Notornis, 53 (2), 215-230
Article Type: Paper
Notornis, 53 (2), 215-230
Article Type: Paper
Notornis, 53 (4), 360-360
Article Type: short note
Notornis, 53 (1), 138-142
Article Type: Paper
Notornis, 53 (2), 261-262
Article Type: obituary
Notornis, 53 (1), 3-26
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.
Notornis, 53 (1), 195-197
Article Type: Short Note
Notornis, 53 (4), 327-338
Article Type: Paper
Notornis, 53 (1), 116-125
Article Type: paper
Sixteen of 26 hand-reared kakapo chicks (62%) have been successfully returned to the wild. These chicks were initially kept in thermostatically-controlled brooders, then in plastic tubs in an air-conditioned room, and finally a pen in an unheated room prior to transfer to an outdoor pen and release in the wild. Brooding temperature was progressively reduced to simulate the progressively longer period kakapo chicks spend in the nest without brooding. Humidity was maintained at 80% to simulate that measured in kakapo nests. Some chicks fed a relatively high fat diet within their first 20 days after hatching developed fatty liver disease; subsequently, chicks less than 45 days of age were fed a lower fat diet and older chicks gradually converted to a higher fat diet. Normal gut flora was successfully established in chicks by adding small quantities of adult kakapo faeces that had been screened for diseases and parasites. The growth rate of hand-reared chicks was significantly slower than that of parent-reared chicks during the first 40 days after hatching but there was no significant difference in growth rate in older chicks. Half the disparity in the growth rates of hand-reared and parent-reared chicks was due to the fact that most hand-reared chicks were suffering from ill health or injury before being taken into captivity. Two male chicks reared in isolation from other kakapo display varying degrees of sexual attraction to humans. The only sexually mature hand-reared female chick has mated and hatched a chick in the wild. Hand-reared kakapo comprised 40% of all chicks fledged since 1990 and presently comprise 20% of the total population of 86 birds.
Notornis, 52 (3), 168-169
Article Type: short note
Notornis, 52 (1), 16-20
Article Type: paper
Five introduced bird species were observed in the wild in Samoa in November 2004. The red junglefowl Gallus gallus maintains wild populations in the mountainous areas; the rock dove Columba livia is presently confined to urban areas; and the red-vented bulbul Pycnonotus cafer and jungle myna Acridotheres fuscus have increased their ranges markedly over the past six years. The last two species, found in most inhabited areas, may be close to their maximum possible distribution in Samoa. The common myna Acridotheres tristis has also increased in range significantly and efforts should be made to control this species.
Southern Bird, 21 (Mar),
Article Type: Magazine
Notornis, 52 (4), 215-222
Article Type: paper
Counts, mark-recapture estimates of abundance, and simulations were used to assess the population trends of Antipodean wandering albatross (Diomedea antipodensis) and Gibson’s wandering albatross (D. gibsoni). Estimates of population size based on mark-recapture analysis had much greater power to detect trends than did annual counts of nests. In fact, nest counts were so variable that significant trends would only be detected when populations had already changed by more than 25%. Population simulation models were constructed using survival and productivity data from the two species, and recruitment data from closely related species. The simulation models were sensitive to variation in recruitment data and suggested that the recruitment of Gibson’s wandering albatrosses is significantly lower than that of Antipodean wandering albatrosses. The sensitivity of the models to variation in the surrogate data compromises the usefulness of such models as predictive tools. After large, probably fisheries-induced declines during the 1970s and 1980s, Antipodean wandering albatross populations are now increasing at about 3.1% per annum, while Gibson’s wandering albatross populations are static.
Notornis, 52 (2), 117-120
Article Type: short note
Notornis, 52 (3), 173-178
Article Type: Abstract
Notornis, 52 (1), 58-59
Article Type: letter
Notornis, 52 (4), 249-249
Article Type: short note
Notornis, 52 (3), 165-167
Article Type: short note
Southern Bird, 22 (Jun),
Article Type: Magazine
Notornis, 52 (3), 173-178
Article Type: Abstract
Notornis, 52 (2), 120
Article Type: Short Note