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).
Johann Reinhold Forster (1794) described a handful of new bird taxa in a footnote to his translation of Philip Gidley King’s account of a visit to Norfolk Island. While most of these new bird names have older synonyms, are nomina nuda or are previously published, three of them – Psittacus hypopolius, Columba argetraea and Mostacilla [sic: Motacilla] ventilabrum – are available by description and are open to interpretation as the valid senior names for the Norfolk Island kaka, Norfolk Island fruit pigeon and Norfolk Island grey fantail respectively. However, Forster (1794) based these descriptions on a mixed type series of birds from mainland New Zealand (South Island) and Norfolk Island, and, by lectotypification, these three names are here established for the New Zealand forms, thereby maintaining priority for names already in wide use for the three Norfolk taxa, namely productus Gould, 1836 for the kaka, spadicea Latham, 1801 for the fruit pigeon, and pelzelni G.R. Gray, 1862 for the grey fantail.
The diet of 30 radio-tagged kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) was studied at 4 sites on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand, from Feb 2004 to Feb 2006, in 2 main habitat types: 1) highly modified rural-urban habitats where introduced plant species were common and remnants of native forest small, and 2) a habitat containing relatively few introduced species with a large area of regenerating native forest (Hinewai Reserve). Kereru at Hinewai had the most varied diet and ate a higher proportion of native plant species (82%) than those at rural-urban sites where only half the diet comprised native species. At all sites, native fruits were the most frequently eaten foods during mid-summer and autumn. Foliage and flowers of introduced plants – tree lucerne (Chamaecytisus palmensis) and fruit trees (Prunus and Malus spp.) at rural-urban sites, and broom (Cytisus scoparius) at Hinewai – were most frequently eaten prior to the breeding season. Kereru at all sites made multiple breeding attempts. This suggested that food was not limiting and foliage of introduced species can allow kereru to breed successfully. Food sources for kereru on Banks Peninsula, and potentially in similar habitats throughout New Zealand, could be improved based on the list of food species compiled during this study. Advantages and disadvantages of using introduced plant species for enhancement of food sources are discussed.
Historical records of the Chatham Island oystercatcher (Haematopus chathamensis) suggested a sparse and small population. In 1970, there may have been as few as 52 birds, but this apparently increased to 112 in 1987 and 144 in 1998. Intensive predator control and nest and habitat management has since boosted productivity and recruitment of oystercatchers along the northern Chatham Island (Rekohu) coastline and resulted in a rapid increase in total numbers; by 2004 there were 316–340 birds, including 89 pairs. In 2005–2006 management effort was shifted to Pitt Island (Rangiauria) in the southern range of the species. Although low productivity contributed to the total population levelling off at about 313–351 birds in 2006, ongoing recruitment of young birds resulted in an increase to 109 pairs. Currently, there are fewer than 250 mature individuals and therefore the species remains a high priority for conservation management.