Publications Archive

Deliberate taxon substitution is a much discussed but rarely enactioned concept in restoration ecology. We describe the successful establishment of a translocated population of Snares Island snipe (Coenocorypha huegeli) on Putauhinu I, which lies alongside Taukihepa (Big South Cape I), the last stronghold of the extinct South Island snipe (C. iredalei). Thirty Snares Island snipe were captured on North East I, Snares Is in Apr 2005 and released 3-5 days later on Putauhinu I. A survey on Putauhinu I in Mar 2011 resulted in the capture of 54 descendants of the released birds and a population estimate of at least 320 birds. This is one of few documented translocations of an organism with the specific objective of replacing a closely related extinct taxon. As a result, the Snares Island snipe is probably more abundant than at any time in its evolutionary history.

To date there has been no published information describing the relative abundance, behaviour or distribution of the New Zealand king shag (Leucocarbo carunculatus) within mussel farm areas, despite the sensitivity of the species to human disturbance and the potential overlap of its range with proposed development of marine aquaculture. Four survey methods were employed as part of a multi-species research programme to develop methods for surveying marine mammals and seabird populations in aquaculture management areas. Two of the techniques, involving continuous time- lapse photography of mussel farms and boat-based surveys through coastal farms were developed for this study. Time- lapse cameras showed that mussel farms buoys were used by king shags as temporary resting sites only. King shags were recorded on 36% of the farms (n = 44) from 13 surveys within inner Admiralty Bay. The low number of sightings within mussel farms suggests that farms are not important foraging or resting areas for king shags, at least in Admiralty Bay. The foraging range and density of king shags was not known before farms were developed, so no direct comparison or impact assessment can be made. Boat-based surveys were used to estimate the density of foraging shags, which showed that daily locations of foraging birds at sea can vary considerably on consecutive days and over the season. Previous environmental surveys to assess impacts of mussel farms on foraging areas are therefore unlikely to adequately represent the entire foraging range or most important feeding areas. The number of breeding pairs, chicks and nests was also found to vary considerably at colonies, dependent on when counts were undertaken during their protracted breeding season. Open water mid-bay aquaculture (shellfish and finfish) potentially poses a greater threat to king shags than ‘coastal ribbon development’, in terms of loss of open water habitat from farm structures, and loss of foraging habitat through modification to the water column (e.g., turbidity) and seabed. Given the lack of knowledge about the king shag population dynamics, diet and prey availability, there is an urgent requirement for more research to fill these gaps and also understand how we can conserve important shag feeding areas and associated marine environment through sustainable management of aquaculture.

The South Island snipe (Coenocorypha iredalei) was described by Walter Rothschild in 1921 based on 3 specimens collected on Jacky Lee I, off Stewart I, in 1897 & 1898 and purchased from Henry Travers. The last 3 birds were seen 43 years later on Big South Cape I, and the species is considered extinct following introductions of weka (Gallirallus australis) or ship rats (Rattus rattus) to its 2 last strongholds. I surveyed surviving museum skins, literature, and personal accounts of the South Island snipe, including a previously unpublished account from the type locality, to learn more of the bird’s discovery and extinction. Seven only of the 24 known specimens had correct locality data associated with them; as a result, many were assumed until recently to be Snares Island snipe (C. huegeli). Based on specimen records, historic correspondence, and forensic examination of specimen labels, I conclude that Henry Travers never visited Jacky Lee I, and that the unknown collector of the type specimens of C. iredalei also collected bird specimens from Rangatira I in the Chatham Is in 1899 and 1900.

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.

We report Records Appraisal Committee (RAC) decisions regarding Unusual Bird Reports received between 1 Aug 2008 and 31 Dec 2010. Among the 58 submissions accepted by the RAC are the 1st New Zealand records of streaked shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas) and straw-necked ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), 2nd records of great shearwater (Puffinus gravis), semipalmated plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) and Franklin’s gull (Larus pipixcan), and 3rd records of little stint (Calidris minuta) and black kite (Milvus migrans). Other notable records included the 1st oriental cuckoo (Cuculus optatus) from the Kermadec Islands, a New Zealand dabchick (Poliocephalus rufopectus) near Nelson, and 2 records of Stewart Island shag (Leucocarbo chalconotus) near Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury.

We investigated the population size and annual survival of Salvin’s albatrosses (Thalassarche salvini) breeding at the Western Chain, The Snares, New Zealand. A count of breeding pairs during incubation resulted in totals of 1100-1200 breeding annually on Toru and Rima Islets in the 3 years 2008-2010; none was seen breeding on Tahi, Rua or Wha Islets. The majority of adults bred annually. Based on banding and recapture the annual survival probability of breeding birds was estimated to be 0.967 while that of known-age birds banded as chicks in Feb 1986 was estimated at 0.939. A bird banded as a chick on the Bounty Is in 1985 was found breeding on Toru Islet of the Western Chain in the 3 years 2008-2010. This is the first record of a banded Salvin’s albatross breeding away from its natal island.