DOCSLIB.ORG

Sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand Wildlife List (PDF)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Wildlife List of Sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand Compiled by Max Breckenridge KEY • H – Heard only • L – Leader only • I – Introduced species • E – Species is endemic to New Zealand • M – Species is endemic to Macquarie Island • e – Species is endemic to Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Oceania) • ssp – subspecies • NZ – New Zealand BIRDS Species total: 116 Heard only: 1 Leader only: 3 KIWIS E (Apterygidae) Southern Brown Kiwi E (Apteryx australis) – Single heard by some, and seen by others, on Ulva Island. Typically a nocturnal species. DUCKS, GEESE & WATERFOWL (Anatidae) Canada Goose I (Branta canadensis) – Tens in Dunedin, Te Anau, and Glentanner. Black Swan e (Cygnus atratus) – Hundreds in Dunedin Harbour and Lake Dunstan. Paradise Shelduck E (Tadorna variegata) – Tens/singles around Dunedin, Oban, and hundreds at Lake Dunstan. Blue Duck E (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) – Single seen briefly from the bus window between Milford Sound and Te Anau. Pacific Black Duck L (Anas superciliosa) – Three birds at Milford Sound. Some likely hybrids also observed near Twizel. Mallard I (Anas platyrhynchos) – Tens/singles on several occasions. Not pure Mallards. Most individuals in NZ are hybrids with domestic varieties or Pacific Black Duck. Auckland Islands Teal E (Anas aucklandica) – At least five individuals observed at Enderby Island along the shoreline and amongst ribbon kelp. A confiding pair of this flightless endemic greeted us at our beach landing. Campbell Islands Teal E (Anas nesiotis) – Great views of a confiding individual waiting for us at the dock on Campbell Island. New Zealand Scaup E (Aythya novaeseelandiae) – Singles at Lake Te Anau and tens around Queenstown and Twizel. NEW WORLD QUAIL (Odontophoridae) California Quail I (Callipepla californica) – Singles outside our hotel in Queenstown. GREBES (Podicipedidae) Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) [‘Australasian Crested Grebe’ (Podiceps c. australis)] – Singles at Lake Dunstan and near Twizel. The Australasian subspecies is a good candidate for a split due to its geographical isolation and permanent breeding plumage. PIGEONS & DOVES (Columbidae) Rock Pigeon I (Columba livia) – Tens in Dunedin and Queenstown. New Zealand Pigeon [Kereru] E (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) – Singles of this attractive dove at Orokonui, Stewart Island and Fiordland. CUCKOOS (Cuculidae) Long-tailed Koel [Cuckoo] H (Urodynamis taitensis) – One/two heard by some at Bradshaw Harbour in Doubtful Sound. A notoriously difficult species to see. RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS (Rallidae) Weka E (Gallirallus australis) – Up to ten individuals, including youngsters, allowing for excellent views on Ulva Island. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) – Tens near Twizel. South Island Takahe E (Porphyrio hochstetteri) – The now resident pair at Orokonui put on a great show soon after we arrived at the sanctuary. An endangered species that only survives in pest-free locations. STILTS & AVOCETS (Recurvirostridae) Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) – Tens at Lake Dunstan and a single with Black Stilts at Glentanner. Black Stilt E (Himantopus novaezelandiae) – Eight individuals, including a striking adult, allowed for an unforgettable experience at Glentanner in the shadow of Mount Cook. We enjoyed an hour of watching this small party as they fed within touching distance at times. Likely the world’s rarest shorebird with barely 200 birds remaining. OYSTERCATCHERS (Haematopodidae) South Island Oystercatcher E (Haematopus finschi) – Tens in Dunedin Harbour and singles at Ulva Island and Glentanner. Variable Oystercatcher E (Haematopus unicolor) – Tens in Dunedin Harbour and singles at Ulva Island and Fiordland. PLOVERS & LAPWINGS (Charadriidae) Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) – Tens in Dunedin Harbour and in fields north of Queenstown. Double-banded Plover e (Charadrius b. bicinctus) – Singles at Glentanner and Lake Dunstan. [‘Auckland Double-banded Plover’ (Charadrius b. exilis)] – Singles seen distantly on the boardwalk. Better views for those who did the long hike. Endemic subspecies to the Auckland Islands. SANDPIPERS & ALLIES (Scolopacidae) Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) – Up to 50 birds in Dunedin Harbour. