Publications Archive

The past and present distribution of the North Island kokako is determined from reported observations for four periods: pre-1900; 1900–1939; 1940–1959; and 1960–1970. Changes in distribution are described for nine geographical districts. Since the late 19th century distribution has contracted in areas to the north and south of the central Volcanic Plateau. This is attributed mainly to the removal of suitable forest habitat. The kokako is a weak flier and, with continued deforestation, populations are further isolated from one another and the survival of the species is threatened.

A white-capped noddy (Anous minutus Boie, 1844) was seen in the afternoon of 3 April 1977 at the Taieri River Mouth, Otago. This is the 8th published record from New Zealand and the southernmost for the country (and the world). Correlation of timing with preceding weather patterns indicates that the bird came from Norfolk Island (and not the Kermadecs) and that it was wind-carried either during typhoon “Norman” which during 15–24 March swept southwards past Norfolk Island to western North Island or was caught in a strong southerly airstream passing Norfolk Island on 29 March and was carried south before an advancing cold front, making land-fall in Fiordland or coastal Southland.

In 1865 Buller named a ‘hitherto undescribed’ crested grebe Podiceps Hectori after its collector. Several other records and observations precede Buller’s description: Heaphy saw ‘Grebes,’ possibly crested grebes, on Lake Rotoroa, Nelson, in 1846; Grey presented a specimen of ‘P. cristatus‘ from New Zealand to the British Museum (Natural History) in 1847; Potts ‘first made its acquaintance’ on Lake Selfe, Canterbury, in 1856 but did not publish this till 1869; Haast in 1861 published a definite record of ‘crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus ?)’ on Lake Rotoroa, Nelson; Hector’s diaries indicate that he collected and identified the bird on which Buller based his Podiceps Hectori at Lake Wakatipu in April 1863 (Hector listed ‘Crested Grebe, Podiceps Cristatus‘ in his note-book for May-June 1863).

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.