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A banding study of North Island brown kiwis in an exotic forest

Notornis, 30 (2), 109-124

R. Colbourne; R. Kleinpaste (1983)

Article Type: Paper

Territory, distribution and dispersal of the North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx australis mantelli) were studied at Waitangi State Forest, Northland, from February 1981 to July 1982. In all, 84 kiwis were banded and individually coded and 220 resightings were recorded. Weights and bill measurements are given, together with some growth rate data. Territories of 23 birds are shown and these approximate 5 ha per adult pair, but territory size may decrease with greater abundance of food and with immigration from logged areas. Kiwis frequent many burrows within fixed territories, and males defend these territories from other pairs, primarily by calling. Juveniles under 1 year old are accepted in these ranges, whereas larger juveniles and some females do not have regular haunts. Kiwis try to retain their territories in the face of logging and other forest management practices and this behaviour demonstrates the importance of site attachment. Swamp margins and swamp arms are important to kiwis as a temporary refuge after clearfelling and as feeding areas during dry periods of the year. Despite the forestry practices the Waitangi kiwi population is thought to be viable.

Territories of South Island fernbirds

Notornis, 30 (3), 199-216

M. Barlow (1983)

Article Type: Paper

South Island fernbirds near Invercargill, Southland, were studied for two years. Adult birds had year-round preference for areas with low dense ground vegetation and emergent shrubs. The preferred habitat occurred in a linear strip along an estuary margin. Territories were contiguous and distributed in linear fashion along the strip. Territory areas varied from 530 m2 approximately to 2870 m2 approximately. Territories were strongly defended during the prebreeding and breeding seasons, and defended to some degree at other times. Juveniles were often found outside the preferred adult habitat. There were indications that total fernbird population needs may include an area adjacent to but exclusive of adult territory areas. Fire had a prolonged adverse effect on breeding habitat.

Leach’s storm petrels (Oceanodroma I. leucorhoa) prospecting for nest sites on the Chatham Islands

Notornis, 29 (2), 101-108

M.J. Imber; T.G. Lovegrove (1982)

Article Type: Paper

In November 1980, two Leach’s storm petrels of the typical subspecies (Oceanodroma leucorhoa leucorhoa) were discovered on Rabbit Island, Chatham Islands (44°14′ S, 176°16′ W), engaged in prebreeding activity. They were captured, examined, photographed, banded and released. The flight calling of one was recorded on tape. Their nocturnal activity continued until observations ceased. A subsequent check indicated that no chick was reared. Possibly they were of the same sex, and possibly there were only two. This is the first record of prospecting for nest sites in the Southern Hemisphere by this strictly Northern Hemisphere breeding species.

Food and feeding behaviour of the southern crested grebe on the Ashburton lakes

Notornis, 29 (2), 151-156

C.F.J. O'Donnell (1982)

Article Type: Paper

The food and feeding behaviour of the southern crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus australis) were studied on the Ashburton lakes (South Island, New Zealand) in 1979 and 1980. Of 47 food items eaten on the surface by adults, 55.5% were fish, 31.9% were insects and 12.6% were plants. Chicks in their first week ate mainly fish under 55 mm long. Both adults and chicks ate feathers. One pellet contained feather, fish, insect, plant and egg remains. Dives lasted on average 20-30 seconds. Feeding success of adults was high while they were feeding chicks. The New Zealand and European subspecies are compared. Differences suggest that much less food is available in New Zealand, which may affect productivity and population size.

Roosts at foraging sites in black-billed gulls

Notornis, 29 (2), 109-112

R.M. Evans (1982)

Article Type: Paper

Diurnal roosts of black-billed gulls (Larus bulleri) were found at 37% of inland foraging sites during the breeding season. Roosts were most common and commuting between colony and foraging groups least common far (>5 km) from the colony. Selective use of roosts far from the colony is energetically efficient and may help to maintain local population densities at levels sufficient to permit efficient search for food by means of local enhancement.

The black-winged petrel (Pterodroma nigripennis) in the south-west Pacific and the Tasman Sea

Notornis, 29 (4), 293-310

J.A.F. Jenkins; N.G. Cheshire (1982)

Article Type: Paper

Black-winged petrels (Pterodroma nigripennis) seen since 1959 in the Tasman Sea and between 1970 and 1979 in the south-west Pacific are charted to show their distribution in the region. They are absent from the end of June to the end of October. The limited information on their breeding islands is reviewed and is amplified whenever possible by unpublished data.
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