We assessed the impact of interspecific interactions on the breeding success of the South Georgian diving petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus; SGDP), a Nationally Critical seabird species, by monitoring 20 burrows at Codfish Island (Whenua Hou), with remote cameras. Additionally, we tested the utility of remote cameras to study the breeding biology and activity patterns of the SGDP by pairing 5 remote cameras with RFID readers. We recorded 7 different species at SGDP burrow entrances. The common diving petrel (P. urinatrix) likely caused two monitored burrows to fail. These results suggest that remote cameras are useful tools to study such interactions. However, the cameras had extremely low SGDP detection rates (mean = 10.86%; se = 7.62%) when compared to RFID readers. These low detection rates may be explained by the small body size and the speed at which SGDPs enter/leave burrows. Therefore, remote cameras, or at least the model and setup we used, appear unsuitable to study breeding biology and activity patterns in this seabird species.
We report Records Appraisal Committee (RAC) decisions regarding Unusual Bird Reports received between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2016. Among the 113 submissions accepted by the RAC were the first New Zealand records of northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), Herald petrel (Pterodroma heraldica), red-footed booby (Sula sula), laughing gull (Larus atricilla) and magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), the first breeding records for Australian wood duck (Chenonetta jubata) and glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), and the second accepted records of shy mollymawk (Thalassarche cauta cauta), great shearwater (Puffinus gravis) and Cape gannet (Morus capensis). Other notable records included a pair of white-winged black terns (Chlidonias leucopterus) breeding in the Mackenzie basin, and the first record of pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus) from the Snares Islands. In addition, notable influxes of brown booby (Sula leucogaster) and great frigatebird (Fregata minor) occurred during 2015-16.
A 15,000 ha low-intensity stoat (Mustela erminea) trapping network was established in the Murchison Mountains in 2002, primarily to protect the last natural population of the critically endangered takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri). We compared the productivity and survival of threatened southern brown kiwi or tokoeka (Apteryx australis) living in 3 valleys that were covered by this trapping network with those in a nearby valley that was left untreated. Chick survival to 6 months old was significantly higher in the trapped areas (37%) than in the untrapped area (19%). This doubling of chick survival was sufficient to change the rate of population growth, as derived from Leslie matrix analyses, from a projected decline of 1.6% per annum without management to a projected increase of 1.2% per annum with trapping.
I recorded the calling behaviours of shining cuckoos (Chrysococcyx lucidus) from 1992 – 2015 on Kawau Island. The 3 most common calls, the upward crescendo “whistling call,” the downward slur “call-note,” and the “call-note” with “chatter” notes, were given from the arrival of adults in late August-early September until early January. After January only the call-note was heard. The upward whistling calls averaged 9.5 notes per calling bout (se = 0.18, n = 721). There was no significant difference in the number of whistling notes given with or without following notes. Single call-notes from lone cuckoos or groups of birds were restricted to specific sites on ridges. Calling was infrequently heard during evening twilight, and not heard during darkness. There was an increase in the number of cuckoo detections after 2009, and this corresponded with the appearance of communal behaviour and calling.
The valley of the South Branch of the Hurunui River, prior to 2001, held a dense population of the orange-fronted parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi). However, a rat plague in 2001 reduced this population by ~85%. In preparation for a restoration program of this species in the Hurunui valley, I analysed the distribution of sightings of orange-fronted parakeets, as well as the congeneric, yellow-crowned parakeet (C. auriceps) prior to the population collapse. My objective was to identify the areas and types of habitats used by each species. A vegetation survey showed significant differences between different parts of the valley floor study site, and this appeared to be reflected in the distribution of orange-fronted parakeets. Both species had significantly different distributions, and orange-fronted parakeets were recorded most frequently within forests growing on the river fan, an area characterised by mature red beech (Nothofagus fusca) and areas of dense regenerating mountain beech (N. solandri var. cliffortioides). While the valley has been subject to anthropogenic modification since the 1850’s, it still contains a relatively intact beech forest. My observations on the historic distribution of orange-fronted parakeets suggest this valley is still capable of supporting a large population of the species. However, the success of any re-introduction program is likely to depend upon continued preventative and reactive predator control, as well as a release programme that introduces enough individuals to prevent severe bottlenecks.
The breeding behaviour and development of New Zealand falcons (Falco novaeseelandiae) were recorded at 2 nests in Kaingaroa Forest during a 4-month period up to 2 March 2007. This covered the later part of incubation, and the entire nestling and early post-fledging periods. Incubation was shared between parents; the male primarily incubated the eggs, during which time the female hunted. The male only provided occasional prey for the female. Brooding by both parents was intensive for the first 6 days and then gradually declined until the chicks reached 14 days old at which point it ceased. Assisted feeding of the chicks was almost always undertaken by the female. The male’s primary role during the nestling period was prey delivery. During the early nestling period the female spent the majority of the time brooding chicks before shifting to hunting for the young.