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Survival rate of yellow-eyed penguin eggs and chicks on the Otago Peninsula

Notornis, 20 (1), 1-5

C.L. Roberts; S.L. Roberts (1973)

Article Type: Paper

Egg-and-chick survival frequency in the yellow-eyed penguin was followed for nineteen nests in three breeding areas on the Otago Peninsula. Observations were made through the tenth post-hatching week for each nest. Survival rate was substantially worse than that reported by Richdale in 1957. There were also differences in survival rate among the three breeding areas within the sample. It is suggested that human and farm-animal activity is responsible for the relatively poor survival rates.







Some anatomical notes on the wrybill

Notornis, 19 (1), 26-32

P.J.K. Burton (1972)

Article Type: Paper

Head and neck anatomy in the wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis) are described from a spirit specimen and a skeleton. In most respects, the wrybill closely resembles plovers of the genus Charadrius. Careful examination has failed to reveal any asymmetry other than that of the bill. Apart from the bill shape, and a gape situated unusually far forward, the main peculiarity of the wrybill is a bony bridge between the two ventral bars of the upper jaw, mentioned by Lowe (1931). The significance of this structure in relation to bill asymmetry is discussed. An analysis of the stomach contents of the spirit specimen is given.



Notes and news

Notornis, 19 (4), 388-390

E.W. Dawson (1972)

Article Type: Article




Notes & news

Notornis, 19 (2), 195-196

E.W. Dawson (1972)

Article Type: Article



History of the distribution of the crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) in the North Island and Nelson-Marlborough

Notornis, 19 (1), 74-82

K.E. Westerskov (1972)

Article Type: Paper

The crested grebe Podiceps cristatus australis is a rare bird in New Zealand, now confined to the South Island. It was formerly present on a few of the large North Island lakes; there is a subfossil record from a Maori midden, carbondated to A.D. 945, and more recent observations – from the period 1870–1900 of breeding populations on Lakes Waikareiti and Waikaremoana. In Nelson-Marlborough crested grebes were formerly found on Lakes Rotoroa and Rotoiti; they were possibly first seen in New Zealand and identified on Lake Rotoroa in 1846 by Heaphy, and certainly observed and correctly identified at these lakes by Haast in 1860. They have disappeared as breeding birds from the lakes some time during the last 15–20 years. There is a sub-fossil grebe from Lake Grassmere, Marlborough, possibly from a Maori midden. Today there are no longer crested grebes in the North Island or in Nelson-Marlborough, northern South Island.