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Notes on the breeding ecology of the extinct Stewart Island snipe (Coenocorypha aucklandica iredalei)

Notornis, 53 (4), 339-352

C.M. Miskelly; P.J. de Lange (2006)

Article Type: Paper

The little information that we have on the breeding ecology of the extinct Stewart Is snipe (Coenocorypha aucklandica iredalei) is based on books published by Herbert Guthrie-Smith and Major Robert Wilson following visits to Big South Cape I in 1923 and 1931 respectively. Wilson was a member of a party including Edgar Stead, who collected 4 clutches of eggs now in Canterbury Museum. We summarise the published information on breeding ecology of the Stewart Is snipe, and provide new information based on previously unpublished photographs of nests, and notes made by members of the 1923 and 1931 visits to Big South Cape I, including Edgar Stead’s unpublished diary. Stewart Is snipe appear to have had a different chick-rearing strategy from all other Coenocorypha snipe, with pairs jointly caring for a single chick. Guthrie-Smith’s 1923 record of courtship-feeding was the 1st reported instance for the entire family Scolopacidae.

Energetics of free-living kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)

Notornis, 53 (1), 126-137

D.M. Bryant (2006)

Article Type: Paper

The doubly-labelled water technique was used to measure energy expenditure in 20 free-living kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) on Codfish and Little Barrier Islands. Daily energy expenditure (DEE) averaged 799 kj/d, equivalent to 1.4 x BMR (basal metabolic rate), the lowest value recorded for any adult wild bird. DEE was higher in males than females, and was greater on Codfish Island than on Little Barrier Island. Supplementary food taken from hoppers by kakapo supplied about half of their DEE; a few individuals apparently obtained virtually all their energy needs from supplementary food. Use of food from hoppers did not affect energy expenditure directly, but apparently did so via long-term elevation of body mass. Supplementary feeding, particularly of energy-dense items such as nuts and seeds, greatly depressed body-water turnover rates. Some implications of the often high level of supplementary food taken by kakapo are discussed. Adjusting the supplementary feeding programme to meet more precisely the needs of individual birds would probably improve the overall nutrition of the surviving kakapo population.


Observations of black and white storm petrels in the Hauraki Gulf, November 2003 – June 2005: Were they of New Zealand storm petrels?

Notornis, 52 (4), 181-194

C. Gaskin; K. Baird (2005)

Article Type: Paper

We observed black and white-plumaged storm petrels on 27 seabird-watching trips to the outer Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, November 2003 – June 2005. We studied their plumage characteristics, behaviour and seasonal occurrence: the birds had common plumage characteristics and sightings of them were concentrated in the outer Hauraki Gulf from October to March and further offshore in April-May. Their presence in the Hauraki Gulf coincided with summer breeding of other seabirds, in particular white-faced storm petrels (Pelagodroma marina). Their pattern of occurrence off northern New Zealand suggests the birds may be breeding in the Hauraki Gulf; the Mokohinau Islands, rid of rats (Rattus exulans) 15 years ago, is a potential breeding site In our view these black and white storm petrels do not conform to descriptions of any extant species known from New Zealand waters, and, consequently, we speculate that our observations may have been of New Zealand storm petrels (Pealeornis maoriana Mathews 1932), a species known from only three specimens collected in the 19th century.

Population status of great spotted kiwi (Apteryx haastii) near Saxon Hut, Heaphy Track, New Zealand

Notornis, 52 (1), 27-33

H.A. Robertson; J.A. McLennan; R.M. Colbourne; T.J. McCann (2005)

Article Type: Paper

Recaptures of banded birds, and call counts, indicate a population of great spotted kiwi (Apteryx haastii) near Saxon Hut, Heaphy Track, in Kahurangi National Park has remained stable between 1987 and 2004. The number and the locations of occupied territories have changed little. Although few juveniles were encountered during searches with dogs, at least 10 of 22 territorial adults present in 1987 were replaced by a total of 12 birds over 17 years implying that recruitment kept pace with the annual adult mortality of about 4%. We suggest that the incidence of the main predators of kiwi (stoats, ferrets, cats and dogs) was low in this very wet area (rainfall >5500 mm/ year). Our findings support the current ‘Vulnerable’ conservation threat ranking for the species.

