The diet of 30 radio-tagged kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) was studied at 4 sites on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand, from Feb 2004 to Feb 2006, in 2 main habitat types: 1) highly modified rural-urban habitats where introduced plant species were common and remnants of native forest small, and 2) a habitat containing relatively few introduced species with a large area of regenerating native forest (Hinewai Reserve). Kereru at Hinewai had the most varied diet and ate a higher proportion of native plant species (82%) than those at rural-urban sites where only half the diet comprised native species. At all sites, native fruits were the most frequently eaten foods during mid-summer and autumn. Foliage and flowers of introduced plants – tree lucerne (Chamaecytisus palmensis) and fruit trees (Prunus and Malus spp.) at rural-urban sites, and broom (Cytisus scoparius) at Hinewai – were most frequently eaten prior to the breeding season. Kereru at all sites made multiple breeding attempts. This suggested that food was not limiting and foliage of introduced species can allow kereru to breed successfully. Food sources for kereru on Banks Peninsula, and potentially in similar habitats throughout New Zealand, could be improved based on the list of food species compiled during this study. Advantages and disadvantages of using introduced plant species for enhancement of food sources are discussed.
We investigated whether the abundance of the South Island robin (Petroica australis australis) could be explained by the abundance, species richness, diversity, or evenness of leaf-litter invertebrates. We recorded robin abundance indices and collected leaf-litter invertebrates in 3 forest types: mature Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii); mature Monterey pine (Pinus radiata); and old growth kanuka-manuka (Kunzea ericoides – Leptospermum scoparium). Robins were attracted to stations using 5-min playbacks of robin full song in each forest type. Invertebrates were extracted from leaf-litter samples using ‘Tullgren-type’ heat extraction funnels. There was no significant difference between the numbers of robins detected in the Douglas fir (1.14 5 min count-1), or kanuka-manuka forest (0.86 5 min count-1), and no robins were detected in the Monterey pine forest. Kanuka-manuka forest had the greatest biomass and species richness of leaf-litter invertebrates, but the lowest evenness. We believe that the abundance of the South Island robin can not be sufficiently explained by the density or directly of leaf-litter invertebrates.
Collections of bird specimens assembled by T.F. Cheeseman’s family in the late 1800s and early 1900s, are well-documented as to collecting localities and dates of collection. They provide a record of bird-life in the Auckland, New Zealand, region at that time. An inventory of the Auckland specimens is given, as well as information on 2 of Cheeseman’s siblings: William Joseph Cheeseman, who collected (i.e. shot) birds; and Emma Cheeseman, who prepared study skins. Of greatest interest among the bird specimens are species no longer present at the localities near Auckland city at which they were collected, including brown kiwis (Apteryx mantelli) at Waitakere (1881), brown teal (Anas chlorotis) at Ellerslie (1878) and Remuera (1880, 1886), fairy terns (Sterna nereis) at Orakei (1878), kokako (Callaeas wilsoni) at Titirangi (1878), and fernbirds (Bowdleria punctata) (1878) and pipits (Anthus novaeseelandiae) (1887) at Remuera. It would be very unusual to see black-fronted terns (Sterna albostriata) at the Manukau Harbour (recorded in 1879), and black stilts (Himantopus novaezelandiae) at Mangere (recorded in 1879) today.
Introduced mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) occur on many islands of the South Pacific, where they hybridise with the resident grey duck (A. superciliosa). In October 2007, we conducted systematic surveys of Lord Howe Island to estimate the abundance and distribution of grey ducks, mallards, and their hybrids. Hybrids were common in areas of high public use, particularly where there was mown or grazed grass. Phenotypic characteristics suggest that mallards are now dominant and have supplanted the native grey duck, with 81% of birds classified as mallard or mallard-like hybrids, 17% as intermediate hybrids and only 2% as grey duck-like hybrids. No pure grey duck were observed. These hybrids pose direct and indirect economic, social and environmental impacts to Lord Howe Island. A management program to remove mallards using trapping, shooting and opportunistic capture by hand was conducted in October 2007. Standardised indices of duck abundance before and after management indicates that the total population was reduced by 71.7%. Eradication of mallard and hybrids from Lord Howe Island is considered achievable with a program of education, monitoring, and continued control to prevent re-establishment.