Historical Publications
The Ornithological Society of New Zealand (OSNZ) Historical Publications series was launched in 2022. This series complements the society’s journal Notornis, magazine Birds New Zealand and Occasional Publications on this website by providing a place where books, booklets and other documents having historical significance to New Zealand ornithology can be made available to readers in a digital format. Historical Publications can be documents published by the Society in the past that are now out-of-print, and can also be significant publications on New Zealand ornithology that have been published by a third party. Possible topics for this series might include reviews, indexes, and technical manuals. Documents in this series will be published as digital pdfs. Authors, editors or members who wish to propose documents for republishing on the Historical Publications page should contact Birds New Zealand Council with suggestions for editorial processes.
Download Historical Publications
Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica (4th edition). 2010
by: The Checklist Committee of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. Fourth Edition, 2010
B.J. Gill, Convenor
512 pp. (PDF, 4200 KB)
The State of New Zealand’s Birds 2009. Conservation of Migrant Birds
by: K.-J. Wilson
Issued by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. 2009
16 pp. (PDF, 2084 KB)
The State of New Zealand’s Birds 2008. Conservation of Birds on the Mainland
by: K.-J. Wilson
Issued by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. 2008
16 pp. (PDF, 5027 KB)
The State of New Zealand’s Birds 2007. New Zealand Bird Atlas
by: K.-J. Wilson
Issued by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. 2007
16 pp. (PDF, 2332 KB)
The State of New Zealand’s Birds 2006. New Zealand’s Seabirds
by: K.-J. Wilson
Issued by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. 2006
16 pp. (PDF, 1062 KB)
The State of New Zealand’s Birds 2005
by: K.-J. Wilson
Issued by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. 2005
12 pp. (PDF, 7278 KB)
Bird Study in New Zealand. 1997
by: G.A. Taylor, R. Cossee & C.J.R Robertson
Issued by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. 1997
8 pp. (PDF, 9966 KB)
A Flying Start 1990 – Commemorating 50 Years of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand 1940-1990
Compiled and edited by: B.J. Gill & B.D. Heather
Published by Random Century Group in association with the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. 1990
217 pp. (PDF, 40000 KB)
Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica (3rd edition). 1990
by: The Checklist Committee of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. Third Edition, 1990
E.G. Turbott, Convenor
247 pp. (PDF, 87296 KB)
The Atlas of Bird Distribution in New Zealand. 1985
by: P.C. Bull, P.D. Gaze, C.J.R. Robertson
by: The Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. 1985
A joint project of the Ecology Division DSIR
New Zealand Wildlife Service
The Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc.
296 pp. (PDF, 101834 KB)
Foreword by Beth Brown, President, OSNZ
Annotated Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand, including birds of the Ross Dependency, 1970
by: The Checklist Committee of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Inc.
F. C. Kinsky, Convenor.
Published by A.H & A.W. Reed for The Ornithological Society of New Zealand, 1970.
98 pp. (PDF, 50426 KB).
ISBN 0 589 00021 7.
OSNZ Kermadec Islands Expedition 1969
by: Don Merton
Report issued by the Wildlife Service. 1969.
55 pp. (PDF, 11500 KB)
Annotated Index to Some Early New Zealand Bird Literature. 1968 Introduction to the Index
by: H.C. Oliver
Wildlife Publication No. 106. Department of Internal Affairs
Wellington. 230 pp. (PDF, 45901 KB)
© Department of Conservation, released under an open Creative Commons license, CC-BY 4.0
A Biology of Birds – with particular reference to New Zealand birds. 1966
by: B.D. Heather
Issued by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. 1966
102 pp. (PDF, 87788 KB)
Foreword by C.A. Fleming, OBE. BA. DSc. FRSNZ
Checklist of New Zealand Birds, 1953
by: The Checklist Committee of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc.
C.A. Fleming, Convenor.
Published by A.H & A.W. Reed for The Ornithological Society of New Zealand, June 1953.
80 pp. (PDF, 41011 KB)
The historical significance of this publication is that it was the first checklist and the first book published by the Society. The book used for scanning was once owned by the late Dr. Peter Bull, a former Councillor of the Society. Dr. Bull was elected as a Fellow in 1997 and received a Robert Falla Memorial Award in 1986.