedral (2012)

Article Type: Paper

Orange-fronted parakeets (Cyanoramphus malherbi) are New Zealand’s rarest parakeet species with a global population of less than 500 individuals on remnant mainland populations and reintroduced populations on offshore islands. Since there is limited information about habitat preferences by this species on offshore islands I characterised habitat use on Maud Island, where captive-bred parakeets were introduced in 2007. I compared the vegetation characteristics of 29 plots (each 25 m2) where parakeets were encountered and 23 plots randomly selected. Parakeets were observed foraging in 96.6% of the plots. Plots used by parakeets showed significantly higher density of stems under 20 cm dbh and a higher canopy than random plots. Used plots also tended to have greater canopy cover and lower understory and ground vegetation covers. These results indicate that orange-fronted parakeets use ecotones of broadleaf coastal forest-manuka scrub, and pine plantations-manuka scrub for foraging highlighting the potential value of islands with mixed patches of these vegetation types as future refuges for this critically endangered species.
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