Publications Archive

The Adélie Penguin and Antarctic Skua breed at Cape Bird, and nine other species have been recorded as visitors (Emperor Penguin, Chinstrap Penguin, Southern Giant Petrel, Antarctic Fulmar, Antarctic Petrel, Snow Petrel, Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Southern Great Skua, and Southern Black-backed Gull). Fewer birds were recorded as visitors at Cape Bird than have been recorded at Capes Crozier and Royds, possibly because Cape Bird gets less wind.

Post-moult dispersal of Paradise Shelducks (Tadorna variegata) in the Wanganui district was examined during 1987 and 1988 from hunting season band recoveries. Birds were banded at five locations, two coastal (Lakes Waipu and Marahau) and three hill country (Kakatahi, Parihauhau, and Mangamahu). Birds banded at different sites dispersed differently, with birds banded at the two coastal sites and Parihauhau more dispersive than those banded at Kakatahi and Mangamahu. Males dispersed more widely than females. Band recoveries were clustered into two separate groups, those from Kakatahi and Mangamahu, and a group comprising birds banded at coastal moulting sites and at Parihauhau. Coastal areas accounted for more than 70% of the hunting effort in the 1987 and 1988 hunting seasons, and it is suggested that the two groups of moulting birds be managed as separate population units.

The results of monitoring changes in Cattle Egret numbers in New Zealand and eastern Australia, recovery records for long-distance movements of marked birds from colonies in eastern Australia, and records for wing-tagged and colour-banded birds in the Hunter Valley of NSW indicate that a pattern of movement from the colonies occurs in waves in a south to south-easterly direction to Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand during autumn and a return in spring. This movement can be described as migration. Although there is some circumstantial evidence, there is no confirmation that the same birds travel the same routes to the same destination each year. In the wintering areas they tend to restrict their activities to well-defined local territories. Significant numbers of birds remain in their natal area, however, where they may move relatively little, restricting foraging to a very limited local area for long periods, or be somewhat nomadic within a restricted region.

Please note:  This newsletter is a Supplement to Volume 37 (4) of Notornis, not a Supplement to Volume 37 (3) as shown on the cover page. We apologise for this error.  

A subantarctic population of the Fairy Prion (Pachyptila turtur) was studied at South Georgia in 1982-83. Full measurements of breeding birds are given, together with details of breeding habitat, the timing of the main breeding cycle events, and chick growth (weight and wing, culmen and tarsus length). Regurgitated food samples showed the diet to be mainly Crustacea (96% by weight), fish and squid comprising the rest. Of crustaceans, Antarctic krill made up 38% of items and 80% by weight. Copepods (four species, mostly Rhincalanus gigas) made up 39% of items but only 4% by weight; amphipods [three species, principally Themisto gaudichaudii made up 22% of items and 16% by weight. Diet and frequency of chick feeding are compared with those of Antarctic Prions and Blue Petrels at the same site; Fairy Prions are essentially intermediate.

Harrier diet and population dynamics were studied at Tekapo River in 1985 and 1986, and stomach contents were analysed from 239 specimens collected in the Cass Valley in 1983-85.  Harriers in both study areas fed mainly on rabbits, including young live rabbits and carrion. Local changes in rabbit abundance led to changes in the distribution and numbers of harriers. Immature harriers were mainly transients and responded to changes in rabbit numbers more than adults did. When rabbits were scarce, the resident harriers fed more on alternative prey. such as skinks, but there was no corresponding increase in the numbers of birds eaten. Males fed on alternative prey more than females did. Males were outnumbered by females in the study area with lower prey diversity.

In 1986, 4,594 kilometres of coast were patrolled and 14,462 dead seabirds were found. Three new species for the Beach Patrol Scheme were the White-naped Petrel (Pterodroma cervicalis), the White-capped Noddy (Anous minutus) and the White Tern (Gygis alba). Four species found in greater numbers in 1986 than previously were the Yellow-nosed Mollymawk (Diomedea chlororhynchus), Narrow-billed Prion (Pachyptila belcheri), Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris) and Stewart Island Shag (Leucocarbo carunculatus chalconotus). A summary is given of the coastal and monthly distributions for each species of Pachyptila found between 1960 and 1986. The Fairy Prion (P. turtur), a New Zealand resident, was found most frequently mainly in February and between July and November. By comparison, the other five species, all migrants to New Zealand, were picked up mainly during July-August.