A trial translocation to establish a new fluttering shearwater (Puffinus gavia) colony is reported. From 1991 to 1996, 334 fluttering shearwater chicks were transferred from Long Island to Maud Island, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. Chicks were artificially housed and hand-fed until fledging. Overall fledging success was 82%, 32 of the 273 chicks that fledged returned to Maud Island, and 30 have bred. Mean age of first breeding was 6.8 years (range 5-10 years). Returning chicks were heavier at fledging and spent longer on Maud Island than chicks that did not return. Transferred chicks showed typical post-fledging behaviour by dispersing to southeast Australian waters. The new colony has gradually increased, and 15 pairs bred in 2003/04. Methods developed have application to endangered species management.
Observations of birds on Antipodes Islands during 24 April – 6 June 2001 represent a season of the year for which data are lacking. Activity ashore of non-breeders of summer-breeding gadfly petrels Pterodroma spp. and black-bellied storm petrels (Fregetta tropica) continued until late May or even June. Data were obtained on the non-breeding behaviour, breeding cycle and burrow occupancy rates of grey petrels (Procellaria cinerea); only 50% of their burrows were occupied by breeding pairs. White-capped albatross (Thalassarche steadi) fledglings on Bollons Island were counted. There had been an autumnal immigration of some Passerines. Birds seen at sea on the voyages from Akaroa, Banks Peninsula and returning to Port Chalmers, Dunedin included the rarely-sighted Chatham taiko (Pterodroma magentae).
We examine whether mist-netting and handling of birds (including taking blood samples) during the pre-nesting period caused egg-laying to be delayed in a threatened species, South Island saddleback (tīeke) Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus. We used data on egg-laying dates of first clutches for 12 pairs in 2002-03 and 22 pairs in 2003- 04, of which 3 (2002-03) and 7 (2003-04) pairs had been caught and handled. There was a significant delay in the peak laying period of first clutches in 2003-04, which was associated with more birds being caught and handled. However, pairs that were handled showed typical laying dates of first clutches for both experienced and inexperienced pairs, and there was no significant correlation between the date when a pair was caught and the date of laying its first clutch. There were also no significant differences between handled and non-handled pairs in the number of chicks raised or fledged. Like saddlebacks, Stewart Island robins Petroica australis rakiura monitored at the same site showed a two-week delay in the average laying dates of first clutches in 2003-04. The five inexperienced robin pairs in 2002-03 laid their first clutches earlier in 2003-04, but all three experienced pairs laid later. Weather data indicated it was substantially colder before the nesting period in 2003 compared to 2002, suggesting that colder weather conditions plus a greater number of inexperienced pairs caused a delay in peak egg laying in both species in 2003-04 relative to 2002-03. We conclude that mist-netting, banding and bleeding – standard technique used in present-day research of threatened avian species – did not have any measured short-term effects on nesting behaviour or breeding success of South Island saddlebacks.
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.
Bird species introduced to New Zealand from high northern latitudes are expected to change their breeding behaviour to conform to well-known geographic gradients in avian reproductive parameters. Here, we demonstrate reductions in average egg size and clutch volume for eight species of exotic passerine originating in the UK, and show that the magnitudes of these reductions appear to trade-off against reductions in annual variation in clutch size. Possible reasons for the trade-off are discussed.
Satellite telemetry can provide unique information on the biology and behaviour of mobile animals such as albatrosses. Determining areas of concentrated activity, essential resources and time-related changes in range use is of great importance for theoretical biology, practical conservation, and fisheries management. Utilisation Distributions (UDs), from a probabilistic model of the relative time spent by an animal in an area, were prepared using a kernel function in a Geographical Information System. Properties of the model were investigated, using satellite-tracking data from six northern royal albatrosses (Diomedea sanfordi) during eight over-wintering visits to seas off South America. We analysed UD areas and shape for different settings of the kernel smoothing parameter, a variety of location subsets associated with different sample sizes, sampling time periods and telemetry regimes. Small samples and intermittent transmission regimes reduced the UD range area. Individual bird data sets were combined to give comparable UDs. The UD model may help comparison of range areas and the identification of resource use, but they cannot identify an activity without additional information. For pelagic seabirds, UD preparation and interpretation require judgement and care.
Accounts of magpie Gymnorhina tibicen attacks on birds in New Zealand were collated from literature and a survey of the public, and then summarised to identify the frequency and characteristics of reported attacks on different species. Magpies were reported attacking 45 bird species. Species commonly found in rural habitats (e.g., harrier hawk Circus approximans, blackbird Turdus merula) where magpies are abundant were attacked most; however, a directly proportional relationship between species abundance in rural habitats and reported attack frequency did not occur. Species consuming similar foods to magpie tended to be attacked more often, probably because these foods are more abundant in rural areas. Attacks on smaller birds (e.g., grey warbler Gerygone igata) regularly (66%) resulted in death, but deaths declined as victim weight increased. Non-contact attacks were most common for the largest species (e.g., kereru Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae). Non-contact and non-lethal contact attacks occurred throughout the year while attacks resulting in death occurred mainly during the magpie’s breeding season (July to November). This study indicates that magpies can attack a wide range of species but fails to determine why (no one explanation satisfies all cases). Limitations of the dataset and future research to control these are discussed.
We analysed 13C and 15N isotopic enrichment in Australasian harrier (Circus approximans) eggshell and two discarded harrier feathers from Motunau Island, a regionally important seabird breeding island. Among the prey remains found at the nest was a prion (Pachyptila sp.) wing fragment and a predated blue penguin (Eudyptula minor). We combined isotope data from the prey remains, plus potential prey items obtained from the mainland, to reconstruct harrier diet and evaluate incorporation of seabird nutrients. During egg material formation, blue penguins made up a major part of the female harrier’s diet. During autumn, when feathers were re-growing, the two feathers (which may or may not have been from different individuals) gave very different results. The feather with the more marine signature was growing when harrier diet included a significant proportion of blue penguin and/or fairy prion (Pachyptila turtur) material. Formation of the other feather may have occurred while harrier diet was primarily terrestrial. Our results are indicative of the usefulness of stable isotopic analysis in elucidating nutrient flows and contributions to animal diet.
A survey was undertaken in the Te Waiiti Stream, Bay of Plenty, in summer 2002/2003, to identify blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) roost habitat. Thirty-six roosts were identified along 18.5 km of stream channel, averaging three roosts per blue duck pair. Stable undercut banks were most commonly used as roost sites (42%), followed by log jams along stream banks (25%). Large woody debris (LWD) was a component of 50% of the roost sites, and there was a positive relationship between LWD loadings in the stream channel and number of LWD roosts. All roosts provided overhead and lateral cover, most likely an adaptive response to current and historic avian predators, and all were located at the water’s edge. The location and composition of roosts provided easy access to the stream channel, discrete cover for rearing juveniles and for moulting, and daytime shelter. There were indications that channel morphology characteristics in the lower section of the survey reach may be limiting roost habitat availability and blue duck occupancy. Suitable roost habitat is a year-round requirement for blue duck and should be considered when evaluating their habitat.
We describe and name a new subspecies of fulmar prion as Pachyptila crassirostris flemingi. This little-known seabird has less than 1,000 pairs breeding at the Auckland Islands and 1,000-10,000 pairs breeding on Heard Island. It is probably largely sedentary around these islands in winter, with possible stragglers reaching mainland New Zealand and Tasmania.