Buller’s albatross Thalassarche bulleri is generally considered to comprise two subspecies: T. b. bulleri, which breeds on islands south of the South Island, New Zealand; and T. b. platei, which nests on the Three Kings Islands, off the northern tip of of the North Island, and on outlying islets of the Chatham Islands east of New Zealand. Although the name platei has been widely applied to the latter population, some authors have suggested that its type specimen is in fact a juvenile T. b. bulleri. As a result, those birds breeding in the Chatham and Three Kings groups have sometimes been considered to represent an unnamed subspecies, or even species, given recent evidence of their genetic differentiation. Because our own morphological examination of the specimen was inconclusive as to which population the type of platei belongs, we subjected the individual to molecular testing. From this, we can confirm that the name platei has been correctly applied to the northern population of Buller’s albatross.
Albatrosses and petrels are among the most endangered seabird species worldwide. They face threats such as plastic ingestion, bycatch in fisheries, invasive predators at breeding sites, light pollution, and climate change. Many seabird species from Aotearoa New Zealand migrate to the eastern Pacific waters during the non-breeding season, following the abundant food availability of the Humboldt current. In this article, we compile observations of Thalassarche and Procellaria petrels in Ecuadorian waters from five information sources such as incidental tourist vessel observations, incidental fishermen observations, beach patrols, seawatching and GLS loggers. We provide strong evidence of the presence of Salvin’s albatross and White-chinned petrel in Ecuador, two species previously considered hypothetical for the country’s official bird list. Additionally, we present photographic evidence of a live Southern Buller’s albatross in Ecuador and document further observations of the black petrel, including its interactions with local fisheries. These records emphasize the importance of enhancing monitoring efforts to gain a deeper understanding of the ecology and conservation of Ecuador’s seabirds. They also highlight the necessity and advantages of collaboration between New Zealand and Ecuador concerning highly mobile bird species.
Abstract: Coastal and nearshore habitats are important to all seabird species. Understanding the distribution of seabirds in these environments can aid in their conservation. Despite the importance of coastal habitat, data collection for seabird species at sea is often difficult and resource intensive. Here, we take advantage of an established marine mammal surveying programme to collect distribution data for seabird species encountered in nearshore habitat. We surveyed seabird communities over 76 days in four locations along the southeast coast of New Zealand’s South Island; Dunedin, Moeraki, Timaru, and Banks Peninsula. We present observations of seabird species presence in these locations, as well as, a brief assessment of the counting techniques used during the study. In addition, we summarise the seabird numbers in relation to the marine mammal surveys (i.e. the presence and absence of dolphins). We aim to show the value of opportunistic data collection, while contributing to baseline species distribution knowledge.
Abstract: A new colony of the endangered Hutton’s shearwaters (Puffinus huttoni) has been established at Te Rae o Atiu on the Kaikōura Peninsula, South Island east coast, New Zealand to provide insurance against catastrophic events at the high-altitude natural colonies in the Kōwhai River and Shearwater Stream, Seaward Kaikōura Range. The translocation of 495 chicks from the Kōwhai River colony was carried out in six operations from 2005 to 2013. Of the 473 fledglings, 97 have been recorded back at Te Rae o Atiu. Chick selection criteria, fledgling mass, fledgling wing length, days present before fledging, and days of emergence before fledging had no bearing on whether chicks returned from their post-fledging migration to Australian waters or not. One hundred and twelve Te Rae o Atiu bred chicks have fledged up until 2020–21. The Te Rae o Atiu fledglings had similar mass and wing lengths, and days emerged prior to fledging, to the translocated fledglings. There were no differences between the groups of Te Rae o Atiu bred birds that returned or did not. At 2020–21, 21 of the 112 second-generation chicks have returned from their initial migration, and the earliest have bred successfully. The colony has grown to about 75 birds producing about 30 eggs, 24 chicks, and 22 fledglings annually. Future growth of Te Rae o Atiu will be reliant on these home-bred chicks as the oldest translocation birds will soon be approaching the end of their breeding lives. Acoustic attraction of birds flying over Te Rae o Atiu from the sea towards the Kōwhai River natal colony has been mostly unsuccessful with only two birds attracted.
Abstract: Captive facilities across New Zealand strive to mimic natural conditions for captive animals as closely as possible. In the case of the kiwi (Apteryx spp.), captive habitats are augmented with natural stimuli such as soils, leaf litter, bark, plants, logs, and mosses. Interaction with these introduced stimuli has been shown to encourage normal foraging behaviour and is speculated to aid in inoculating young animals with healthy microbial communities. However, introducing non-sterile natural stimuli into the captive environment also carries the risk of exposing kiwi to diseases such as aspergillosis, coccidiosis, and candidiasis. Aspergillosis is of particular concern to rearing facilities – the disease is most commonly attributed to exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus, an opportunistic fungal pathogen. Here we present a PCR-based screen to qualitatively detect the presence and/or absence of A. fumigatus in soils. Soil samples collected from nesting sites of rowi (Ōkārito brown kiwi, Apteryx rowi) in the Ōkārito region of the West Coast were screened for A. fumigatus using a species-specific primer set coupled with a basic DNA extraction. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve soil and substrate samples were also screened as a baseline comparison representing captive rearing facilities. Results from the assays showed that the extraction technique was effective at isolating A. fumigatus DNA at detectable levels from a variety of soils, and that Ōkārito soils did not harbour a higher abundance of A. fumigatus than those found at Willowbank. This preliminary screening method could be used by facilities in New Zealand to quickly and cheaply screen soils and substrates for A. fumigatus before introducing them to captive enclosures.
