Publications Archive

The banded dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus) is a short-distance migrant, breeding in New Zealand and wintering in some numbers in Australia. This study was done to check the hypothesis that the flight feathers are renewed before autumn migration and to determine the timing of the body moult. It is concluded that the flight feathers are renewed on or near the breeding grounds coinciding with the pre-basic body moult which is complete. The pre-alternate moult occurs on the wintering grounds and is incomplete, involving the body feathers only. A comparative table is given showing sequence of plumages.

The spur-winged plover (Lobibyx novaehollandiae) is an Australian species, self-introduced to New Zealand in 1932 and now established as a breeding species in Southland and parts of Otago. Its establishment and present distribution are outlined. The method of spread in five different localities is demonstrated. Local movement is described.

A survey of the land birds in three areas of the Fiji group, viz. the Nausori Highlands of Viti Levu, Taveuni and Kadavu Islands, was made in August/September 1970 by members of the society. All existing species and subspecies previously recorded from these areas, with the exception of a few ground-dwelling species, were observed and their present status assessed. Notes are made on the several species which have been exterminated or seriously depleted since the introduction of predators; but none of the existing avifauna appears to be endangered at the present time. One species new to Fiji is recorded; a megapode whose existence is only suspected from early native lore was probably sighted; and a probable new subspecies observed. Sea-birds and migratory waders are listed.

The crested grebe is one of New Zealand’s rarer breeding birds; it is now confined to the South Island. In Canterbury about 50 pairs were by 1969-70 present as regular breeding birds on 23 lakes; the nesting birds are largely clustered in five groups of lakes: the Lake Sumner group with four pairs; the Lake Pearson group with seven pairs; the Lake Coleridge group with 13 pairs; the Lake Heron group with 12 pairs; and the Lake Alexandrina group with 14 pairs. There has been a decrease of 35–40 per cent from some 80 plus pairs nesting on Canterbury lakes 20–30 years ago. Most of the breeding pairs are found in lakes above 2,000 feet altitude (up to over 2,600 feet), and with two or three exceptions (small lakes at high altitudes) these lakes do not freeze over in winter and the grebes are resident all year round.

Observations and motion pictures were made on New Zealand dabchicks in August and September 1969. Feeding, agonistic, courtship, and mating behaviour is described and compared with that of other grebes. The two principal courtship ceremonies are the Patter Ceremony and the Diving Ceremony. The former was observed frequently and is common after territorial encounters. The latter may be the ceremony of pair formation and like the former may be important in strengthening the pair bond. These ceremonies differ considerably from those of other grebes studied, but presumably resemble those of the related hoary-headed grebe Podiceps poliocephalus of Australia.

Colonies of the king shag Leucocarbo carunculatus carunculatus (Gmelin, 1789) were visited three times in 1964-65, Numbers are now about the same as when they were discovered in 1773 – two or three hundred birds – although more colonies are known. Since 1773, large fluctuations have probably occurred; heavy collecting by nineteenth century ornithologists, shooting for ladies’ muffs around 1900 and, more lately, misguided shooting to protect fisheries have all taken a toll. Details of nests and eggs are given. The species usually breeds once each year, in winter; but sometimes two cycles of breeding have been observed. The times of breeding vary from colony to colony and from year to year. King shags are easily disturbed at the breeding colony, possibly because of long persecution. Any further study of the birds themselves should be limited to regular, remote censusing only. Ecological work and banding on less vulnerable subspecies such as L. c. chalconotus should be done in the hope that the results will prove valid or helpful for conserving their rarer relatives.

The checklist of the birds in Niue Island, South Pacific (19°S. 169°W.), consists of 19 species (5 sea birds, 3 shore birds, and 11 land birds). Niuean and English vernacular names have been added. Five new bird species are now recorded from Niue Island for the first time. Of the five sea bird species two (common noddy and white tern) are known to breed on the island and a third (white-tailed tropic bird) possibly breeds and three species (white-tailed tropic bird, common noddy and white tern) are common. All three shore bird species are migrants but only one (Pacific golden plover) is common. Among the land birds the presence of the migratory long-tailed cuckoo is recorded for the first time and all the remaining ten species are resident and breeding. However, only four species (banded rail, white-rumped swiftlet, Polynesian triller and Polynesian starling) are common. The affinities of this restricted avifauna with those of the neighbouring archipelagos of Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands are briefly discussed as are the abundance and the status of the birds breeding on Niue. Finally some research problems and the conservation of species that are at present endangered are briefly presented and some tentative recommendations are made.