An experimental evaluation of food hoarding by North Island robins (Petroica australis longipes)

Notornis, 52 (3), 138-142

L. Alexander; C. Duthie; J. Fyfe; Z. Haws; S. Hunt; I. Montoya; C. Ochoa; A. Siva; L. Stringer; J.V. Horik; K.C. Burns (2005)

Article Type: Paper

We experimentally evaluated the food hoarding behaviour of North Island robins (Petroica australis longipes) at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Wellington. Mealworms were offered to free-ranging pairs of male and female robins to evaluate whether their food hoarding behaviour was similar to previous observations of South Island robins. We also tested theoretical predictions derived in the Northern Hemisphere, which argue that competitively subordinate birds should hoard more food than dominant birds. Results showed that the food hoarding behaviour of North Island robins was similar to South Island robins, except that North Island robins repeatedly used the same cache sites, which is rare in South Island robins. Data did not support the prediction that competitively subordinate birds hoard more food than dominant birds. Males acquired most of the mealworms offered to birds during trials, and won nearly all aggressive interactions observed between sexes. Therefore, males appeared to be competitively dominant to females in winter. However, males stored over five times as many mealworms as females, which is opposite to theoretical predictions. We interpret the reluctance of females to cache food as a strategy to avoid food loss to competitively dominant males.



Band recoveries of southern royal albatrosses (Diomedea epomophora) from Campbell Island, 1943-2003

Notornis, 52 (4), 195-205

P.J. Moore; S.M. Bettany (2005)

Article Type: Paper

35,289 southern royal albatrosses (Diomedea epomophora) were banded on Campbell Island between 1941 and 1998, including 24,258 chicks and 11,031 adults. By 2003, 240 (0.68%) band recoveries and live recaptures away from Campbell Island had been reported. Birds banded as chicks were reported at a median age of 2 years (range 1-28 yrs), and adults at a median of 4 years after banding (range 0-27 yrs). The peak of band recoveries occurred close to the peak of banding in the late 1960s. Recoveries were generally made between latitudes 30-55°S in southern Australasia and South America; 43% were on coasts and 56% at sea. Birds recovered at sea (n = 134) were usually in waters over the continental shelf (up to c. 200 m deep water; 55% of records) or slope (200-1000 m; 19%). Distribution varied with age, with 56% of juveniles (<20 months old, n = 78) found on the west side of South America (especially in December – February), 54% of immature birds (<6 years old, n = 48) on the east side of South America (especially in June – July) and 55% of adults (≥ 6 years old, n = 114) in the New Zealand region. Most (94%, n = 102) birds recovered on the coast were dead, compared with 46% (n = 134) of those found at sea. Some birds were apparently caught to read bands, and 36% of the live birds (n = 78) were released without their bands, and of the remainder, 3 birds were seen again on Campbell Island. About half (49%, n = 61) of deaths at sea were caused by accidental capture on fishing lines. A possible decrease in the population during the 1970s – early 1980s coincided with the peak in long-line fishing in the New Zealand region and suggests this albatross could be affected by any new fisheries or intensification of fishing without adequate mitigation. It would be prudent to monitor the trends, dynamics and foraging of a range of New Zealand albatross species within an, as yet undeveloped, strategy for research and monitoring of seabirds in New Zealand.

