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Fossils indicate Pelecanoides georgicus had large colonies at Mason Bay, Stewart Island, New Zealand

Notornis, 45 (4), 229-246

T.H. Worthy (1998)

Article Type: Paper

Osteological characters distinguishing the South Georgian diving petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus) from the common diving petrel (P. urinatrix) are described. P. georgicus is shown to be the main diving petrel in Holocene fossil deposits at Mason Bay, Stewart Island, New Zealand, where it is represented by thousands of bones. P. georgicus is also recorded from dune deposits on Chatham Island. The Codfish Island population is thus a remnant of a formerly large Pacific population that bred on Macquarie Island, Auckland Islands, Stewart Island and Chatham Island, and is therefore of high conservation priority.

The decline of North Island weka (Gallirallus australis greyi) at Parekura Bay, Bay of Islands

Notornis, 45 (1), 31-43

A.J. Beauchamp; B. van Berkum; M.J. Closs (1998)

Article Type: Paper

The North Island weka (Gallirallus australis greyi) population at Parekura Bay was monitored in 1991-95, during a long dry El Niño event. Adult weka had declined from ~400, in February 1987 (Beauchamp 1988), to 47-63 Weka in Parekura Bay and Whangamumu areas in June 1991. By March 1995 there were only three weka left there. Enhanced production of young weka was insufficient to prevent decline. Known mortality factors were road kills, Timms traps and dogs and stoats. Throughout the study the population lacked females. A “crowing call” by males was identified as associated with mate loss and mate finding.

Foods of Buller’s shearwaters (Puffinus bulleri) associated with driftnet fisheries in the central North Pacific Ocean

Notornis, 45 (2), 81-92

P. Gould; P. Ostrom; W. Walker (1998)

Article Type: Paper

We examined digestive tract contents and stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) in breast muscles of Buller’s shearwaters (Puffinus bulleri) salvaged from squid and large-mesh driftnets in the central North Pacific Ocean. The epipelagic Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) was the predominant prey, making up 71% of prey mass in digestive tracts. The remainder of the diet included small numbers of crustaceans, small fishes, and squids. The high degree of specialization in the diet seems to indicate that in the North Pacific, Buller’s shearwaters usually feed at or near the water surface and rarely pursue food under water. Although these birds have been observed feeding on scraps from fishing vessels, our data suggest that offal comprises less than 10 percent of the diet. Stable nitrogen isotope values provided quantified information on the timing of arrival of migrants into the North Pacific.

A second intact specimen of the Chatham Island taiko (Pterodroma magentae)

Notornis, 45 (4), 247-254

M.J. Imber; A.J.D. Tennyson; G.A. Taylor; P. Johnston (1998)

Article Type: Paper

A breeding male Chatham Island taiko (Pterodroma magentae) was found recently dead of injuries by its burrow on 14 November 1996. Intraspecific fighting followed by sepsis of wounds seems the likely cause of death. All parts were preserved. Food items of taiko include four squid species and one fish species. Its intestinal structure suggests a close relationship with the P. mollis group and P. macroptera. Measurements of bones indicate that most subfossil bones previously referred to this species were correctly identified.

Distribution of sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus) breeding colonies along the Otago Coast, New Zealand, with indication of countrywide population trends

Notornis, 44 (1), 15-25

S.A. Hamilton; H. Moller; C.J.R. Robertson (1997)

Article Type: Paper

Large breeding colonies of sooty shearwaters or titi (Puffinus griseus) occur on offshore islands around New Zealand and several smaller colonies occur on headlands and near-shore islands around southern New Zealand; their population trends are unknown. Twelve mainland colonies around Otago had between 11 and 620 burrows in the 1992/93 breeding season. The largest of three near-shore island colonies in Otago had at least 1,050 burrows. Sooty shearwater burrows have been recorded from 39 mainland sites in the South Island, but only 11 (28%) of these have been checked in the last 40 years: many may now be extinct. OSNZ Beach Patrol data suggest that the overall number of sooty shearwaters has changed little over a 26 year period. Methods for monitoring sooty shearwater colonies need to be standardised to evaluate population trends in the future.

Recent literature

Notornis, 44 (3), 194-200

M.J. Imber (1997)

Article Type: Book Review

Successful translocations of little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii) between offshore islands of New Zealand

Notornis, 44 (4), 253-258

R.M. Colbourne; H.A. Robertson (1997)

Article Type: Paper

In the 1980’s little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii) were transferred to Long, Red Mercury and Hen Islands to establish new populations beyond their stronghold on Kapiti Island. Recent surveys indicate that all three populations are increasing at between 4% and 8% per annum. Recently, a fifth population has been established successfully on Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf, and has grown at a rate of about 11% per annum. Little spotted kiwi now appear to be secure with five viable populations on predator-free islands. Aerial poisoning of rats using brodifacoum baits does not appear to have had any long-term adverse effect on the populations of little spotted kiwi on Red Mercury and Tiritiri Matangi Islands.

Fossil deposits in the Hodges Creek Cave System, on the northern foothills of Mt Arthur, Nelson, South Island, New Zealand

Notornis, 44 (2), 111-124

T.H. Worthy (1997)

Article Type: paper

Avifaunas from Pleistocene and Holocene fossil deposits in the Hodges Creek Cave System in northwest Nelson, New Zealand, are described. At least 20 species of birds are present in glacial-age deposits from these sites at about 900 m above sea level. A sample of 12,000 year old Finsch’s Duck (Euryanas finschi) bones shows that post-glacial shortening of the wings in this species had already started at that time.

The decline of the North Island weka (Gallirallus australis greyi) in the East Cape and Opotiki regions, North Island New Zealand

Notornis, 44 (1), 27-35

A.J. Beauchamp (1997)

Article Type: Paper

Densities of the North Island weka (Gallirallus australis greyi) have declined over much of the East Cape region since 1985. The area around Motu township had densities exceeding 0.72 ha-1 in 1985-86, but they disappeared by 1990 and have increased only marginally since. The decline coincided with floods and the spread of ferrets (Mustela furo) into the valley. The only region where weka density increased is in the hills between Motu and Opotiki Counts in the Toatoa and Whitikau Valleys in 1995 found a maximum density of 0.60 adult weka ha-1 in mixed farmland and fern, and between 0.08 – 0.18 ha-1 in mature forest. There are less than 1,000 adults in the centre of this region, and in some areas the population is male-dominated.
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