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Seabirds found dead on New Zealand beaches in 1983 and a review of albatross recoveries since 1960

  • Publication Type

    Journal

  • Publication Year

    1985

  • Author(s)

    R.G. Powlesland

  • Journal Name

    Notornis

  • Volume, Issue

    32, 1

  • Pagination

    23-41

  • Article Type

    Paper

Keywords

dead seabirds; New Zealand beaches


Seabirds found dead on New Zealand beaches in 1983 and a review of albatross recoveries since 1960

Notornis, 32 (1), 23-41

R.G. Powlesland (1985)

Article Type: Paper

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In 1983, 4,559 kilometres of coast were patrolled and 5,991 dead seabirds were found. A new record for the Beach Patrol Scheme was a Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus). Unusual finds were Yellow-nosed Mollymawk (Diomedea chlororhynchos), Stejneger’s Petrel (Pterodroma longirostris), White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus), Lesser Frigate Bird (Fregata ariel) and Grey Ternlet (Procelsterna cerulea). A wreck of Long-tailed Skuas (Stercorarius longicaudus) occurred mainly on Auckland West beaches in January and February. A summary is given of the coastal and monthly distribution for each species and subspecies of the 2,401 albatrosses found during the 1960-1983 period. Of the various coastal regions, albatrosses were found most frequently (number of birds per 100 km covered) on Southland beaches. The most frequently found albatross was the Grey-headed Mollymawk (Diomedea chrysostoma).