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) – Up to ten birds seen by those who did the long hike on Enderby Island. Subantarctic Snipe E (Coenocorypha aucklandica) – Singles seen by some on Campbell Island and during the long hike on Enderby Island. Up to ten birds heard on our day at Campbell. Common Greenshank L (Tringa nebularia) – A vagrant to New Zealand. A single bird was seen well, calling in flight, while anchored offshore from Enderby Island. Perhaps the most southerly record ever of this species! SKUAS & JAEGERS (Stercorariidae) Brown Skua (Stercorarius antarcticus) – Tens/singles seen each day in the Southern Ocean. Good numbers encountered onshore at Campbell, Macquarie, and Enderby Islands where they make a living scavenging around penguin and seal colonies. Cute and confiding one minute, crafty and vicious the next! [‘Subantarctic Skua’ (Stercorarius a. lonnbergi)] – Plumage differences are difficult to discern between subspecies, but lonnbergi is the expected subspecies in the region. Parasitic Jaeger [Arctic Skua] L (Stercorarius parasiticus) – A pair seen flying south between Doubtful and Milford Sounds. GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMERS (Laridae) Black-billed Gull E (Chroicocephalus bulleri) – Tens at Te Anau and around Queenstown, north to Twizel. One of the world’s most endangered gulls as a result of its limited range and recent declines. Silver [Red-billed] Gull e (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae scopulinus) – Tens/hundreds on several occasions across the South and Sub-Antarctic Islands. Often referred to as ‘Red-billed’ Gull in New Zealand, now considered a single species. Kelp [Southern Black-backed] Gull (Larus d. dominicanus) – Tens/hundreds observed on all but two days. Black-fronted Tern E (Chlidonias albostriatus) – Singles seen in flight over fields near Te Anau and Queenstown. Good views at Lake Dunstan and Glentanner. White-fronted Tern e (Sterna striata) – Tens/singles on several occasions. The common breeding tern in New Zealand. Antarctic Tern (Sterna v. [vittata group]) – Tens around Campbell and Auckland Islands (ssp. bethunei), and singles at Sandy Bay on Macquarie Island (ssp. macquariensis). A beautiful tern that breeds in the Sub-Antarctic. PENGUINS (Spheniscidae) King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) – Beautiful and boisterous. We had all the views one could desire of this remarkable bird during our time on Macquarie Island. We especially enjoyed our spell at a small colony at Sandy Bay, numbering around 6000 birds. Despite challenging conditions the following day, we were able to marvel at the spectacle of the Lusitania Bay colony from zodiacs where up to 100,000 birds breed. Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis p. papua) – A small colony of up to 100 birds breed around the Base at the northern end of Macquarie Island. We had lovely views of up to 20 birds amongst the Elephant Seals on our day ashore. Yellow-eyed Penguin E (Megadyptes antipodes) – Up to 40 of this unique and endangered penguin observed resting and waddling down the beach at Enderby Island. A single was observed at sea near Stewart Island and some were heard at Campbell Island. Little Penguin e (Eudyptula m. minor) – A single in Dunedin Harbour, and good looks at up to ten individuals in the water while anchored in Halfmoon Bay at Stewart Island. Fiordland Penguin E (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) – Our final penguin for the trip, and one of the most vulnerable and difficult members of the family to find. We had fantastic looks at several sheltering in a rocky cove of Halfmoon Bay at Stewart Island. Single birds were seen briefly by some in the water at Dusky and Milford Sounds. Erect-crested Penguin E (Eudyptes sclateri) – The star of Campbell Island! An endangered species that only breeds on the all but inaccessible Antipodes, we were incredibly fortunate to find a single adult amongst a colony of rockhoppers during our zodiac cruise at Penguin Bay. This was a major bonus for the penguin listers among us, as Mike said at recap that evening, “seeing this penguin saved all of you a twenty-thousand dollar trip”. Royal Penguin M (Eudyptes schlegeli) – A near-threatened species that only breeds on Macquarie Island. We had a great time observing their antics at Sandy Bay where a colony of over 20,000 birds spend the summer. Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) [‘Eastern Rockhopper Penguin’ (Eudyptes c. filholi)] – We were fortunate to visit a large colony of these vulnerable penguins at Penguin Bay on Campbell Island. Many were also seen in the water from the ship as we cruised around Campbell Island. A small colony was seen distantly at the northern end of Macquarie Island. Snares Penguin E (Eudyptes robustus) – Unfortunately due to rough weather, we could not zodiac cruise at The Snares. However, we had as good views as you could hope for of hundreds of individuals of this vulnerable species from the ship as we cruised close to the island. Some of the best views were of birds in the water close to the ship. ALBATROSSES (Diomedeidae) Gray-headed Albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma) – A subtly stunning albatross. We had great looks at up to 25 individuals of this endangered species as we cruised around Campbell Island where up to 8,000 pairs breed. Buller’s Albatross (Thalassarche bulleri) – Distant views of a couple near Carnley Harbour, were followed up by good looks at hundreds of birds at The
Recommended publications
  • Kakapo: Rescued from the Brink of Extinction

