Notornis, 59 (3&4), 187-188
Article Type: Short Note
Notornis, 59 (3&4), 187-188
Article Type: Short Note
Notornis, 59 (1&2), 60-65
Article Type: Paper
The Marlborough Sounds has a coastline of 1500 km and hosts the greatest diversity of marine shag species in New Zealand. A survey of all breeding shag species was conducted in spring 2006. Apart from New Zealand king shag, 3 species were counted: spotted shag (Strictocarbo punctatus), pied shag (Phalacrocorax varius) and little shag (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos). Two other species (black shag Phalacrocorax carbo and little black shag Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) also occur in the area but were not recorded breeding. A total of 1,254 pairs of spotted shag were recorded at 193 sites, with most colonies occurring in the outer Sounds and inner Queen Charlotte Sound. Average colony size was 6.5 pairs (range 1-76 pairs), with 85% of colonies containing ≤10 pairs. The distribution of spotted shag colonies appears to be influenced by the availability of suitable cliff habitat. Breeding pied shags were found at 48 colonies, with a total of 438 pairs. Colonies were widely distributed, and average colony size was 9.1 pairs (range 1-28), with 83% containing ≤15 pairs. A total of 226 little shag pairs were found at 24 colonies, with most colonies also including nesting pied shags. Colony size was on average 9.4 pairs (range 4-24), with 75% of colonies containing ≤10 pairs. Colonies of pied shags and little shags were found mostly in native vegetation. Colonial seabirds that occur at relatively few locations can be used as indicators to establish critical thresholds for marine management and marine conservation. It is proposed that this survey provide a good baseline for such an approach in the Marlborough Sounds.
Notornis, 59 (3&4), 130-137
Article Type: Paper
Notornis, 59 (1&2), 85-87
Article Type: Short Note
Notornis, 58 (3&4), 173-174
Article Type: Short Note
Notornis, 59 (3&4), 185-186
Article Type: Short Note
Notornis, 59 (1&2), 49-59
Article Type: Paper
We investigate the phylogenetic affinites of the New Zealand blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos), a riverine specialist of uncertain relationships, using 2613 bp of DNA sequence data from 3 mitochondrial genes. Hymenolaimus has variously been considered an aberrant Anas species, or an ancient taxa in the tribe Anatini. Presently, it is placed in a highly-derived clade (Tribe Merganettini) with the shelducks. Our findings show that Hymenolaimus forms a monophyletic clade, and does not fit within any of the other duck tribes around the world. Our study also confirms convergent evolution among duck species that inhabit fast flowing rivers.
Notornis, 59 (3&4), 123-129
Article Type: Paper
Notornis, 59 (1&2), 82-84
Article Type: Short Note
Notornis, 58 (3&4), 169-172
Article Type: Short Note
Notornis, 59 (3&4), 180-184
Article Type: Short Note
Notornis, 58 (index), 190-202
Article Type: Index
Notornis, 59 (1&2), 39-48
Article Type: Paper
We report a polymorphic population of collared petrels (Pterodroma brevipes) apparently breeding on Vanua Lava, northern Vanuatu, in the austral autumn-winter. This is one of only 5 known extant colonies of the species. One of the 2 birds captured by us matched the description of the recently described dark plumaged Pt. b. magnificens which had never been reported caught ashore previously. However, the other bird caught was a paler individual indicating that the taxon is variable in plumage colour, like other Pt. brevipes populations. We suggest that the 2 other criteria used to define the subspecies Pt. b. magnificens (body size and breeding chronology) are also questionable and require further investigation.
Notornis, 59 (3&4), 116-122
Article Type: Paper
Notornis, 59 (1&2), 79-81
Article Type: Short Note
Notornis, 58 (3&4), 165-168
Article Type: Short Note
Notornis, 59 (3&4), 178-179
Article Type: Short Note
Notornis, 59 (1&2), 32-38
Article Type: Paper
Deliberate taxon substitution is a much discussed but rarely enactioned concept in restoration ecology. We describe the successful establishment of a translocated population of Snares Island snipe (Coenocorypha huegeli) on Putauhinu I, which lies alongside Taukihepa (Big South Cape I), the last stronghold of the extinct South Island snipe (C. iredalei). Thirty Snares Island snipe were captured on North East I, Snares Is in Apr 2005 and released 3-5 days later on Putauhinu I. A survey on Putauhinu I in Mar 2011 resulted in the capture of 54 descendants of the released birds and a population estimate of at least 320 birds. This is one of few documented translocations of an organism with the specific objective of replacing a closely related extinct taxon. As a result, the Snares Island snipe is probably more abundant than at any time in its evolutionary history.
Notornis, 59 (3&4), 105-115
Article Type: Paper
Notornis, 59 (1&2), 74-78
Article Type: Short Note