Between 1979 and 1998, 6975 Arctic waders of seven species (mainly Lesser Knots Calidris canutus and Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica) were caught by the Miranda Banders and the New Zealand Wader Study Group near Auckland. Of these, 1375 were marked with a white leg-flag on the tibia to denote capture in New Zealand. Thirty-two Lesser Knots and three Bar-tailed Godwits had already been banded overseas, mainly in Australia. Another two Lesser Knots and two Bar-tailed Godwits banded overseas have been found dead in New Zealand. Up to 135 Lesser Knots, 34 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Turnstones and 2 Red-necked Stints (Calidris ruficollis) bearing Australian leg-flags, and 2 colour-banded Bar-tailed Godwits from Alaska have been seen in New Zealand. Of those birds banded or leg-flagged in New Zealand, up to 21 Lesser Knots, up to 17 Bar-tailed Godwits, and two Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) have been recovered or seen in six overseas countries. One Turnstone banded in New Zealand was caught in Australia and then recaptured back at its original banding site. The migration routes taken by Lesser Knots, Bar-tailed Godwits and turnstones visiting New Zealand have been deduced from these band recovery data.
Weka (Gallirallus australis) can be aged accurately up until 50 days old using leg and bill measurements, and then less accurately up to 180 days old using plumage development, wing spur shape and iris colour. Weka less than one year old can be distinguished by their remex tip and wing spur shape. Beyond one year, Weka can only be placed into age groups, using wing spur shape.
Osteological characters distinguishing the South Georgian Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus) from the Common Diving Petrel (P. urinatrix) are described. P. georgicus is shown to be the main diving petrel in Holocene fossil deposits at Mason Bay, Stewart Island, New Zealand, where it is represented by thousands of bones. P georgicus is also recorded from dune deposits on Chatham Island. The Codfish Island population is thus a remnant of a formerly large Pacific population that bred on Macquarie Island, Auckland Islands, Stewart Island and Chatham Island, and is therefore of high conservation priority.
The North Island Weka (Gallirallus australis greyi) population at Parekura Bay was monitored in 1991-95, during a long dry El Nino event. Adult Weka had declined from ~400, in February 1987 (Beauchamp 1988), to 47-63 Weka in Parekura Bay and Whangamumu areas in June 1991. By March 1995 there were only three Weka left there. Enhanced production of young Weka was insufficient to prevent decline. Known mortality factors were road kills, Timms traps and dogs and stoats. Throughout the study the population lacked females. A “crowing call” by males was identified as associated with mate loss and mate finding.
We examined digestive tract contents and stable nitrogen isotope ratios (15N) in breast muscles of Buller’s Shearwaters (Puffinus bulleri) salvaged from squid and large- mesh driftnets in the central North Pacific Ocean. The epipelagic Pacific Saury (Cololabis saira) was the predominant prey, making up 71% of prey mass in digestive tracts. The remainder of the diet included small numbers of crustaceans, small fishes, and squids. The high degree of specialization in the diet seems to indicate that in the North Pacific, Buller’s Shearwaters usually feed at or near the water surface and rarely pursue food under water. Although these birds have been observed feeding on scraps from fishing vessels, our data suggest that offal comprises less than 10 percent of the diet. Stable nitrogen isotope values provided quantified information on the timing of arrival of migrants into the North Pacific.
A breeding male Chatham Island Taiko (Pterodroma magentae) was found recently dead of injuries by its burrow on 14 November 1996. Intraspecific fighting followed by sepsis of wounds seems the likely cause of death. All parts were preserved. Food items of Taiko include four squid species and one fish species. Its intestinal structure suggests a close relationship with the P. mollis group and P. macroptera. Measurements of bones indicate that most subfossil bones previously referred to this species were correctly identified.
Twenty species of birds are recorded from Kapingamarangi Atoll, southern Micronesia, 14 sea- and shorebirds and six land birds. Eleven are documented or probable breeders or former breeders. The Micronesian Starling (Aplonis opaca) is the only native, resident land bird, and it is common and widespread, averaging 5.7 birds ha-1 atoll-wide among the 31 islands. A kingfisher is reported from Kapingamarangi for the first time, and a recently collected specimen of Shining Cuckoo (Chysococcyx lucidus) is the first record for Micronesia and first report of the nominate (New Zealand) subspecies north of the Bismark Archipelago.