    Kakapo: Rescued from the Brink of Extinction

    AJE: Australasian Journal of Ecocriticism and Cultural Ecology, Vol. 1, 2011/2012 ASLEC-ANZ Kakapo: Rescued from the Brink of Extinction. By Alison Ballance. Nelson, NZ: Craig Potton Publishing, 2010. 200 pp. Cloth $49.95 Winner of the 2011 Royal Society of New Zealand Science Book Prize ‘Kakapo: Another act of Brinkmanship’ New Zealand-Aotearoa’s long history of geographical and evolutionary isolation with its consequential endemism, followed by the rapid human-induced extinctions brought of the past 800 years is now all too well understood. An absence of mammals, bizarre evolutionary ‘surrogates’ and, perhaps a statement about local resilience in a planetary context, the impact of new species on its ecosystems – all this is part of the Department of Conservation (DOC)’s ‘received’ version. What is still only poorly discerned is how much the efforts of DOC and its associates in the prodigious recovery operations that have become a feature of endangered native bird survival over the past few decades, is an expression of our culture. The black robin, the takahe, little spotted, great and brown kiwi, k!kako, stitchbird, saddleback and mohua, among others, have, to varying degrees, each been perilously and famously close to extinction, but all have been ‘hauled back from the brink’. Rightly, New Zealanders collectively bask in the success of these dizzying missions, that often take decades of work and multiple, painstaking strategies to make a difference. These achievements may be characterised in terms of Western medicine. We in the West have come to be comforted by the fact of the medical ‘Golden Hour’.
  • CATALINA CALIFORNIA QUAIL (Callipepla Californica Catalinensis) Paul W

    CATALINA CALIFORNIA QUAIL (Callipepla Californica Catalinensis) Paul W

    II SPECIES ACCOUNTS Andy Birch PDF of Catalina California Quail account from: Shuford, W. D., and Gardali, T., editors. 2008. California Bird Species of Special Concern: A ranked assessment of species, subspecies, and distinct populations of birds of immediate conservation concern in California. Studies of Western Birds 1. Western Field Ornithologists, Camarillo, California, and California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento. California Bird Species of Special Concern CATALINA CALIFORNIA QUAIL (Callipepla californica catalinensis) Paul W. Collins Criteria Scores Population Trend 0 Santa Range Trend 0 Barbara County Population Size 7.5 Range Size 10 Ventura Endemism 10 County Population Concentration 10 Threats 0 Los San Miguel Is. Santa Cruz Is. Angeles County Anacapa Is. Santa Rosa Is. Santa Barbara Is. Santa Catalina Is. San Nicolas Is. San Clemente Is. Current Year-round Range Historic Year-round Range County Boundaries Kilometers 20 10 0 20 Current and historic (ca. 1944) year-round range of the Catalina California Quail. Birds from Santa Catalina Island (perhaps brought by Native Americans) later introduced successfully to Santa Rosa (1935–1940) and Santa Cruz (late 1940s) islands, but unsuccessfully to San Nicolas Island (1962); quail from mainland populations of C. c. californica introduced unsuccessfully to Santa Cruz (prior to 1875) and San Clemente (late 19th century, 1913) islands. Catalina California Quail Studies of Western Birds 1:107–111, 2008 107 Studies of Western Birds No. 1 SPECIAL CONCERN PRIORITY HISTORIC RANGE AND ABUNDANCE Currently considered a Bird Species of Special IN CALIFORNIA Concern (year round), priority 3. This subspecies Grinnell and Miller (1944) described the Catalina was not included on prior special concern lists California Quail as a “common to abundant” (Remsen 1978, CDFG 1992).
  • New Zealand Comprehensive II Trip Report 31St October to 16Th November 2016 (17 Days)

