Mobile Menu Open Mobile Menu Close
back back back

Publications Archive

Search by:

Feeding Behaviour of the Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)

Notornis, 36 (2), 99-106

I.G. McLean (1989)

Article Type: Paper

Three feeding methods are described for Fantails (Rhipidura fuliginosa): hawking, flushing, and feeding associations. Hawking Fantails cover large distances, use any available perch, and often feed above the forest canopy. Flushing Fantails cover small distances, perch on twigs and small branches, and feed mostly within the canopy or on the ground. Fantails in feeding associations feed where the species being followed feeds. Changes in the proportion of use of each feeding method in relation to breeding stage are described; the sexes did not differ in feeding methods during breeding. By using several feeding methods, Fantails forage in a wider range of microhabitats and so may obtain a wider range of prey than they would by only one method.

Seabirds found dead on New Zealand beaches in 1987, and a review of Procellaria species recoveries since 1960

Notornis, 36 (4), 299-310

R.G. Powlesland (1989)

Article Type: Paper

In 1987, 3,776 kilometres of coast were patrolled and 4,124 dead seabirds were found, well below the average for the previous 17 years (10,624). Unusual finds were a White-bellied Storm Petrel (Fregetta grallaria), a Kermadec Petrel (Pterodroma neglecta) and a Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda). A summary is given of the coastal and monthly distributions for Procellaria species found during the 1960-1986 period. The most frequently recovered species was the Black Petrel (P. parkinsoni), the number found annually varying markedly.

Feeding Behaviour of New Zealand Kingfishers at an Estuary in Winter

Notornis, 36 (2), 107-113

L.M. Hayes (1989)

Article Type: Paper

The feeding behaviour of New Zealand Kingfishers (Halcyon sancta vagans) overwintering at Brooklands Lagoon, a coastal North Canterbury estuary, is described. Kingfishers watched for crabs from perches on or near the mudflats and caught crabs on 96% of dives. Kingfishers then battered them against a perch; parts of the crabs such as the chelae were knocked off in the process. Fallen chelae (n = 225) provided information about species, size and sex of crabs taken. Crabs were collected in mud samples from 10 sites to compare the size, sex and species of crabs present on the mudflats with those taken by Kingfishers. Kingfishers fed only on the mud crab Helice crassa, which was the most abundant crab species on the mudflats. Male crabs and large crabs were taken more often proportionally than they were in the mud samples.

The Distribution of Banded Rails and Marsh Crakes in Coastal Nelson and the Marlborough Sounds

Notornis, 36 (2), 117-123

G. Elliott (1989)

Article Type: Paper

The distribution of Banded Rails and Marsh Crakes in coastal Nelson, Buller and the Marlborough Sounds was surveyed between October 1980 and December 1982.  Banded Rails and Marsh Crakes were found only in saltmarshes in Nelson and the Marlborough Sounds, though Marsh Crakes were difficult to detect and could have been more widespread.  Banded Rails were found only in saltmarshes with a freshwater supply with stands of sea rush and mixed stands of jointed rush and marsh ribbonwood.  The Nelson – Marlborough Banded Rail population consisted of about 100 breeding pairs and is isolated from the Banded Rail populations further north and south.

Vertical distribution of birds mist-netted in a mixed lowland forest in New Zealand

Notornis, 36 (4), 311-321

B.M. Fitzgerald, H.A. Robertson, A.H. Whitaker (1989)

Article Type: Paper

Birds in forest in the Orongorongo Valley near Wellington were caught over a 7-year period (1969-76) in mist-net rigs consisting of six nets one above another, forming a continuous curtain of nets from near ground level to the forest canopy. We recorded which net in the rigs each bird was caught in, and described the vertical distribution of 14 species of bird. Hedgesparrows, Fantails, Tomtits and Blackbirds were caught more often in the lower nets, Kingfishers, Silvereyes and Bellbirds were caught more often in the upper nets, and Moreporks, Riflemen, Whiteheads, Grey Warblers, Song Thrushes, Tuis and Chaffinches were caught more or less evenly at both levels. The vertical profiles differed between rigs. For the three species caught most commonly (Silvereye, Blackbird and Bellbird), the mean height of capture varied with time of day and with season. The vertical distribution is a useful characteristic in helping to define the niches of these birds.
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 96
  6. 97
  7. 98
  8. 99
  9. 100
  10. 101
  11. 102
  12. ...
  13. 235