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Decline of brown teal (Anas chlorotis) in Northland, New Zealand, 1988-99

Notornis, 48 (3), 131-136

R. Parrish; M. Williams (2001)

Article Type: Paper

Numbers of brown teal (Anas chlorotis) present at summer flock sites in Northland, New Zealand declined 65% during 1988-99 and the species’ principal range contracted to three enclaves located along 20 km of the eastern coast. Most populations underwent a period of gradual decline followed by an abrupt crash, symptomatic of prolonged recruitment failure. Drought-induced habitat and landscape change is proposed as an important agent of decline in two formerly large populations at Clendon Cove and Tutaematai. Extirpation in Northland appears imminent.

Failed establishment of North Island weka (Gallirallus australis greyi) at Karangahake Gorge, North Island, New Zealand

Notornis, 47 (2), 90-96

A.J. Beauchamp; G.C. Staples; E.O. Staples; A. Graeme; B. Graeme; E. Fox (2000)

Article Type: Paper

A captive-breeding programme was begun in August 1991 to breed North Island weka (Gallirallus australis greyi) for release at a North Island site. A total of 101 weka were released between October 1992 and January 1996 at Karangahake Gorge, southern Coromandel. The project was abandoned in March 1996 after dogs and ferrets (Mustela furo) killed many of the birds.

SHOC, Brisbane

Southern Bird, 3 (Sep), 6-6

B. Stephenson (2000)

Article Type: article

Queen’s Birthday Honours, June 2000

Notornis, 47 (4), 237-240

Anonymous (2000)

Article Type: Article

Rhys Philip Buckingham (MNZM) Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, For Services to Ecology. David Edgar Crockett Companion of the Queen’s Service Order, For Public Services.

Foraging behaviour and diet of a reintroduced population of the South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus)

Notornis, 47 (1), 7-12

J.P. Pierre (2000)

Article Type: Paper

The South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus) is one of two subspecies of the New Zealand saddleback. Despite the endangered status of this subspecies, it was not studied in detail until 1994, when 26 birds were released onto Motuara Island in the Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand. I report the foraging behaviour and diet of this reintroduced population during the first breeding season after release. South Island saddlebacks used their bills in a variety of ways when foraging, and were predominantly insectivorous. They obtained most food from the ground and five-finger (Pseudopanax arboreus), and the number of prey captured generally reflected the amount of time saddlebacks spent on foraging substrates. North and South Island saddlebacks are very similar in terms of foraging behaviour, prey handling techniques and types of invertebrate prey consumed. The foraging patterns and diet of South Island saddlebacks on Motuara Island differed from all potential competitors. I conclude that the success of the South Island saddleback transfer to Motuara Island should not be threatened by a lack of food or foraging opportunities.

Census of the three shag species in the Chatham Islands

Notornis, 47 (3), 148-153

M. Bell; D. Bell (2000)

Article Type: Paper

During the 1997/98 breeding season we counted the breeding populations of Chatham Island shag (Leucocarbo onslowi), Pitt Island shag (Stictocarbo featherstoni) and black shag (Phalacrocorax carbo). Surveys, on foot or from kayaks and fishing boats, of all potential shag nesting habitat within the Chatham Islands provided the first complete census for shags breeding there. The breeding population of Chatham Island shag was 842 pairs in 10 discrete colonies, while there were 729 breeding pairs of Pitt Island shag at 63 locations throughout the group. Given that the counts of the endemic shags are for the total world populations. these species are extremely rare. The black shag breeding population was 233 pairs, in 5 locations on Chatham Island only. Comparisons with counts made during the 1960s and 1970s by visiting ornithologists suggest that the populations of Chatham Island shag and black shag have remained relatively stable, although the distribution of colonies of both species has changed significantly. Too few previous counts of Pin Island shag colonies were available to determine a population trend. All 3 species are threatened in the Chatham Islands by destruction of nesting habitat, disturbance of nesting colonies, human persecution, and predation by introduced mammals.

Confiding Bittern

Southern Bird, 1 (Mar), 10-10

C. Hill; C. Hill (2000)

Article Type: article

Predator Pooh

Southern Bird, 3 (Sep), 6-6

D. Pye (2000)

Article Type: article

Dawn to dusk counts of common or garden birds, Wellington, New Zealand

Notornis, 47 (4), 184-191

J.A. Gibb (2000)

Article Type: Paper

Common land-birds in a rural suburban garden, Wellington, New Zealand, were counted for 10 minutes twice an hour, twice a month for 2 years, from dawn to dusk. The birds’ behaviour sometimes changed or they entered or left the study area during the day; so there is no ideal time of day for counting birds.

Breeding biology of little shags (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos) at Lindale, Wellington

Notornis, 47 (1), 1-5

R.G. Powlesland; I.J. Luke (2000)

Article Type: Paper

The breeding of little shags at the Lindale Tourist Complex, Wellington, was studied during the 1997/98 and 1998/99 seasons. Breeding at the site first occurred in spring 1993 when a single pair was present. By 1999, the breeding population had increased to about 44 pairs. The breeding season extended over eight months (August to March), with a successful breeding cycle taking about 11 weeks (courtship and nest-building one week, incubation four weeks, chick rearing six weeks). Breeding success was high, with 79% of nesting attempts resulting in young leaving the nest. The productivity of successful nesting attempts differed significantly between the two seasons; 1.5 young per nest in 1997/98 and 2.1 in 1998/99.

Historical records of snipe from Campbell Island, New Zealand

Notornis, 47 (3), 131-140

C.M. Miskelly (2000)

Article Type: Paper

Four historical records of snipe from Campbell Island in the New Zealand subantarctic are reviewed to determine whether any may refer to the recently discovered Campbell Island snipe (Coenocorypha sp.). It is concluded that none of the records is likely to have been Campbell Island snipe, and that Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) probably reached Campbell Island before 1840. An 1840 record of “a Scolopax” may have been Coenocorypha, but this is not supported by any documentation or specimen. All other records were errors in identification referring to bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica), or incorrect recording of the location where snipe were seen. Three “snipe” specimens shot on Campbell Island in 1894 were located in the Museum of Victoria and are bar-tailed godwits.

Corrigendum

Notornis, 47 (3), 176-176

Editor (2000)

Article Type: Correction

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