Publications Archive

An immature cattle egret was observed over a period of three months. The ecosystem in which the bird was placed is discussed with particular reference to the associated cattle, territory occupied and interaction with other herons and with humans. Notes are given on aspects of behaviour including feeding, resting, preening and flight characterists.

Data from 366 randomly located permanent plots is used to relate the distribution of some bird species to forest type and composition. Whereas the complexity of the forest stand affects the bird population within it, topographical features and the distribution of associated bird species also have an effect.

Regurgitations or stomach contents of 7 wandering albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) from the New Zealand region (5 from the Auckland Islands, 50°S, where there is the largest known breeding colony of the species) show that Cephalopoda and fish, in that order, are the main foods. No others were detected. Nearly all the prey are partly or wholly mesopelagic but some are known to migrate towards the surface at night. Hence, this albatross feeds at night. Over 80% of the Cephalopoda were bioluminescent. Though squids of the family Onychoteuthidae, because of their large size, seem most important in the diet, those of the Histioteuthidae were by far the commonest prey.

This nesting record covers the period from nest building to hatching so is fortunately complementary to the record of hatching to fledging at Moumoukai, in the Hunua Ranges (McKenzie 1951) and to a further record there of building to hatching (St. Paul 1963), thus giving a reasonably full account of breeding.