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The tale of the lighthouse-keeper’s cat: discovery and extinction of the Stephens Island wren (Traversia lyalli)

Notornis, 51 (4), 193-200

R. Galbreath; D. Brown (2004)

Article Type: Paper

The Stephens Island wren Traversia lyalli is widely quoted as having been discovered and promptly exterminated from its only locality, Stephens Island, New Zealand, by a single lighthouse keeper’s cat. Examination of archival and museum records indicates that this account is oversimplified, and throws more light on the roles of the lighthouse keeper David Lyall, the dealer Henry Travers, and the ornithologists Sir Walter Buller and Walter Rothschild. Extinction of the wren was more extended than generally stated: 10 specimens were evidently brought in by a cat in 1894, but another two-four were obtained in 1895, and two-three more after that and possibly as late as 1899. Fifteen of these specimens are still held in museums. Cat predation probably was the main factor in the wren’s extinction, but not necessarily by a single cat: cats became established on Stephens Island in 1894, increased rapidly and exterminated several other species before they were eliminated.

Post-fledging migration, age of first return and recruitment, and results of inter-colony translocation of black petrels (Procellaria parkinsoni)

Notornis, 50 (4), 183-190

M.J. Imber; I. McFadden; E.A. Bell; P.R. Scofield (2003)

Article Type: Paper

Between 1986 and 1990,249 black petrels (Procellaria parkinsoni) close to fledging were transferred from Aotea (Great Barrier Island) 32 km west to Hauturu (Little Barrier Island) in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf. At the same time, 50 black petrels of similar age to those transferred were banded as controls on Hauturu and 229 on Aotea. Searches for these birds returning to breeding sites on both islands began in 1991 but three times more search effort was made on more-accessible Aotea. During their first 4.8 years of life at sea the only recovery came from off Ecuador (close to where two 6 year olds were also recovered). Since then to 2001,32 birds have been recaptured or recovered in New Zealand. Most were first recaptured at 5-6 years old and first breeding at 6-7 years old. A maximum of 42% survived to 6 years old. Survival rates of transferred and control birds were similar. The 1990 cohort had significantly better survival than did the 1986-89 cohorts, and this cohort, just 21% of the experimental birds, contributed 43% of chicks known to have been reared by experimental birds to 2001. Neither body mass at departure nor the El Niño-Southern Oscillation was clearly related to this differential survival. Most transferees returned to Aotea; none of the 1986-89 cohorts was found on Hauturu but 2 of the 3 1990 transferees that were recaptured returned to Hauturu. Given that fledglings were always transferred at a similar stage of development, the earliest transfer of heavy fledglings was the most successful.

Burrow occupancy in Westland petrels (Procellaria westlandica)

Notornis, 50 (3), 123-127

S.M. Waugh; H. Cabrera; G.C. Wood; L.S. Davis (2003)

Article Type: Paper

The Westland petrel (Procellaria westlandica) is endemic to New Zealand, and nests within a restricted area of the West Coast of the South Is. Surveys of burrow occupancy rate in 2 colonies in 2001 using burrow-scopes showed an average of 21% of burrows contained a chick or egg. The rate was c. 50% of that recorded for other burrowing seabirds and surveyed using burrow-scopes. These findings may suggest that the breeding population may have declined in recent years, or that a large group of non-breeding birds maintain territories on the colonies. Further work is planned to test the 2 opposing hypotheses.

The relationship between foraging behaviour and habitat use by South Island takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) on Tiritiri Matangi Island

Notornis, 50 (2), 59-66

M.J. Baber; J.L. Craig (2003)

Article Type: Paper

We investigated the habitat use and foraging behaviour of 3 South Island takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) family groups on Tiritiri Matangi Island, from Nov 1994 to Oct 1995. Takahe used habitats that offered abundant grasses, specifically grass/shrub mosaic and managed grass tracks, but open grassland was avoided. The preference was attributed to the higher risk of predation by Australasian harriers (Circus approximans) in this habitat as a result of a lack of sheltering trees or shrubs. Temporal patterns in habitat use reflected seasonal changes in food availability and breeding condition (age of chick). Most importantly, takahe family groups used the seasonally available grass seedheads in the grassland/shrub mosaic and the invertebrates in forest when chicks were young. The ability of Tiritiri Matangi to support takahe is likely to decrease as the suitable grass/shrub mosaic reverts to forest under the revegetation programme.
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