    New Zealand Comprehensive II Trip Report 31St October to 16Th November 2016 (17 Days)

    New Zealand Comprehensive II Trip Report 31st October to 16th November 2016 (17 days) The Critically Endangered South Island Takahe by Erik Forsyth Trip report compiled by Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth RBL New Zealand – Comprehensive II Trip Report 2016 2 Tour Summary New Zealand is a must for the serious seabird enthusiast. Not only will you see a variety of albatross, petrels and shearwaters, there are multiple- chances of getting out on the high seas and finding something unusual. Seabirds dominate this tour and views of most birds are alongside the boat. There are also several land birds which are unique to these islands: kiwis - terrestrial nocturnal inhabitants, the huge swamp hen-like Takahe - prehistoric in its looks and movements, and wattlebirds, the saddlebacks and Kokako - poor flyers with short wings Salvin’s Albatross by Erik Forsyth which bound along the branches and on the ground. On this tour we had so many highlights, including close encounters with North Island, South Island and Little Spotted Kiwi, Wandering, Northern and Southern Royal, Black-browed, Shy, Salvin’s and Chatham Albatrosses, Mottled and Black Petrels, Buller’s and Hutton’s Shearwater and South Island Takahe, North Island Kokako, the tiny Rifleman and the very cute New Zealand (South Island wren) Rockwren. With a few members of the group already at the hotel (the afternoon before the tour started), we jumped into our van and drove to the nearby Puketutu Island. Here we had a good introduction to New Zealand birding. Arriving at a bay, the canals were teeming with Black Swans, Australasian Shovelers, Mallard and several White-faced Herons.
  • Birds of the Mendocino National Forest Compiled by Chuck Vaughn, Jerry White, and David Woodward Updated June 2007

    Birds of the Mendocino National Forest Compiled by Chuck Vaughn, Jerry White, and David Woodward Updated June 2007

    Birds of the Mendocino National Forest compiled by Chuck Vaughn, Jerry White, and David Woodward updated June 2007 (R) Resident; (SV) Summer Visitor; (WV) Winter Visitor; (T) Transient, (M) Migrant Common Name Scientific Name Snow Goose Chen caerulescens (M) Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (R) Wood Duck Aix sponsa (R) Common Merganser Mergus merganser (R) Sooty Grouse Dendragapus fuliginosus (R) Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo (R and SV) Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus (R) California Quail Callipepla californica (R) Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura (R and SV) Osprey Pandion haliaetus (SV) Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus (WV) Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus (SV and WV) Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus (R and WV) Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii (R and WV) Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis (R) Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni (T) Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis (R) Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus (WV) Golden Eagle Aguila chrysaetos (R) American Kestrel Falco sparverius (R) Merlin Falco columbarius (WV) Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus (R) Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus (WV) Killdeer Charadrius vociferous (R) Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia (R and SV) Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata (R and WV) Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura (R and SV) Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus (R) Barn Owl Tyto alba (R) Flammulated Owl Otus flammeolus (SV) Western Screech-Owl Otus kennicottii (R) Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus (R) Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma (R) Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis (R) Long-eared Owl Asio otus (SV) Northern
  • NOTORNIS 27 1980 LAKES of NORTH KAIPARA 3 for Observation Were Far from Suitable

