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Feeding behaviour of the black-fronted dotterel

Notornis, 36 (4), 249-259

M.K. Tarburton (1989)

Article Type: Paper

Since its recent arrival in New Zealand the black-fronted dotterel (Charadrius melanops) has begun winter flocking, and a newly observed feeding technique has become common. This new feeding behaviour is used mainly on hard substrate. The bird taps the substrate before pecking at prey, and on hard substrate the capture rate is higher than by simple pecking. By imitating the tapping on soft, intermediate and hard surfaces, I found that vibrations from the tapping on hard substrate alone caused flies to jump, making them more visible. In winter, birds were heard calling an hour before sunrise as they flew from sleeping sites scattered along the Manawatu River to the sludge ponds at the freezing works. The dotterels returned to the river after several hours of feeding but again visited the sludge ponds from mid-afternoon to almost an hour after sunset. At both the river and the sludge ponds most prey consisted of two species of fly.  Daily time budgets showed that birds were feeding for 38% of the day while incubating, 69% while tending chicks and 86% during a winter’s day. It was estimated that during a winter’s day, one apparently normal bird caught 28,737 insects. To do this it pecked at 31,579 insects and caught one insect every 1.5 seconds.

The distribution of Buller’s shearwater (Puffinus bulleri) in New Zealand coastal waters and in the Tasman Sea

Notornis, 35 (3), 203-215

J.A.F. Jenkins (1988)

Article Type: Paper

Records gathered since 1960 in the coastal waters of New Zealand and in the Tasman Sea are plotted. They show the September return of Buller’s shearwaters (Puffinus bulleri) from migration; their distribution through the austral summer; and their almost total withdrawal from the region by the end of May. Their present wider distribution is shown, apparently related to the increasing numbers of breeding birds at the Poor Knights Islands.

Osteological differences between Sula and Morus, and a description of an extinct new species of Sula from Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, Tasman Sea

Notornis, 35 (1), 35-57

G.F. van Tets; C.W. Meredith; P.J. Fullagar; P.M. Davidson (1988)

Article Type: Paper

Osteological differences between boobies, Sula, and gannets, Morus, were found for every major element examined. These differences confirm that Sula and Morus are generically distinct. Sula tasmani n.sp. is described from bones found in aeolian coral sand dunes at Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, Tasman Sea. Sula tasmani is larger than extant and known fossil species of Sula, the upper part of its massive bill being more concave laterally.

The Farewell Spit gannetry – a new sea level colony

Notornis, 35 (4), 249-260

J.M. Hawkins (1988)

Article Type: Paper

A new breeding colony of Australasian gannets (Sula bassana serrator) is recorded from Farewell Spit, Nelson. From small beginnings in 1981 and a major roost of c. 300 in 1983, the colony has increased steadily from c. 75 breeding pairs in the 1983-84 season to c. 600 in 1987-88. Two birds breeding at the site had been banded as chicks at White Island, Bay of Plenty.

The hakawai

Notornis, 35 (3), 215-216

R. Galbreath; C.M. Miskelly (1988)

Article Type: Short Note

Breeding behaviour of the long-tailed cuckoo on Little Barrier Island

Notornis, 35 (2), 89-98

I.G. McLean (1988)

Article Type: Paper

Long-tailed cuckoos (Eudynamys taitensis) were studied on Little Barrier Island during three summers. The only species of host was the whitehead (Mohoua albicilla). Rates of brood parasitism on the island were 18.1% overall, 35.7% at altitudes above 250 m, and 5.4% at altitudes below 250 m. The breeding season for cuckoos probably lasted for 4-6 weeks from mid-November, suggesting that early nests of the whitehead escaped brood parasitism. The available information suggests that the major hosts of the cuckoo are the whitehead, the yellowhead, and possibly the brown creeper, although other hosts are used occasionally. As adult cuckoos call in small groups during the breeding season, I speculate that long-tailed cuckoos may have a lek-type social organisation.
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