Publications Archive

During 1967, 1 137 kilometres of coast were patrolled by 38 members of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand and 2 228 dead seabirds were found. Localized wrecks of blue penguins (Eudyptula minor), fairy prions (Pachyptila turtur) and sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) were recorded. Meterological evidence shows that these wrecks coincided with unusually severe weather conditions.

Birds observed during a visit to Rima Islet of the Snares Western Chain on 21 November 1976 were counted. The results of previous landings on the five main islets of the Western Chain are discussed and a distribution of the four breeding species (Snares crested penguin, Salvin’s mollymawk, Snares Cape pigeon and fulmar prion) is proposed. Their breeding cycles are discussed.

During 1975, 3681 kilometres of coast were patrolled by 163 members of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand and their friends: 21 425 dead seabirds and 192 non sea birds were found. Four wrecks contributed to this total. In February there was a wreck mainly of fairy prions (Pachyptila turtur) on Wellington West beaches. From late June to September there was a wreck of diving petrels (Pelecanoides urinatrix) and prions (except Pachyptila vittata) with high numbers of six other species. In late August and September there were extra numbers of Antarctic fulmars (Fulmarus glacialoides) and Kerguelen petrels (Pterodroma brevirostris) with an increase in numbers of some other species. During October-November there was a record wreck of sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) on west coast beaches.

A transect through pastoral land, from Foxton on the coast to Palmerston North inland, was traversed regularly by car. Counts of most birds except finches, showed starlings to be commonest in the area, followed by white-backed magpies and southern black-backed gulls. There was little seasonal variation in starlings for 1974 but an apparent increase in numbers during 1975. Magpies, gulls, Australasian harriers and pukeko were seen less often during spring than at other times of year, whereas blackbirds and welcome swallows were more frequently counted in spring or summer. Fewer starlings, blackbirds, and kingfishers were seen near the coast than elsewhere, while magpies and harriers were most abundant near the coast and less frequent inland.