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Wader (Charadriiformes) and royal spoonbill (Platalea regia) use of roosts in Whangarei Harbour and at Ruakaka Estuary, Northland, 1973-2000

Notornis, 54 (1), 1-9

A.J. Beauchamp; G.R. Parrish (2007)

Article Type: Paper

Roost sites in Whangarei Harbour and Ruakaka Estuary were used regularly by 12 wader species and 6 other species were present occasionally between 1974 and 2000. Counts at 7 roost sites in Nov, Jun/Jul, and Mar showed that 4 species, eastern bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), lesser knot (Calidris canutus), pied stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus), and South Island pied oystercatcher (Himantopus ostralegus finschi) contributed 70–99% (median 94%) of the waders. Most of the common waders used several roosts at each tide, but numbers and species richness of resident and vagrant species were greatest along the southern margin of the harbour. Changes in roost structure and proximity to feeding areas, and differences in migration patterns affected counts at individual roosts and the overall totals of wading birds counted in the harbour and its environs.

Satellite tracking a New Zealand falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae)

Notornis, 54 (1), 20-27

J.D. Holland; R.R. McCutcheon (2007)

Article Type: Paper

We report the 1st use of a satellite transmitter to track the endemic New Zealand falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae). The movements of an adult female bush falcon in Kaingaroa Forest east of Lake Taupo, central North Island were monitored during a 3-year period from Feb 2002. The geolocations of the falcon were mapped and revealed that the falcon remained close to her nesting territory throughout the study. The home range included an area of c. 200 km2. The falcon nested in pine compartments (0–3 years old) for 3 consecutive years; her nests averaged 5 km apart. After nightfall the falcon was located within the 95% isopleth of her home range, highlighting her sedentary nature. During the breeding season the falcon appeared to wander outside of her home range, with the furthest recorded distance from its centre being 137 km. Throughout the 3 years, observations suggest the falcon preferred to stay close to open areas, which may be related to the frequency of hunting opportunities.

Productivity of kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) on offshore island refuges

Notornis, 53 (1), 138-142

G.P. Elliott; D.K. Eason; P.W. Jansen; D.V. Merton; G.A. Harper; R.J. Moorhouse (2006)

Article Type: Paper

The reproduction of kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) on offshore island refuges was monitored between 1990 and 2002. Productivity was primarily determined by the proportion of females that nested each breeding year. Within the same island, the proportion of females nesting each breeding year ranged between 33 – 95% but, as a proportion of the total female population, was just 5 – 42% between 1990 and 1999. The deliberate placement of the entire adult female population on Codfish Island (Whenua Hou) in anticipation of an exceptional fruit crop resulted in 95% of them nesting in 2002, raising 24 fledglings and increasing the total population by 39%. Although efforts to increase the frequency of kakapo breeding by providing supplementary food have been unsuccessful, nesting and fledging success increased significantly following the introduction of new, more intensive, management methods in 1995. Hatching success has, however, remained poor, with just 42% of eggs hatching. Comparison with related parrot species suggests that the kakapo’s hatching success is unusually low, perhaps because of inbreeding. Despite infrequent breeding and poor hatching success, the kakapo population has increased by 69% from 51 birds in 1995 to 86 in 2002. The female population has increased from 21 birds in 1995 to 41 in 2002, 20 of which are presently less than 10 years old.

A parrot apart: the natural history of the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), and the context of its conservation management

Notornis, 53 (1), 3-26

R.G. Powlesland; D.V. Merton; J.F. Cockrem (2006)

Article Type: Paper

Since the last review of kakapo biology, published 50 years ago, much has been learnt as a result of the transfer of all known individuals to offshore islands, and their intensive management to increase adult survival and productivity. This review summarises information on a diversity of topics, including taxonomy, plumage, moult, mass, anatomy, physiology, reasons for decline in distribution, present numbers and status, sex ratio, habitat, home range, foraging activities, diet, voice, breeding biology, nesting success, sexual maturity, and adult survival. In addition, those kakapo attributes that compromise its long-term survival in present-day New Zealand are discussed, along with management practises developed to overcome these problems.

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