Publications Archive

Large breeding colonies of Sooty Shearwaters or Titi (Puffinus griseus) occur on offshore islands around New Zealand and several smaller colonies occur on headlands and near-shore islands around southern New Zealand; their population trends are unknown. Twelve mainland colonies around Otago had between 11 and 620 burrows in the 1992/93 breeding season. The largest of three near-shore island colonies in Otago had at least 1,050 burrows. Sooty Shearwater burrows have been recorded from 39 mainland sites in the South Island, but only 11 (28%) of these have been checked in the last 40 years: many may now be extinct. OSNZ Beach Patrol data suggest that the overall number of Sooty Shearwaters has changed little over a 26 year period. Methods for monitoring Sooty Shearwater colonies need to be standardised to evaluate population trends in the future.

In the 1980’s Little Spotted Kiwi (Apteryx owenii) were transferred to Long, Red Mercury and Hen Islands to establish new populations beyond their stronghold on Kapiti Island. Recent surveys indicate that all three populations are increasing at between 4% and 8% per annum. Recently, a fifth population has been established successfully on Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf, and has grown at a rate of about 11% per annum. Little spotted Kiwi now appear to be secure with five viable populations on predator-free islands. Aerial poisoning of rats using brodifacoum baits does not appear to have had any long-term adverse effect on the populations of Little Spotted Kiwi on Red Mercury and Tiritiri Matangi Islands.

Avifaunas from Pleistocene and Holocene fossil deposits in the Hodges Creek Cave System in northwest Nelson, New Zealand, are described. At least 20 species of birds are present in glacial-age deposits from these sites at about 900 m above sea level. A sample of 12,000 year old Finsch’s Duck (Euryanas finschi) bones shows that post-glacial shortening of the wings in this species had already started at that time.

Densities of the North Island Weka (Gallirallus australis greyi) have declined over much of the East Cape region since 1985. The area around Motu township had densities exceeding 0.72 ha-1 in 1985-86, but they disappeared by 1990 and have increased only marginally since. The decline coincided with floods and the spread of ferrets (Mustela furo) into the valley. The only region where Weka density increased is in the hills between Motu and Opotiki Counts in the Toatoa and Whitikau Valleys in 1995 found a maximum density of 0.60 adult Weka ha-1 in mixed farmland and fern, and between 0.08 – 0.18 ha-1 in mature forest. There are less than 1,000 adults in the centre of this region, and in some areas the population is male-dominated.

Between 1987 and 1996, 2,383 Wrybills (Anarhynchus frontalis) were banded on their wintering grounds at two locations near Auckland; 690 of these were recaptured on 830 occasions. Birds started to arrive at their wintering grounds in December; and stayed at the more northern location until April, when they moved to wintering sites further south. First year birds comprised

The Westland Petrel (Procellaria westlandica) population is thought to have increased significantly in recent decades, perhaps as a result of increased food in the form of waste from fishing vessels. A survey of Westland Petrels off the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand, showed that fishing vessels in the West Coast South Island Hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) fishery influence the distribution of Westland Petrels, but only a small proportion of the Westland Petrel population appears to utilise this fishery waste at any one time. Westland Petrels appear to select foraging areas primarily on natural features, such as water depth, and only if fishing vessels are in the same area are Westland Petrels attracted to them.

A list of all historical specimens of the New Zealand Laughing Owl (Sceloglaux albifacies Gray, 1844) known from museums around the world is presented. There are 52 feathered specimens (24 mounts, 28 study skins), 2 alcohol specimens, 3 part skeletons, and 17 eggs. Of the recorded specimens, only two specimens are identified that could be the type of S. rufifacies Buller, 1904, but whether it is one of these is unknown. Two unlocalised specimens in the Cambridge University Museum are tentatively identified as coming from Buller’s second bird collection.

Eighteen sub-adult and five adult North Island Weka (Gallirallus australis greyi) were found dead on Kawau Island in the Hauraki Gulf, between 7 March and 20 April 1996. Weka initially collapsed losing leg control, and died within two days. All dead birds had ample fat reserves. No common cause of death was found in seven autopsies. No long term impact on the population is predicted.