Publications Archive

The results of a combined Wildlife Service/OSNZ visit to Farewell Spit, the northwestern point of the South Island, from 7 to 14 March 1974 are given. The objects were (a) to make an accurate count of the main waders, (b) to see what rare species were present and in what numbers and (c) to make an accurate count of black swan.

A list of 95 species, including past records with their appropriate references, is given. New records are Canada goose (1), paradise duck (15), large sand dotterel (4), lesser yellowlegs (1) and rock pigeon (1). Counts for waders were: South Island pied oystercatcher, 8619 and 7407; variable oystercatcher, 74 black; golden plover, 16, 15, 14; NZ dotterel, 8; banded dotterel, 1134 and 1624; Mongolian dotterel, 4; large sand dotterel, 4; wrybill, 1; curlew, 22; Asiatic whimbrel, 23; little whimbrel, 1; bar-tailed godwit, 13492 and 12215; lesser yellowlegs, 1; greenshank, 2; turnstone, 1334 and 1879; knot, 18700 and 16143; sharp-tailed sandpiper, 5; curlew sandpiper, 3; red-necked stint, 28; sanderling, 2 and pied stilt, 20. The count of black swan on 12 March 1974 was 13678.

Seven species of birds are newly recorded from the Snares Islands, New Zealand. They include the Australian gannet, white-faced heron, white heron, eastern bar-tailed godwit, skylark, grey warbler, and South Island fantail. There are now 53 species recorded of which 22 are breeding on the islands. Records of 32 species include departure and arrival dates of some of the sea birds and observations of winter activities of other birds.

Observations from 15 years of voyages in coastal New Zealand waters are analysed. There is evidence for a continuing increase in numbers of Buller’s shearwater. The population pressure in northern waters is thought to be such that the extra birds are forced southwards to feed. The suggestion that the southern birds are non-breeders may be true but it is pointed out that as the total population increases so do the numbers of breeding birds which then have to forage further afield. Distribution maps showing seasonal movements and numbers including areas to the east and west of New Zealand are given. The three main feeding methods observed are described.

A study of habitat selection and feeding behaviour of brown teal (Anas castanea chlorotis) was conducted on Great Barrier Island from 7 to 14 February 1973. In the Port Fitzroy area, teal fed almost exclusively in the tidal estuaries. Feeding was tide-regulated. and foods seemed to be invertebrates selected on a declining tide. During high tide, teal usually roosted in the shade of trees. At several sites on the eastern part of the island, teal fed in slow-moving freshwater streams or brackish lagoons. In addition to dabbling and upending, teal dived regularly and efficiently. By a creek at Whangapoua Beach, most of 112 teal fed in the uplands either by probing in grass or by grabbing insect larvae from forbs. Teal also fed in the uplands at night. Brown teal are very adaptable in feeding sites and fill the niche of both aquatic dabbler and ground-feeder. They are most abundant in estuarine situations, and the survival of the species depends upon protection of suitable habitats. Intensive human use of estuaries on the mainland probably is responsible for the drastic decline of the species.

The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) was placed on the Suspense List of the 1970 OSNZ Checklist, as the Checklist Committee could not confirm the existence of an 1898 specimen reported by Buller. Buller’s “third collection,” including this heron, is in Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The grey heron should be readmitted to the main New Zealand list, but under the name A. c. jouyi Clark rather than A. c. rectirostris Gould.

Subfossil and midden remains show the species was once distributed throughout the entire length of New Zealand and there seems little doubt that takahe were scattered throughout a much larger area of South Island during the latter half of the nineteenth century and in the early decades of this century than is generally known.