This series attempts to condense observations made over seventeen years in areas being milled west of Taupo from 1944 to 1946 and in the south-west Urewera from 1946 to 1961. Daily counts were made of all birds seen and compiled into monthly charts. Estimates were made of birds heard only and notes kept of locality, weather and temperature, with sundry notes on song, calls, foods, breeding and behaviour. The files of charts are to be deposited in the library of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc., Auckland Institute & Museum. For each species there is given an account of general observations and, where significant, a breakdown of figures from the monthly charts. Part A deals with bellbird and tui.
During 1973, 1701 miles of coast were patrolled by 104 members of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand and 6273 dead seabirds were found. Two wrecks contributed to this record total of birds. During July and August large numbers of blue penguin (Eudyptula minor), and a few other species, came ashore on both sides of Northland. This wreck was apparently caused by starvation. During September and October high numbers of species which normally frequent seas to the south and west of New Zealand were found on the south and west coasts. These birds were probably forced towards New Zealand by bad weather. New records for New Zealand are Antarctic petrel (Thalassoica antarctica) and white-tailed tropic bird (Phaethon lepturus). A new record for beach patrolling is fulmar prion (Pachyptila crassirostris). Third and fourth records of Gould’s petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera) were obtained.
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.