    NOTORNIS 27 1980 LAKES of NORTH KAIPARA 3 for Observation Were Far from Suitable

    NOTORNIS Journal of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Volume 27 Part 1 March 1980 OFFICERS 1979 - 80 President - Mr. B. D. BELL, Wildlife Service, Dept. of Internal Affairs, Private Bag, Wellington Vice-president - Mr. M. L. FALCONER, 188 Miromiro Road, Normandale, Lower Hutt Editor - Mr. B. D. HEATHER, 10 Jocelyn Crescent, Silverstream Treasurer - Mr. H. W. M. HOGG, P.O. Box 3011, Dunedin Secretary - Mr R. S. SLACK, 31 Wyndham Road, Silverstream Council Members: Dr. BEN D. BELL, 45 Gurney Road, Belmont, Lower Hutt Mrs. B. BROWN, 39 Red Hill Road, Papakura Dr. P. C. BULL, 131A Waterloo Road, Lower Hutt Mr D. E. CROCKETT, 21 McMillan Avenue, Kamo, Whangarei Mr. F. C. KINSKY, 338 The Parade, Island Bay, Wellington 5 Mrs. S. M. REED, 4 Mamaku Street, Auckland 5 Mr. R. R. SUTTON, Lorneville, No. 4 R.D., Invercargill Conveners and Organisers: Rare Birds Committee (Acting): Mr. B. D. BELL Beach Patrol: Mr. C. R. VEITCH, Wildlife Service, Dept. of Internal Affairs, P.O. Box 2220, Auckland Card Committee: Mr. R. N. THOMAS, 25 Ravenswood Drive, Forest Hill, Auckland 10 Field Investigation Committee: Mr. B. D. BELL ~ibraria;: Miss A. J. GOODWIN, R.D. 1, Clevtdon Nest, Records: Mr. D. E. CROCKETT Recording (including material for Classified SU-arised Notes) : Mr. R. B. SIBSON, 26 Entrican Avenue, kemuera, Auckland Representative on Member Bodies' Committee of Royal Society of NX.: Mr. B. D. BELL Assistant Editor: Mr A. BLACKBURN, 10 Score Road, isb borne Editor of OSNZ ~ek:Mr'P. SAGAR, 38A Yardley St., Christchurch 4 .SUBSCRIPTIONS AND MEMBERSHIP Annual Subscription: Ordinary member $12; Husband & wife mem- bers $18; Junior'member (under 20) $9; Life mepber $240; Family member (one Notornis per household) ,bein other family of a member in.
  • Foraging Ecology of the World's Only

    Foraging Ecology of the World's Only

    Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. FORAGING ECOLOGY OF THE WORLD’S ONLY POPULATION OF THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED TASMAN PARAKEET (CYANORAMPHUS COOKII), ON NORFOLK ISLAND A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Conservation Biology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand. Amy Waldmann 2016 The Tasman parakeet (Cyanoramphus cookii) Photo: L. Ortiz-Catedral© ii ABSTRACT I studied the foraging ecology of the world’s only population of the critically endangered Tasman parakeet (Cyanoramphus cookii) on Norfolk Island, from July 2013 to March 2015. I characterised, for the first time in nearly 30 years of management, the diversity of foods consumed and seasonal trends in foraging heights and foraging group sizes. In addition to field observations, I also collated available information on the feeding biology of the genus Cyanoramphus, to understand the diversity of species and food types consumed by Tasman parakeets and their closest living relatives as a function of bill morphology. I discuss my findings in the context of the conservation of the Tasman parakeet, specifically the impending translocation of the species to Phillip Island. I demonstrate that Tasman parakeets have a broad and flexible diet that includes seeds, fruits, flowers, pollen, sori, sprout rhizomes and bark of 30 native and introduced plant species found within Norfolk Island National Park. Dry seeds (predominantly Araucaria heterophylla) are consumed most frequently during autumn (81% of diet), over a foraging area of ca.
  • Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii

    Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii

    Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 2nd Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC2) Bonn, Germany, 10 – 14 July 2017 UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II (Prepared by the Appointed Councillors for Birds) Summary: The first meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council identified the adoption of a new standard reference for avian taxonomy as an opportunity to disaggregate the higher-level taxa listed on Appendix II and to identify those that are considered to be migratory species and that have an unfavourable conservation status. The current paper presents an initial analysis of the higher-level disaggregation using the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volumes 1 and 2 taxonomy, and identifies the challenges in completing the analysis to identify all of the migratory species and the corresponding Range States. The document has been prepared by the COP Appointed Scientific Councilors for Birds. This is a supplementary paper to COP document UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.25.3 on Taxonomy and Nomenclature UNEP/CMS/ScC-Sc2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II 1. Through Resolution 11.19, the Conference of Parties adopted as the standard reference for bird taxonomy and nomenclature for Non-Passerine species the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Non-Passerines, by Josep del Hoyo and Nigel J. Collar (2014); 2.
  • SOUTH ISLAND SADDLEBACK RECOVERY PLAN (Philesturnus Carunculatus Carunculatus )

    SOUTH ISLAND SADDLEBACK RECOVERY PLAN (Philesturnus Carunculatus Carunculatus )

