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.
A search was made throughout the Auckland Islands between November 1972 and February 1973 during the joint N.Z. Government/U.S. National Science Foundation Expedition. Although efforts were particularly concentrated on the northern and more sheltered coast of Adams Island where the species was last collected in 1902, the regretful conclusion is that the population has indeed disappeared.
Identifications of moa bones from 25 North Island, 2 D’Urville Island, 38 South Island and 2 Stewart Island archaeological sites are tabulated. In North Island sites the most widely represented genus is Dinornis, known from the north of the North Auckland peninsula to the Wellington area, followed in decreasing order of representation (though not necessarily of abundance at any one site) by Pachyornis, Euryapteryx and Anomalopteryx. In South Island sites Euryapteryx is the predominant genus, followed in decreasing order of abundance by Emeus, Dinornis, Pachyornis, Anomalopteryx and Megalapteryx. Dinornis, common all along the South Island east coast before the arrival of Man, is not known from archaeological sites on this coast north of Christchurch. Man was probably responsible for the final extinction of at least the larger moas, though natural causes may have con- tributed to a general decline in numbers.
This account discusses how to record natural sounds in the field, outlines a history of bird sound recordings and compares recording equipment used over the years since 1889 with what is used to-day. Uses of bird recordings are discussed, and a discography of recordings commercially available of the songs of New Zealand birds is added.