Publications Archive

This paper analyses the characters and the affinities of the seven species of “blue-eyed shags.” The subgenus Leucocarbo is proposed as a full-rank genus, and three subgenera are proposed in it: Leucocarbo s. str., for L. bougainvillii and L. magellanicus, Nesocarbo subgen. nov. for L. campbelli, and Euleucocarbo subgen nov. for the other four species.

The use of sound recording equipment, particularly tape recorders, microphones and parabolic reflectors is discussed with special reference to aspects of ornithological field work. Practical hints and advice are offered in this respect.

The mainland New Zealand species of oystercatchers have overlapping winter ranges, but their distribution within these ranges is very different. South Island pied oystercatchers (Haematopus ostraIegus finschi) are concentrated in large flocks on major harbours and estuaries. Variable oystercatchers (H. unicolor) have a scattered distribution with flocks never exceeding 150 birds. Black phase variable oystercatchers are numerically dominant to pied or intermediate phases throughout New Zealand, although the frequency of the former increases southwards. Intermediate-plumaged birds occur where black and pied phases are sympatric. The rare Chatham Islands oystercatcher (H. chathamensis) is restricted to those islands. In the breeding season, H. ostralegus finschi and H. unicolor are reproductively isolated by their mutually exclusive breeding dispersions. They are also largely separated in their winter ranges. Variable and Chatham Islands oystercatchers have probably maintained their present numbers over the past 100 years. The decline that occurred in the numbers of South Island pied oystercatchers over the period 1870 to 1940 was arrested by the prohibition of shorebird shooting in 1940, from which time a spectacular irruption has occurred. At the current rate of increase, the numbers of this species will probably come under density-dependent control in the next few decades. This density effect may be alleviated for some time if the species expands its recent tendency to remain inland at breeding localities throughout the year, and adopt a terrestrial mode of feeding.

Bird observations made during seven days (26–28 January 1973, 30 January – 3 February 1973) spent on the Solander Islands are recorded. Twenty-four species were found on the Solanders including 5 species not previously recorded there.

A pair of Australian little grebes (Podiceps novaehollandiae) was found inhabiting a farm pond near Dargaville in August 1972 and was still there in October 1972. The birds built a nest pad. The only previous New Zealand record is of a single male bird on a dam near Arrowtown in 1968. Descriptions and notes on behaviour are given with photographs of the birds in their swimming position.

A description of the geography and superficial geology of the five islands forming the western chain of the Snares group is given with observations and illustrations of the birds and seals, based on landing on 2 December 1972. Other visits in 1947 and 1964 are noted.

The anatomy of the tongues of five sea birds, the blue petrel (Halobaena caerulea), the grey-backed storm petrel (Garrodia nereis), the black-bellied storm petrel (Fregetta tropica) , the white-capped mollymawk (Diomedea cauta cauta), and the Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) is described and illustrated.

The reliability of sexing and ageing starlings in Canterbury from plumage characters was examined. Males were sexed without error and females almost so (98.7%). Birds in adult plumage were classified as first year or older, and all of known age fell into the correct group.