The distribution and numbers of Australasian crested grebe (kamana) in New Zealand, January 2004

Notornis, 52 (1), 34-42

L.A. Jensen; R.J. Snoyink (2005)

Article Type: Paper

The Australasian crested grebe (kamana: Podiceps cristatus australis) is nationally endangered within New Zealand. A census, conducted on 24 January 2004 by 81 observers, recorded 300 adults and estimated a further 15 as present on 41 of the 93 lakes counted. Assuming approximately 30 grebes to be present on lakes not counted, the national population of adult crested grebes is estimated to be 340-350. This is 40% higher than the population recorded in 1980. In addition, 75 juveniles were counted on 18 lakes. As in the 1980 survey, approximately 55% of the adult crested grebes were recorded on Canterbury lakes. A significant regional change has occurred with birds now present on lakes in Otago, absent from Nelson lakes, and in reduced numbers in Marlborough, North Canterbury, Westland and Fiordland. In addition, a significant decline has occurred at Lake Alexandrina, one of the strongholds identified in the 1980s. Forty percent of the present adult population was recorded on two lakes, Lake Heron and Lake Hayes. We identify priority sites where management to reverse declines could be implemented and we recommend a suite of management actions.

Activity rhythms at a gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) colony at Cierva Point, Antarctic Peninsula

Notornis, 52 (3), 133-137

R.D. Quintana; P.D. Pratolongo; J.L. Agraz; O. Benitez; A.R. Mengual (2005)

Article Type: Paper

We studied activity rhythms at a gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) colony at Cierva Point, Antarctic Peninsula, during the 1992-93 summer. We counted the number of penguins crossing a specific point on their route to and from the colony. Penguins showed a strong daily rhythm of activity, with a two-peak pattern for those leaving the colony and a one-peak pattern for those returning. The peak of penguins departing to sea was at dawn, with a secondary peak in the afternoon which was coincident with the peak of returns. Although this behaviour could be explained by nest relief schedules, the pattern remained once crèches had formed. The main peak of departures strongly correlated with sunrise, which might support the existence of a light signal synchronizing activity. Even though an external factor could be triggering movements, an endogenous circadian clock might drive both patterns.




Forest birds recolonising Wellington

Notornis, 52 (1), 21-26

C. Miskelly; R. Empson; K. Wright (2005)

Article Type: Paper

Kaka (Nestor meridionalis), red-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae), whitehead (Mohoua albicilla), tomtit (Petroica macrocephala), and bellbird (Anthornis melanura) have all recently been reintroduced to sites in or near Wellington city. Prior to or concurrent with these translocations, unmarked individuals of all five species were detected in forested reserves on Wellington peninsula. Based on the number of birds seen, and frequency of sightings, we suggest that red-crowned parakeets, whiteheads and bellbirds have established resident populations in some reserves independent of translocations. We attribute these successful re-establishments to the effective control of possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and rats (Rattus sp.) undertaken by Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Department of Conservation.



Distribution, abundance, habitat use and behaviour of three Procellaria petrels off South America

Notornis, 52 (2), 88-105

L.B. Spear; D.G. Ainley; S.W. Webb (2005)

Article Type: Paper

We studied the distribution along the Pacific coast of South and Central America of three large petrels species that nest on New Zealand and subantarctic islands: white-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis), Parkinson’s petrel (P. parkinsoni) and Westland petrel (P. westlandica). During 15 cruises from 1980 to 1995, we conducted 1,020 hrs of surveys over 14,277 km2 of ocean from the shoreline to 1500 km off the coast from Chile north to Panama, and recorded 2114, 179, and 20 individuals, respectively, of the three species. White-chinned petrels occurred throughout the study area, but were most abundant off Chile, Parkinson’s petrels were most abundant along the coasts of Ecuador and Peru, and Westland petrels off southern Chile. All three species preferred waters over the continental slope, although Parkinson’s petrel was abundant also over the continental shelf during the austral winter. Densities of each species were positively related to oceanographic properties that are associated with up-welling features. Abundance estimates, analyzed using generalized additive models, peaked during the non-breeding season of each species. Estimates were 722,000 White-chinned petrels during austral autumn (95% confidence interval “CI” = 349,000 – 907,000); 38,000 Parkinson’s petrels during austral autumn (95% CI = 28,000 – 50,000); and 3,500 Westland petrels during the austral spring (95% CI = 2,000 – 6,400). Scavenging appeared to be the primary feeding method of Procellaria, a habit that would make them susceptible to mortality as a result of their regular association with commercial fishing operations, particularly the recently developed long-line fishery on the continental slope of Chile.