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Courting Terns

Southern Bird, 6 (Jun), 3-3

H. Clifford (2001)

Article Type: Article


Habitat use and foraging patterns of a reintroduced population of the South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus), the first breeding season after release

Notornis, 48 (2), 63-71

J.P. Pierre (2001)

Article Type: Paper

The benefits of monitoring habitat use patterns of translocated populations are widely acknowledged. However, this monitoring seldom occurs. Here, I report the habitat use and foraging patterns of a newly translocated population of South Island saddlebacks (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus) on Motuara Island, New Zealand, during the 1st breeding season after release. Reintroduced South Island saddlebacks spent most foraging time on the ground and in Pseudopanax arboreus. Foraging substrates used by male and female saddlebacks differed significantly Saddlebacks focused foraging activities at 0-4 m above ground, and appeared to prefer to forage in larger trees, although the species composition of forested areas did not seem to influence the birds’ choices of places to settle. With increasing population density, saddlebacks on Motuara Island may increase their areal foraging eficiency by using a wider range of plant species, vertically stratifying foraging locations within pairs, increasing use of smaller trees for foraging, and possibly by using scrub habitats more extensively South Island saddlebacks appear to be highly adaptable in their choice of foraging sites and this plasticity may enhance the success of translocations.


Errata

Notornis, 48 (3), 186-186

Editor (2001)

Article Type: Correction










Breeding, survival, and recruitment of Chatham Island pigeon (Hemiphaga chathamensis)

Notornis, 48 (4), 197-206

I.A. Flux; R.G. Powlesland; P.J. Dilks; A.D. Grant (2001)

Article Type: Paper

The Chatham Island pigeon or parea (Hemiphaga chathamensis) is an endangered species of pigeon endemic to the Chatham Islands. Effective conservation management of the Chatham Island pigeon required an understanding of its ecology and identification of the causes of decline. We studied the pigeon in their last remaining stronghold; the south-west of Chatham Island, New Zealand, between July 1991 and December 1994. We describe the nesting behaviour, nesting success, and the dispersal, survival, and recruitment of juveniles. The study was confounded by the lack of information on predator numbers or outcomes of pigeon nests from before the start of predator control activities within and adjacent to our study area. Despite a previously reported decline in pigeon numbers up until the early 1990s, during this study there was a 3-fold population increase, and only a low level of predation by possums and rats. Other than predation, no factor which might previously have limited the pigeon population was identified. We assume that the trapping and poisoning of pest-mammals since 1989, has been sufficient to allow the population of Chatham Island pigeon to recover.


Decline of brown teal (Anas chlorotis) in Northland, New Zealand, 1988-99

Notornis, 48 (3), 131-136

R. Parrish; M. Williams (2001)

Article Type: Paper

Numbers of brown teal (Anas chlorotis) present at summer flock sites in Northland, New Zealand declined 65% during 1988-99 and the species’ principal range contracted to three enclaves located along 20 km of the eastern coast. Most populations underwent a period of gradual decline followed by an abrupt crash, symptomatic of prolonged recruitment failure. Drought-induced habitat and landscape change is proposed as an important agent of decline in two formerly large populations at Clendon Cove and Tutaematai. Extirpation in Northland appears imminent.