    THREATENED SPECIES RECOVERY PLAN SERIES NO.11 SOUTH ISLAND SADDLEBACK RECOVERY PLAN (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus ) Prepared by Andy Roberts (Southland Conservancy) for the Threatened Species Unit Threatened Species Unit Department of Conservation P.O. Box 10-420 Wellington New Zealand © 1994 ISSN 1170-3806 ISBN 0-478-01481-9 Key words: South Island saddleback, Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus, recovery plan ABSTRACT South Island saddlebacks (tieke) were widely distributed over the South and Stewart Islands in the 19th century. Their rapid decline was documented during the latter 19th century. Following a rodent invasion on their sole remaining island habitat South Island saddlebacks were under threat of immediate extinction. This was thwarted by prompt translocations of remaining birds to nearby predator-free islands. This plan outlines conservation goals and suggests options for continuing the recovery of this subspecies. Recovery is to be achieved through a programme of island habitat restoration and saddleback translocations. Eradication of rodents and weka is promoted by this plan, in some instances this plan suggests that discussions be held with the local Iwi to determine the appropriateness of these eradications. Saddlebacks are to be introduced or re-introduced to a number of islands around the South Island coast. When recovery has been achieved South Island saddleback populations may be established on up to 26 islands with a total of about 4000 individuals. At this population level they will not be ranked as threatened, but be classified as rare and no longer requiring a programme of on-going intensive conservation management. Recovery management proposed in this plan will be undertaken jointly by Department of Conservation staff, Iwi representatives and members of the public.
  • Seabird Year-Round and Historical Feeding Ecology: Blood and Feather Δ13c and Δ15n Values Document Foraging Plasticity of Small Sympatric Petrels

    Seabird Year-Round and Historical Feeding Ecology: Blood and Feather Δ13c and Δ15n Values Document Foraging Plasticity of Small Sympatric Petrels

    Vol. 505: 267–280, 2014 MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Published May 28 doi: 10.3354/meps10795 Mar Ecol Prog Ser FREEREE ACCESSCCESS Seabird year-round and historical feeding ecology: blood and feather δ13C and δ15N values document foraging plasticity of small sympatric petrels Yves Cherel1,*, Maëlle Connan1, Audrey Jaeger1, Pierre Richard2 1Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 du CNRS et de l’Université de La Rochelle, BP 14, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France 2Laboratoire Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 du CNRS et de l’Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France ABSTRACT: The foraging ecology of small seabirds remains poorly understood because of the dif- ficulty of studying them at sea. Here, the extent to which 3 sympatric seabirds (blue petrel, thin- billed prion and common diving petrel) alter their foraging ecology across the annual cycle was investigated using stable isotopes. δ13C and δ15N values were used as proxies of the birds’ foraging habitat and diet, respectively, and were measured in 3 tissues (plasma, blood cells and feathers) that record trophic information at different time scales. Long-term temporal changes were inves- tigated by measuring feather isotopic values from museum specimens. The study was conducted at the subantarctic Kerguelen Islands and emphasizes 4 main features. (1) The 3 species highlight a strong connection between subantarctic and Antarctic pelagic ecosystems, because they all for- aged in Antarctic waters at some stages of the annual cycle. (2) Foraging niches are stage- dependent, with petrels shifting their feeding grounds during reproduction either from oceanic to productive coastal waters (common diving petrel) or from subantarctic to high-Antarctic waters where they fed primarily on crustaceans (blue petrel and thin-billed prion).
  • The Extraordinary Bill Dimorphism of the Huia

    The Extraordinary Bill Dimorphism of the Huia

    The extraordinaory bill dimorphism of the Huia (Heteraclocba acutirostris): sexual selection or intersexual competition? School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P 0.Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand ABSTRACT Morphological comparison of the extinct Huia (fleteralocha acutirostris) with its closest known relatives suRRests that the pronounced sexual hill dimorphism of the former evolved through selection on female, rather th:~n male hill form Recnuse sexu:~l selection acts predominantly on males, 11 cannot readily explam such dimorphism in a non-polyandrous spccics. Greater female divergence in foraging-related anatomy In a species In which inales :ire the larger (and therefore presu~nahlysoclally don~in:~nt)scx is, however, consistent with the hypothesis hat sexual dimorphism can he an ad:~pt:~tionto reduce intersexual competition for food. Iletermining which sex changed most is a more rlgorous means of establishing the evolutionary significance of sexually dimorphic traits than interpretmon of current function. KEYWORDS: Hub, Callaeidae, sexual dimorphism, competition INTRODUCTION The extinct Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris), a large (450 mm) wood-foraging passer- ine endemic to New Zealand (Falla et al. 19791, displayed the most extreme sexual bill dimorphism known in birds (Rand 1952, Phillipps 1963, Selander 1966, Burton 1974). In contrast to the relatively short, robust bill of the male, that of the female was approxin~atelyone third longer, more slender and strongly decurved (Figure 1). With the exception of bill length, the Huia appeared to display the usual avian pattern of sexual size dimorphism, the male being significantly larger than the fe- male in both tarsus and wing length (Selander 1966).
  • New Zealand Comprehensive III 16Th November – 2Nd December 2017 Trip Report

