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Causes of the demise of a breeding population of titi on Mangaia, Cook Islands

Notornis, 48 (3), 137-144

D.G. Medway (2001)

Article Type: Paper

A species of small procellariid known locally as titi, probably the black-winged petrel (Pterodroma nigripennis), nested into the historic period in burrows in the volcanic soil of the uplands of Mangaia in the southern Cook Group. The demise of this titi as a breeding bird on Mangaia was probably caused by a combination of the detrimental effects of human harvesting and various introduced mammalian predators which were present on Mangaia after the arrival of missionaries in the early nineteenth century.

Atlas update

Southern Bird, 5 (Mar), 8-9

C. Robertson; G. Taylor (2001)

Article Type: article

A field technique for determining the sex of North Island kokako (Callaeas cinerea wilsoni)

Notornis, 48 (4), 217-223

I. Flux; J. Innes (2001)

Article Type: Paper

North Island kokako (Callaeas cinerea wilsoni) appear sexually monomorphic. Females are, on average, slightly smaller than males in most body measurements. Mean tarsus length was significantly smaller among females at all sites and can be used to predict sex of unknown birds with up to 86% accuracy. A simple discriminant function, using tarsus and wing chord measurements, was derived which increased sex resolution to over 90% at some sites. This is sufficient accuracy to provide a useful field technique for kokako research and conservation management. Best discriminant functions for different sites are presented and their geographical limitations are discussed.

AGM minutes

Southern Bird, 7 (Sep), 10-10

(2001)

Article Type: Article

Historical records of yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) in southern New Zealand

Notornis, 48 (3), 145-156

P.J. Moore (2001)

Article Type: Paper

The yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) on the South Island of New Zealand was believed to have suffered a population decline that continued into the 1980s. Unpublished census results from L. Richdale (1930s-1950s) and S. Sharpe (1950s-1960s) for Otago Peninsula show that there were only 44 nests in 1940, but the number increased in the 1940s-1960s. Numbers peaked at 276 nests in the mid-1980s. Subsequent decreases and a crash to 79 nests in 1990 led to concerns for the viability of the population, but years of good survival and breeding allowed a recovery. The fluctuations were probably driven by interplays of human impacts and environmental variation. Reservation of breeding areas, revegetation, and predator control have reduced the deleterious human impacts and given the species a chance to increase numbers and withstand adverse fluctuations in the environment.

Errata

Notornis, 48 (3), 186-186

Editor (2001)

Article Type: Correction

The effect of jetboat wake on braided riverbed birds on the Dart River

Notornis, 48 (2), 72-75

B. McKinlay; A. Smale (2001)

Article Type: Paper

We investigated the effect of jetboat wakes on feeding wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis), banded dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus), black-billed gull (Larus bulleri), and black-fronted tern (Sterna albostriata) on the Dart River, Otago. We found that all species feed in areas likely to be affected by jetboat wake. On average, banded dotterel (n=8) were 43.2 mm above the water level and 4.37 m from the waters edge, wrybill (n= 16) were 49 mm above the water level and 0.8 m from the water’s edge. Jetboat wake (n=7) extended 91.3 mm above the waters edge and on average 1 m from the edge of the river channel. The implications of the wash and the extent of the likely effect are discussed.

Twitchathon 2001

Southern Bird, 8 (Dec), 10-12

J. Moore; A. Smith; H. Spencer; B. Stephenson; S. Saville (2001)

Article Type: article

Productivity and survival within 2 declining populations of brown teal (Anas chlorotis)

Notornis, 48 (4), 187-195

M. Williams (2001)

Article Type: Paper

Brown teal (Anas chlorotis) populations at Clendon Cove and Tutaematai in Northland, New Zealand, declined catastrophically between 1993 and 1995, from 31 pairs to 1 and from 22 pairs to 8, respectively. Mean productivity was 1.8 fledglings pair1 in both populations. Fledgling survival was almost nil with only 1 of 51 identifiable fledglings surviving to recruit into 1 population. Almost all fledgling mortality occurred within 3 months of independence. Annual adult survival was 15% at Clendon Cove and 43% at Tutaematai and most deaths occurred in October-December, immediately after breeding. At Clendon Cove, significant mortality also occurred in autumn. Destruction of breeding and refuge habitat by cattle seeking moisture during periods of drought was identified as a significant cause of decline.

Birds of the Snares Islands, New Zealand

Notornis, 48 (1), 1-40

C.M. Miskelly; P.M. Sagar; A.J.D. Tennyson; R.P. Scofield (2001)

Article Type: Paper

Bird records from the Snares Islands between Dec 1982 and Oct 2000 are summarised. Population estimates and distributions are given for the 29 breeding species. Bird species recorded breeding on the Snares Is for the first time since 1982 were southern black-browed albatross (Diomedea melanophrys), Chatham Island albatross (D. eremita), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), southern black-backed gull (Larus dominicanus), fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa), and starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Fantails are now abundant on the Snares Is. Published work on the breeding chronology and breeding success of 8 intensively studied species is summarised, and new information on breeding ecology is presented for all breeding species. Sighting of 70 non-breeding and vagrant species are summarised; 34 of these were new records from the Snares Is since 1980. The total bird list for the Snares Is is now 99 species, with a further 8 species reported from boats offshore.

Long-term monitoring of a breeding colony of white herons (Egretta alba) on the Waitangiroto River, South Westland, New Zealand

Notornis, 48 (3), 157-163

C. Miller (2001)

Article Type: Paper

The population of white herons (Egretta alba) at Waitangiroto Nature Reserve has been monitored since 1944. The number of breeding adults (estimated from maximum number of nests at the height of the breeding season, and first recorded in 1958) has increased from 26 to c.100, with a concurrent increase in the number of chicks hatched and fledged. Population growth was greatest between 1964-69 and 1980-84. Chick mortality appears to result largely from the effects of westerly and southwesterly storms in October and November, although infanticide, siblicide, and low levels of predation may account for some chick deaths. The mean number of fledglings nest-1 has decreased over time as the number of nests has increased, suggesting a density dependent response. The white herons that “invaded” New Zealand from Australia in 1952 and 1957 did not appear to recruit into the breeding population.

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.

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