Publications Archive - Page 31 of 234

Response to M. Williams

Notornis, 56 (2), 112-112

C.M. Miskelly; J.E. Dowding; G.P. Elliott; R.A. Hitchmough; R.G. Powlesland; H.A. Robertson; P.M. Sagar; P.R. Scofield; G.A. Taylor (2009)

Article Type: letter

Vanuatu petrel (Pterodroma occulta) discovered breeding on Vanua Lava, Banks Islands, Vanuatu

Notornis, 56 (2), 57-62

S. Totterman (2009)

Article Type: Paper

Pterodroma occulta was described by Imber and Tennyson in 2001 and tentatively named Vanuatu petrel. The first specimens of this bird were collected in Jan 1927, east of the island Mere Lava in Vanuatu (then New Hebrides), but their breeding grounds have remained unknown. After several exploratory visits to the Banks Islands I discovered a breeding colony of Vanuatu petrels on Vanua Lava in Feb 2009. Statements that this species breeds on Mere Lava were not substantiated.

First record of barn owls (Tyto alba) breeding in the wild in New Zealand

Notornis, 56 (4), 169-175

N.H.S. Hyde; K. Matthews; M. Thompson; R. Gale (2009)

Article Type: Paper

A pair of barn owls (Tyto alba) was found breeding in Kaitaia farmland in Apr 2008, and observations on their nesting biology and behaviour were made over a period of 24 months. Another injured young barn owl, possibly from an earlier breeding attempt, was found with the pair at the time of their discovery, and brought into captivity. The nest tree was climbed and 2 dead owlets recovered, but the pair re-nested and 3 young successfully fledged. Pellets and prey remains were collected and their diet is described through pellet analysis. This is the 1st record of wild barn owls breeding in New Zealand.

Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand

Notornis, 56 (3), 113-123

C.M. Miskelly; A.J. Baker (2009)

Article Type: Paper

A new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from Campbell I is described and named. This bird was discovered on rat-free 19 ha Jacquemart I in 1997, and had probably been confined there as a breeding species for about 170 years. Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) were eradicated from 11,268 ha Campbell I in 2001, and snipe soon began to recolonise the main island from Jacquemart I 1 km offshore. Twelve adults and 5 chicks were caught on Campbell I in Jan 2006, and 1 nest was found. Genetic analysis of blood samples, and measurements and plumage descriptions from these birds revealed that they were best regarded as a subspecies of Coenocorypha aucklandica, a species here recognised as confined to the subantarctic Auckland, Antipodes and Campbell Is, and specifically distinct from the 2 other extant Coenocorypha snipes (Snares I snipe C. huegeli and Chatham I snipe C. pusilla).