    New Zealand Comprehensive III 16Th November – 2Nd December 2017 Trip Report

    New Zealand Comprehensive III 16th November – 2nd December 2017 Trip Report Gibson’s Wandering Albatross off Kaikoura by Erik Forsyth Trip Report compiled by Tour Leader Erik Forsyth Rockjumper Birding Tours | New Zealand www.rockjumperbirding.com Trip Report – RBL New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2017 2 Daily Diary New Zealand is a must for the serious seabird enthusiast. Not only will you see a variety of albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters, but there are good chances of getting out on the high seas and finding something unusual. Seabirds dominate this tour, and views of most birds are right alongside the boat. There are also several land birds which are unique to these islands: the kiwis – terrestrial nocturnal inhabitants; the huge swamp-hen like takahe – prehistoric in its looks and movements; and then the wattlebirds (the saddlebacks and kokako) – poor flyers with short wings, which bound along the branches and on the ground. We had so many highlights on this tour, including close encounters with Little Spotted Kiwi, walk-away views of a pair of North Island Kokako, both North and South Island Saddlebacks and a pair of the impressive South Island Takahe. With many boat trips, the pelagic list was long, with Wandering, Northern and Southern Royal, Salvin’s, Black-browed, Campbell and White-capped Albatrosses, Westland, Cook’s and White- chinned Petrels, Buller’s, Flesh-footed and New Zealand (Red-breasted) Plover by Erik Forsyth Hutton’s Shearwaters, and Common Diving Petrel being a few of the highlights. Other major highlights included twelve New Zealand King Shag, a pair of Blue Duck with one chick, nine of the critically endangered Black Stilt, the rare Stitchbird, New Zealand Kaka, the entertaining Kea, range- restricted New Zealand Rockwren, the tiny Rifleman and lastly the striking Yellowhead, to name a few.
  • Distribution and Abundance of Breeding Birds at Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, February to April 2000

    Distribution and Abundance of Breeding Birds at Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, February to April 2000

    Bó & Copello: Deception Island breeding birds’ distribution and abundance 39 DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF BREEDING BIRDS AT DECEPTION ISLAND, SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS, ANTARCTICA, FEBRUARY TO APRIL 2000 MARÍA SUSANA BÓ & SOFÍA COPELLO Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Biología, Laboratorio de Vertebrados, Funes 3350, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina ([email protected]) Received 20 September 2000, accepted 15 January 2001 SUMMARY BÓ, M.S. & COPELLO, S. 2000. Distribution and abundance of breeding birds at Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, February to April 2000. Marine Ornithology 29: 39–42. A survey of breeding birds during the brooding stage was carried out from February to April 2000 in the southern portion of Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. This island supports two Sites of Special Scien- tific Interest (SSSI Nos. 21 and 27). Nine species were found breeding in the study area: Chinstrap Penguin Pygoscelis antarctica (an estimated 6820 breeding pairs at two colonies surveyed), Pintado or Cape Petrel Daption capense (36), Wilson’s Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus (3), Antarctic Cormorant Phalacrocorax atriceps bransfieldensis (9), Greater Sheathbill Chionis alba (2), Subantarctic Skua Catharacta antarctica (4), South Polar Skua C. maccormicki (11), Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus (49) and Antarctic Tern Sterna vittata (5). Due to the increasing tourist activity at Deception Island, better information on the location and size of breeding populations is a particular requirement if effective precautionary conservation actions are to be taken. Key words: seabird censuses, Deception Island, Antarctica INTRODUCTION tal Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Populations of most seabird species in Antarctica are stable or (Walton & Dingwall 1995).