This is Part 4 of Volume 70.
Abstract: The critically endangered kuaka Whenua Hou (Whenua Hou diving petrel, Pelecanoides georgicus whenuahouensis) is a burrow-nesting petrel, restricted to breeding in the foredunes of Whenua Hou. The species’ recovery is inhibited by ongoing threats such as vessel-based light pollution, interspecific competition, and climate change including storm-induced erosion of fragile breeding habitat and thus, kuaka Whenua Hou would benefit from the establishment of a new colony through translocation. However, translocations of petrels require hand-rearing of pre-fledging chicks on the destination site to reset their philopatric behaviour. We documented a hand-rearing and translocation trial of kuaka Whenua Hou in preparation for future translocations. Ten kuaka Whenua Hou chicks were translocated from natal burrows to nest boxes installed behind the colony, and hand-reared on a bespoke diet of pureed sardines. All hand-reared chicks fledged successfully, with fledging mass similar to naturally-reared chicks and with slightly longer wing lengths. The techniques used highlighted the importance of selection criteria, access to natural growth curves to infer feeding regimes, nutritionally rich diets, and strict hygiene protocols. Our trial provides a knowledge base for future translocations and the establishment of new kuaka Whenua Hou colonies.
Tuhinga whakarāpopoto: He momo tata korehāhā te kuaka o Whenua Hou (Pelecanoides georgicus whenuahouensis), he momo ōi e whai rua hei kōhanga, kua mau ki te whakatipu ki ngā tāhuahua kopī o mua o Whenua Hou. Ko te whakarauora o tēnei momo kua whakanguengue i ngā āhuatanga whakaraerae e mau tonu pērā i te pokanga rama, ā rātou ake pakanga ki a rātou me te hurihuri o te āhuarangi, tae noa atu ki te horonga whenua o te pūrei kōhanga marore nō te marangai, ā nō reira, ka whai hua te kuaka Whenua Hou i te whakatūtanga atu o tētahi taiwhenua hou mā te nukunuku kōhanga. Engari, me whakatipu ngā pīrere ki te ringa ki te wāhi e tū ai te kōhanga hou kia ea ai te nuku kōhanga, ā, kia tautuhi anō tā rātou hiahia ki te hoki atu ki te kāinga i whakatipuria kētia rātou. I āta mārama mātou ki te whakamātautau o te whakatipu ā-ringa me te nukunuku kōhanga o te kuaka Whenua Hou kia whakarite ai ki te nukunukunga tūturu e haere ake nei. I nuku kia ngahuru ngā pīpī kuaka Whenua Hou mai i ngā rua i whānau mai ai rātou ki ētahi kōhanga hanga i whakatūria ki muri i te taiwhenua matua, ā, i whakatipuria rātou ki te ringa ki ētahi kai ake o te hārini penupenu. I whai huruhuru pai ngā pīpī katoa, ā, ehara i te rerekē te taumaha o ēnei pīpī i ērā i whakatipuria ki ō rātou ake kōhanga, engari he paku roa ake ngā parirau. I whakamiramira atu ngā tū-āhua i whakamahia i te hiranga o ngā paearu whiri, te whai wāhitanga ki ngā pikinga whakatipu māori kia whakapae tika ai te tikanga whāngai, te whiringa o te kai taioranga me ngā tikanga akuaku mārō. Ka noho tā mātou whakamātautau hei tūāpapa mātauranga ki ngā nukunukunga kōhanga e haere ake nei, me te whakatūtanga o ētahi taiwhenua hou mō ngā kuaka Whenua Hou.
Abstract: Across all bird species, latitude plays an important role in determining patterns in timing, duration, and synchronisation of primary moult but, apart from Africa, moult studies at the southernmost limits of the continents and islands in the southern hemisphere are lacking. The focus of this study is the self-introduced silvereye (tauhou, Zosterops lateralis) in New Zealand, one of the most southern countries in the world. Moult data collected by bird banders during the period 1978–2022 were analysed using the Underhill-Zucchini moult model. Silvereyes had an estimated primary moult duration of 74 days, with a mean population start date of 3 February and a mean completion date of 19 April. Post-breeding primary moult in adult silvereyes starts soon after the breeding season and ends shortly before some of the more southern birds embark on their seasonal northward migratory movements. Juvenile primary moult is estimated to start approximately two weeks after the start of post-breeding moult in adults. A literature review suggested that primary moult duration for Zosterops species is similar regardless of latitude, but the timing of moult is variable and adjusted to local conditions.