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Reischek’s 1890 paper on ‘The kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) in the wild and in captivity’

Notornis, 28 (4), 263-280

K.E. Westerskov (1981)

Article Type: Paper

During his stay in New Zealand, 1877-1889, the Austrian naturalist Andreas Reischek studied, collected and kept in captivity kakapo (Strigops habroptilus). In addition to mention of kakapo in papers in English, Reischek after his return to Austria in 1890 published a paper on the species in German, consolidating his experience and presenting new facts. A close and full translation of the paper is presented, together with notes and comments. The main sections discuss: unsociability, irregular breeding years, nesting, feeding behaviour, an alpine variety, winter ecology, parasites, plumage, trapping, offer of trapping kakapo for Little Barrier, kakapo in captivity.

The phylogenetic relationship within the Galliformes indicated by their lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera)

Notornis, 28 (3), 161-167

P.R. Kettle (1981)

Article Type: Paper

A consideration of the distribution of the various genera of Phthiraptera occurring on Galliformes suggests that, while Megapodidae, Cracidae, Tetraonidae, Phasianidae, Numididae and Meleagrididae form a natural group of related hosts, Opisthocomidae, Tinamidae, Turnicidae and Pedionomidae do not fall within the same host group. Evidence also suggests that Galliformes is more closely related to Columbiformes than is generally accepted.

The foraging behaviour of the South Island robin

Notornis, 28 (2), 89-102

R.G. Powlesland (1981)

Article Type: Paper

The foraging behaviour of the South Island robin (Petroica australis australis) was studied at Kowhai Bush, Kaikoura, from August 1976 to July 1978. Robins spent 90% of their foraging time on and within two metres of the ground. They spent 61.3% of their foraging time gleaning on the ground, 33.8% scanning, 4.5% gleaning amongst vegetation, 0.3% hawking and 0.1% flycatching. The proportion of foraging time devoted to the various foraging methods differed between adult and immature robins. The diurnal patterns of ground gleaning, scanning and above-ground gleaning for adults in the breeding and non-breeding seasons, and for immatures in the non-breeding season are described. Most foraging time was spent searching (93.7%), the rest killing, dismembering and eating prey. Robins relied largely on sight to find prey, but also seemed to stimulate prey movement by foot-trembling and tail- and wing-flicking. Most movements of foraging robins were hops and steps (88%), the rest being flights. About 8% of foraging time was spent flying. The robin’s diet consisted of invertebrates, except in summer and autumn when some berries were taken.
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