Large albatrosses, subsequently identified as Antipodean wandering albatrosses (Diomedea antipodensis), began prospecting for nest sites inland from the south-western coast of Chatham Island about 1998. The 1st egg was laid about the end of Mar 2003. What is presumed to be the same female laid an egg nearby in Feb 2004 and 2005. Although the 2004 egg hatched, each of these 3 breeding attempts failed. A subadult male Antipodean wandering albatross was found in Waipaua Scenic Reserve on Pitt Island in May 2002, and what may have been the same bird was ashore at the same site in Jan 2004. An egg was found at this site in Apr 2004 and the resulting chick fledged in Jan 2005. What is presumed to have been a different pair was found with an egg on Mount Hakepa, Pitt I, in early Jan 2006; their egg hatched in Apr 2006, and the chick fledged about 7 Jan 2007. What is presumed to be the same pair also nested successfully at the Mount Hakepa site in 2008/2009, with the chick fledging on 6 Jan 2009. These 6 breeding attempts (3 successful) by perhaps 3 different pairs at widely spaced sites on the Chatham Islands are the 1st records of Antipodean wandering albatrosses breeding away from the Antipodes Is and Campbell I.
Between the 1850s and the early 1900s, most of the native forest of western Taranaki was systematically destroyed. This destruction likely accounted for the disappearance of bellbirds (Anthornis m. melanura), and other native birds, from most of that area. The return of bellbirds to New Plymouth in the 1920s may have been a direct result of increased food that had become available to them there. However, bellbirds have recently become rare visitors to New Plymouth. This may be the result of a possible reduction in the population of bellbirds in nearby Egmont National Park and/or increasing ambient temperatures in cooler months of the year.
A small black-and-white storm petrel seen off Whitianga, New Zealand, in Jan 2003 was tentatively identified as a New Zealand storm petrel (Pealeornis maoriana). A further sighting in the Hauraki Gulf in Nov 2003 of multiple birds identified as New Zealand storm petrels led to the realisation that the species was both extant and apparently locally common. Prior to these sightings this enigmatic seabird was known only from 3 specimens collected in the 1800s, and unreported since. This paper reviews these 2 sightings that constitute the rediscovery of an ‘extinct’ species not reported for more than 150 years. Possible reasons for the lack of sightings before 2003 are discussed and a review of black-and-white storm petrel records prior to 2003 around northern New Zealand is presented.
The nesting of variable oystercatchers (Haematopus unicolor) on the Kaikoura Peninsula was studied at 6 sites over 8 years. Only in 1 year were birds known to have laid eggs at all 6 sites and only at 2 sites was nesting observed every year. Loss of nests often resulted in re-nesting and at 1 site birds made 4 attempts in 1 season. Over the 8 years, 117 eggs were found in 53 nesting attempts between mid-Oct and late Jan. The average size of 114 eggs was 58.2 x 40.6 mm. Thirty of 53 nesting attempts were completed and averaged 2.4 eggs/clutch (range 1–3 eggs). Twenty three chicks hatched from observed nests: this comprised 20% of eggs laid, 32% of eggs from completed clutches, and 72% of eggs from successful nests. At least 7 more chicks hatched from nests not found. A total of 17 chicks fledged including 6 chicks from nests not found. The other 11 fledglings came from 13 nests with hatchlings (0.84 chicks/nest; 41% of the eggs laid), 30 completed nests (0.37 chicks/nest; 15% of the eggs from these nests) and 9.4% of all eggs laid. Including chicks from 3 nests not found increases fledging to 1.06 chicks/nest with hatchlings, 0.51 chicks/completed nest and about 14% of eggs laid. Newly fledged young were seen from 26 Dec until mid-Mar. High tides washed away several nests, seals squashed eggs in 1 nest, and 1 adult was probably killed by a cat. While people walk in the vicinity of nesting, there was no evidence that they caused egg or chick losses.
Singing and territorial behaviour of North Island tomtits (Petroica macrocephala toitoi) were used to monitor population size over a 3-year period at Atuanui, Mount Auckland Scenic Reserve, North Auckland. Male tomtits were observed singing year-round with singing peaking in the period from Nov to Jan. The general territorial behaviour of Atuanui tomtits was similar to that reported for other North Island populations, with territorial males resident in all months and most territories occupied in successive years. Density of territories was stable over the 3-year period but vacancies in suitable habitat suggest the population is not at carrying capacity.
During 1971-75 and 1991-95, surveys of Caspian tern (Sterna caspia) colonies throughout New Zealand were carried out. The breeding population in 1971-75 was 1266 pairs, in 16 colonies, predominately in the northern North Is. In 1991-95, there were 1190 breeding pairs found in 17 mainly northern colonies, suggesting the population had been relatively stable over the 20-year period. As census methodology may under-record the breeding of isolated pairs, we included an estimate of the number of isolated pairs to give a total national population of 1300-1400 breeding pairs. This is less than 3% of the global population. Colony size and location showed some change between survey periods; 6 colonies disappeared and 8 new colonies were formed. Addition surveys in 2011-2015 are recommended to compare recent population trends.
I conducted road counts on the North I and South I of New Zealand in Mar 2006 to evaluate relative abundance and distribution of Australasian harriers (Circus approximans). Over 1670 km were traveled on the North I with 98 harriers detected, yielding 1 harrier/17.0 km traveled. Over 2430 km were traveled on the South I with 145 harriers detected, yielding 1 harrier/16.8 km traveled, with no difference in number of harriers detected/km traveled between islands (P > 0.25). Three survey routes, 1 on southeastern North I and 2 on northeastern and east-central South I, were particularly productive yielding 1 harrier/7.1-11.1 km traveled. My results provide empirical support for the frequently cited description that the Australasian harrier is now New Zealand’s most abundant native diurnal raptor, and has largely benefited from the conversion of land from native forest and scrub to pasture at the likely expense of other native and endemic species.