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Kiore (Rattus exulans) predation on the eggs of the little shearwater (Puffinus assimilis haurakiensis)

Notornis, 43 (3), 147-153

A.M. Booth; E.O. Minot; R.A. Fordham; J.G. Innes (1996)

Article Type: Paper

Evidence of predation by kiore (Rattus exulans) on little shearwater (Puffinus assimilis haurakiensis) eggs was obtained on Lady Alice Island, Hen and Chickens Group, during the 1994 breeding season. A time-lapse video camera filmed a kiore removing a little shearwater egg from a nesting chamber. This egg was later recovered, showing signs of damage typical of rat predation. A kiore was also filmed breaking open and eating a punctured hen egg that had been placed in a shearwater burrow. Sixteen (55%) of the 29 nests monitored failed during incubation, and predation by kiore was the probable cause of failure for up to 75% of these nests.

New Zealand white-capped mollymawks (Diomedea cauta steadi) breeding with black-browed mollymawks (D. melanophrys melanophrys) at Antipodes Islands, New Zealand

Notornis, 43 (1), 1-6

G. Clark; C.J.R. Robertson (1996)

Article Type: Paper

Records of all mollymawk sightings on Bollons Island, Antipodes Islands, are reviewed. Data are provided to confirm the breeding record for black-browed mollymawk Diomedea melanophrys melanophrys and add a new breeding record for the NZ white-capped (shy) mollymawk Diomedea cauta steadi.

First seen or first heard? A useful distinction when counting forest birds

Notornis, 43 (1), 7-13

J.A. Gibb (1996)

Article Type: Paper

When interpreting counts of forest birds it is seldom possible to distinguish the effects of changing density from those of changing conspicuousness; these often arise from the birds’ singing and calling. To investigate this, birds first seen were recorded separately from those first heard when counting birds in forest of the Orongorongo Valley, Wellington, New Zealand. Apparent changes in the frequency of paradise duck (Tadorna variegata) in the river valley, and of the song thrush (Turdus philomelos), whitehead (Mohoua albicilla), grey warbler (Gerygone igata) and chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) in the forest coincided with changes in the frequency of their singing or calling; they were considered suspect. Changes in the frequency of the black-backed gull (Larus dominicanus) on the riverbed, and of N.Z. pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae), blackbird (Turdus merula), fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa), silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), bellbird (Anthornis melanura), tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), and Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) did not show a similar correlation. Special study of the ways in which birds either advertise or conceal themselves is needed. Correction factors may never compensate completely for the effects of the birds’ varying conspicuousness.

Identification of fledgling and juvenile kaka (Nestor meridionalis)

Notornis, 42 (3), 187-196

R.J. Moorhouse; T.C. Greene (1995)

Article Type: Paper

Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) less than one year old can be distinguished from older birds by a pale ring of skin around the eye (periophalmic ring). In birds less than five months old this has a yellow tinge, as does the cere, gape and the soles of the feet. A further distinguishing feature of kaka between three and six months of age are protruding rachides (feather quills) on the tips of the tail feathers. On Kapiti and Little Barrier Islands, most kaka nestlings fledge in February and receive food from their parents until June or July. Fledglings can often be detected during this period by their conspicuous and frequent food-begging behaviour. Juvenile characteristics in the kaka persist for a much shorter period than in the kea (N. notabilis), its sole extant congener. The loss of juvenile characteristics prior to sexual maturity suggests that juvenile kaka becomes socially independent of adults earlier than kea, presumably because of more readily obtainable food sources in their environment.

Bird species composition and abundance in relation to native plants in urban gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand

Notornis, 42 (3), 175-186

T.D. Day (1995)

Article Type: Paper

During a census in gardens in Hamilton, 71.8% of the 4428 birds observed belonged to introduced species. A total of 15 species were observed. Bird species richness was positively correlated with native plant biomass and, more strongly, with total plant biomass. More birds were present in gardens with more native plants. Among the most common species, the abundance of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) decreased with increasing percentage of native plants, the silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) increased, while blackbirds (Turdus merula) and starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) showed no significant change. This was typical for other introduced bird species. Most other birds, including the fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) and the grey warbler (Gerygone igata), were most abundant in gardens with higher native plant biomass. Notable was the absence of the tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) from all censused areas in Hamilton at the time of observation. No significant variation between morning and evening samples was noted.
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