Mobile Menu Open Mobile Menu Close
back back back

Publications Archive

Search by:

Forest bird communities in Western Samoa

Notornis, 35 (2), 117-128

M. Bellingham; A. Davis (1988)

Article Type: Paper

The birds of Upolu and Savai’i, Western Samoa, were surveyed in August 1984. Birds were counted along a 2 km transect in O le Pupu-Pu’e National Park and 5-minute bird index counts were used in upland and lowland Savai’i. There was a significant difference in the composition and density of bird communities between partly logged and unmodified tava (Pomeria pinnata) forest. The composition of bird communities differed at varying altitudes both in the national park and in Savai’i. There were more species at higher altitudes on Savai’i, and rare species were recorded at only the higher altitudes on Upolu and Savai’i. The relative abundance and occurrence of threatened bird species were noted, and possible sightings of puna’e, the Samoan woodrail, in upland Savai’i were recorded.

Some characteristics of red-crowned parakeets on the Poor Knights Islands

Notornis, 35 (1), 1-8

P.M. Sagar (1988)

Article Type: Paper

Measurements, plumage and moult of red-crowned parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae novaezelandiae) were recorded during a banding study on Aorangi Island, Poor Knights Islands, between 1978 and 1986. Males were significantly larger than females in all measurements and in weight. Weight varied throughout the year and was highest in May and lowest in November. The weights of males was significantly less during October and November than at other times of the year, but there were no significant variations in the weight of females. More males than females were caught, and recaptures suggested that females had a lower survival rate than males. Two of the 329 parakeets banded had plumage characteristics of red-crowned x yellow-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps auriceps) hybrids. Casual observations indicated that the breeding season extended from late October to January. Most birds were in active moult by late February.

The Little Barrier Island snipe

Notornis, 35 (4), 273-281

C.M. Miskelly (1988)

Article Type: Paper

A single snipe was captured on Little Barrier Island in 1870. The history of this specimen is traced up to its designation as the holotype of Coenocorypha aucklandica barrierensis 85 years later. Other records of snipe in the Auckland area seem to refer to the one Little Barrier specimen or to other species of wader. Snipe apparently disappeared from Little Barrier Island in the 1870s, when cats became established, but apparently were rare before then. References by R.H. Shakespear to “snipe” on Little Barrier Island are given, but are regarded as probably referring to other species.

Moults of rectrices and body plumage of blue-eyed and king shags (Phalacrocorax atriceps and P. albiventer) and phenology of moults

Notornis, 35 (2), 129-142

P.C. Rasmussen (1988)

Article Type: Paper

In blue-eyed and king shags (Phalacrocorax atriceps and P. albiventer), moult of the rectrices is irregular but not random. R1 (Rectrix 1) was usually the first to be replaced in sub-adult blue-eyed shags but not in adults. In blue-eyed shags, moulting rectrices were most often separated by one or two non-moulting rectrices. When two adjacent rectrices were moulting in adult blue-eyed shags, one was usually over half grown before the other began moulting, or both were about the same length or missing. Up to six rectrices moult simultaneously in sub-adults and up to eight in adults. Moult of rectrices is usually not symmetrical in blue-eyed shags. In adults, the number of moulting feathers and the number of waves are correlated among flight feathers. In flight feathers of sub-adults, the number of moulting feathers is not correlated but the number of moulting waves and the number of retained juvenile flight feathers are correlated. Most moult of flight and body feathers takes place after breeding, but a limited amount occurs during breeding and in winter.

Breeding of the banded dotterel, Charadrius bicinctus, on the Cass River Delta, Canterbury

Notornis, 35 (1), 9-14

M. Bomford (1988)

Article Type: Paper

Laying began in August, peaked in late September to early October and finished in December. Eggs were laid at intervals of three days to a normal clutch of three. The site and dimensions of 47 nests are described. The female did 82% of daytime incubating, and incubation averaged 26.5 days. Most eggs were lost to predators and only 44% hatched. In fine weather chicks made trips away from the nest within a few hours of hatching. Once hatching was completed the nest was deserted, but parents and chicks stayed in the territory until the chicks fledged at 5-6 weeks. Post-breeding flocks contained 23% juveniles.

The foods of nesting and adult starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) poisoned by Lindane

Notornis, 34 (2), 89-94

Szlivka L. (1987)

Article Type: Paper

An accidental bird poisoning in May 1971 in the Obornjaca region, Yugoslavia, exterminated a starling colony. The food in 186 chick and 56 adult stomachs was analysed: more than 95% of the insects eaten were Orthoptera and Coleoptera, including many species harmful to agriculture. Differences in diet between the chicks and their parents may be explained by time of day or by the location in which adult birds foraged.

The identity of the hakawai

Notornis, 34 (2), 95-116

C.M. Miskelly (1987)

Article Type: Paper

The hakawai was a ‘mystery bird’ formerly found on islands off Stewart Island; although never seen, its startling call was heard at night. The call of the hakawai, and its distribution and decline are described. The hakawai (under several spelling variations) is widely mentioned in myths and legends of the Maori throughout New Zealand; these records are summarised and the various theories for the hakawai’s identity are discussed. Evidence for non-vocal aerial displaying by New Zealand snipe (Coenocorypha) is presented. The hypothesis that the hakawai was an aerial display of Stewart Island snipe (C. aucklandica iredalei) was investigated by comparing the distribution and decline of snipe with that of the hakawai, and by playing a tape recording of an aerial display of Chatham Island snipe (C. pusilla) to people who had heard the hakawai. These data support the hakawai = snipe hypothesis. The historical distribution of Stewart Island snipe included Big South Cape, Pukeweka, Solomon, Pourama, Jacky Lee, Herekopare, Ruapuke and Green Islands in the last 100 years. The extinction of snipe on these islands is attributed to introductions of ship rats (Rattus rattus, two islands), weka (Gallirallus australis, four islands) and a combination of weka and cats (Felis catus, two islands). It is proposed that subfossil remains of Coenocorypha from the North Island and the South Island be referred to C. a. barrierensis Oliver 1955 and C. a. iredalei Rothschild 1921 respectively.

A colony of the little shag and the pied shag in which the plumage forms of the little shag freely interbreed

Notornis, 34 (1), 41-50

M.J. Taylor (1987)

Article Type: Paper

During the 1977-1985 period a colony of 80-120 little shags (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos brevirostris) was studied at Hobson Bay, Auckland City. The breeding season of little shags was from August to March or April. Pied shags (Phalacrocorax varius), which joined the colony during the study period and have tended to displace the smaller species, have nested throughout the year. For both species highest numbers of nesting pairs were present in spring (October-November). Little shags of the pied form constituted one-third of the colony and interbred freely with birds of the white-throated and smudgy plumages. Fledglings have either the pied or totally black plumage and both can occur within the same brood. Aspects of behaviour are described and a detailed account of the colony is given.
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 101
  6. 102
  7. 103
  8. 104
  9. 105
  10. 106
  11. 107
  12. ...
  13. 261