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Bird species recorded at Cape Bird, Ross Island, Antarctica

Notornis, 37 (1), 37-44

E.B. Spurr; K.-J. Wilson; P.M. Sagar (1990)

Article Type: Paper

The Adélie penguin and Antarctic skua breed at Cape Bird, and nine other species have been recorded as visitors (emperor penguin, chinstrap penguin, southern giant petrel, Antarctic fulmar, Antarctic petrel, snow petrel, Wilson’s storm petrel, southern great skua, and southern black-backed gull). Fewer birds were recorded as visitors at Cape Bird than have been recorded at Capes Crozier and Royds, possibly because Cape Bird gets less wind.

Paradise shelduck band recoveries in the Wanganui District

Notornis, 37 (3-4), 173-181

R.J. Barker (1990)

Article Type: Paper

Post-moult dispersal of paradise shelducks (Tadorna variegata) in the Wanganui district was examined during 1987 and 1988 from hunting season band recoveries. Birds were banded at five locations, two coastal (Lakes Waipu and Marahau) and three hill country (Kakatahi, Parihauhau, and Mangamahu). Birds banded at different sites dispersed differently, with birds banded at the two coastal sites and Parihauhau more dispersive than those banded at Kakatahi and Mangamahu. Males dispersed more widely than females. Band recoveries were clustered into two separate groups, those from Kakatahi and Mangamahu, and a group comprising birds banded at coastal moulting sites and at Parihauhau. Coastal areas accounted for more than 70% of the hunting effort in the 1987 and 1988 hunting seasons, and it is suggested that the two groups of moulting birds be managed as separate population units.

Cattle egret: south to Tasmania and New Zealand for the winter

Notornis, 37 (1), 1-23

M. Maddock (1990)

Article Type: Paper

The results of monitoring changes in cattle egret numbers in New Zealand and eastern Australia, recovery records for long-distance movements of marked birds from colonies in eastern Australia, and records for wing-tagged and colour-banded birds in the Hunter Valley of NSW indicate that a pattern of movement from the colonies occurs in waves in a south to south-easterly direction to Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand during autumn and a return in spring. This movement can be described as migration. Although there is some circumstantial evidence, there is no confirmation that the same birds travel the same routes to the same destination each year. In the wintering areas they tend to restrict their activities to well-defined local territories. Significant numbers of birds remain in their natal area, however, where they may move relatively little, restricting foraging to a very limited local area for long periods, or be somewhat nomadic within a restricted region.

Diet and aspects of fairy prions breeding at South Georgia

Notornis, 37 (1), 59-69

P.A. Prince; P.G. Copestake (1990)

Article Type: Paper

A subantarctic population of the fairy prion (Pachyptila turtur) was studied at South Georgia in 1982-83. Full measurements of breeding birds are given, together with details of breeding habitat, the timing of the main breeding cycle events, and chick growth (weight and wing, culmen and tarsus length). Regurgitated food samples showed the diet to be mainly Crustacea (96% by weight), fish and squid comprising the rest. Of crustaceans, Antarctic krill made up 38% of items and 80% by weight. Copepods (four species, mostly Rhincalanus gigas) made up 39% of items but only 4% by weight; amphipods [three species, principally Themisto gaudichaudii made up 22% of items and 16% by weight. Diet and frequency of chick feeding are compared with those of Antarctic prions and blue petrels at the same site; fairy prions are essentially intermediate.

Osteology and systematics of the fernbirds (Bowdleria: Sylviidae)

Notornis, 37 (3-4), 161-171

S.L. Olson (1990)

Article Type: Paper

Although the New Zealand fernbirds were long maintained in their own genus Bowdleria, some authors have recently submerged them in the Australasian genus Megalurus. The osteology of the fernbirds shows them to be very distinct, however, so that the genus Bowdleria is fully justified. The skull of Bowdleria is most similar to that of Amphilais (“Dromaeocercus“) seebohmi of Madagascar and these two species are similar in plumage and tail structure as well. A particularly close relationship between Bowdleria and Megalurus may thus be doubted. Bowdleria is characterized by reduced elements of the wing and pectoral girdle, and a strikingly modified pelvis combined with very robust hindlimb elements. This functional complex of the hindlimb is quite unlike any of the presumed close relatives of Bowdleria, but convergent similarities are identified in several other passerine groups. On the basis of plumage and osteology. Bowdleria rufescens of the Chatham Islands is a very distinct species from B. punctata.
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