Mobile Menu Open Mobile Menu Close
back back back

Publications Archive

Search by:

Evidence that possums prey on and scavenge birds’ eggs, birds and mammals

Notornis, 40 (3), 169-177

K. Brown; J. Innes; R. Shorten (1993)

Article Type: Paper

The brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is an opportunistic herbivore feeding mainly on leaves supplemented by a variety of other plant materials. Possums are known to eat more than 100 native plant species and a wide range of introduced plants. Diet varies markedly between regions but within any particular region is concentrated on a few plant species (Green 1984). In addition to plant material, possums will eat invertebrates (Gilmore 1967, Clout 1977, Warburton 1978, Morgan 1981, Cowan & Moeed 1987) and small vertebrates, such as birds (Perham 1924, Morgan 1981) and mice (Cowan 1990). Captive possums readily accept meat (Cowan 1990). This article describes remains left by possums that have fed on birds and their eggs. Feeding trials were carried out with captive possums to see whether they would eat dead birds and eggs and to see what sign remained after feeding. In addition, we have brought together various accounts of possums preying or scavenging on birds and other animals.

New Zealand dotterel: South Island historical notes and Southland coastal records

Notornis, 40 (1), 15-25

M. Barlow (1993)

Article Type: Paper

Historical records of South Island breeding of NZ dotterel (Charadrius obscurus) are discussed. The latest discovered South Island breeding record was 1881. No record of South Island coastal breeding was found. Numbers of birds wintering on the Southland coast declined substantially and rapidly from 1972 to 1992. The cause of decline is believed to be a decline in the Stewart Island breeding population. Colour-banded adults had allegiance to a specific wintering ground. Food items of birds at Stewart Island included 10-20 mm juvenile flounders.

The identity of the chocolate albatross Diomedea spadicea of Gmelin, 1789 and of the wandering albatross Diomedea exulans of Linnaeus, 1758

Notornis, 40 (2), 145-162

D.G. Medway (1993)

Article Type: Paper

The chocolate albatross of Latham (which was the foundation of Diomedea spadicea of Gmelin, 1789) was based for all relevant taxonomic purposes on the painting by Sydney Parkinson of a wandering albatross taken in 1768 in the South Atlantic Ocean off the Rio de la Plata, Daniel Solander’s manuscript description of the specimen indicates it was probably an example of the population breeding at the Tristan da Cunha group and Gough island, in which case dabbenena of Mathews, 1929 as the name of the subspecies would be pre-dated by 140 years by spadicea of Gmelin, 1789. Continuing confusion over the identity of the population to which the wandering albatross described by Linnaeus belonged has prompted a full examination of the sources on which he based his Diomedea exulans. As a result of this examination it is concluded that exulans as the name of the nominate subspecies of the wandering albatross is properly applicable to the larger southern populations which breed at South Georgia, Marion and Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen and Macquarie Islands.

Seabirds found dead on New Zealand beaches in 1991, and a review of Morus and Sula species recoveries, 1943 to 1991

Notornis, 40 (4), 233-245

R.G. Powlesland; M.H. Powlesland (1993)

Article Type: Paper

In 1991, 4780 km of coast of New Zealand were patrolled and 6955 dead seabirds were found as part of the Beach Patrol Scheme. An unusual find was a red-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda), and more than usual were found of the Antarctic petrel (Thalassoica antarctica), white-headed petrel (Pterodroma lessonii), little black shag (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) and brown skua (Catharacta skua lonnbergi). A summary is given of the coastal and monthly distributions of Morus and Sula species found during the 1943-1991 period. Overall, 5637 Australasian gannets (Morus serrator) were found, mainly on beaches of the northern half of the North Island. The peak period of adult recoveries was in December-February, but that of juveniles was in February-May. Both the brown booby (Sula leucogaster) and the masked booby (Sula dactylatra) are vagrants to the New Zealand mainland, with four and one individuals respectively having been found by patrollers.

The type specimen of the Australasian gannet Morus serrator (G.R. Gray, 1843)

Notornis, 40 (1), 65-70

D.G. Medway (1993)

Article Type: Paper

G.R. Gray first used the name Pelecanus serrator in association with the drawing by Sydney Parkinson of an adult Australasian gannet taken at sea near the Three Kings Islands in 1769. Parkinson’s drawing is an illustration of the specimen described in manuscript by Daniel Solander as Pelecanus serrator. Both the drawing and the description are of the type specimen and have previously unrecognised taxonomic importance. The correct type locality of Morus serrator is the vicinity of the Three Kings Islands.
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 85
  6. 86
  7. 87
  8. 88
  9. 89
  10. 90
  11. 91
  12. ...
  13. 261