Seventh Biennial

4 - 7 December 2013 Unitec Institute of Technology

New Zealand storm petrel © Neil Fitzgerald

AUSTRALIA

PROGRAMME AND ABSTRACTS

CONFERENCE LOCATIONS

• Parking available in “P” areas - P no charge; P “Pay-and-display”, $3 per day (NB: S = staff parking only).

2

Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa

On behalf of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand and Unitec Institute of Technology, we welcome delegates to Auckland for the 7th Australasian Ornithological Conference. Many delegates have travelled considerable distances to participate in the conference, and we look forward to sharing with you this celebration of ornithology and the birding experiences of our region.

We gratefully acknowledge the support and sponsorship offered by Unitec Institute of Technology and trade exhibitors.

Organising team: Mel Galbraith (Convenor) Nigel Adams (Scientific programme) Diane Fraser Josie Galbraith Adrian Riegen Trina Smith Chris Thompson Jacquie Wairepo Trish Wells

AUSTRALIA

3

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

Wednesday 4 Dec Thursday 5 Dec Friday 6 Dec Saturday 7 Dec

Field trips: Opening Plenary session Plenary session Plenary session Symposia 1. Miranda Symposia Symposia Themed sessions Shorebird Centre Themed sessions Morning Themed sessions 2. Tiritiri Matangi Island 3. Hauraki Gulf

Symposia Pelagic Themed sessions Symposia 4. Auckland

Themed sessions Museum &

Afternoon Manukau Harbour Welcome function / Poster session

7.00pm Conference dinner Evening

FIELD TRIPS Friday 6 November

All field trips leave from beside the on-campus sports fields (see map inside front cover for location). PLEASE NOTE DEPARTURE TIMES.

 Note: Field trips are subject to weather conditions, and return times are approximate. We will advise of any changes prior to the day.

Destination Meeting/departure times Notes

Meet at Unitec 0745, depart Includes lunch and return Miranda Shorebird Centre 0800; return c.1630. transport from Unitec

Meet at Unitec 0730, depart Includes lunch and return Tiritiri Matangi Island 0745; return 1730. transport from Unitec.

Includes lunch and return Meet at Unitec 0615, depart transport from Unitec. Extra Hauraki Gulf Pelagic 0630; return c.2000. water advised; motion sickness medication if needed.

Lunch is not included, but time Auckland Museum and Meet at Unitec 0915, depart will be allocated for Manukau Harbour 0930; return c.1630.! refreshments at the Museum café.

4

CONFERENCE ARRANGEMENTS

VENUE The Red and Gold Lecture Theatres are located in Building 180 (see map inside front cover). Toilets are located off the courtyard between the two rooms. Also situated on this courtyard are a pharmacy and bookshop. Postal services are available at Campus Copy Centre, located beyond the pharmacy. Please ask for directions if needed.

Emergencies In case the building needs to be evacuated in emergency the assembly area is the grassed area outside the Red and Gold Lecture Theatres.

REGISTRATION

The Registration and Information Desk will be open at the following times:

Wednesday 4 December 0800 - 1730 hrs

Thursday 5 December 0800 - 1730 hrs Saturday 7 December 0800 - 1030 hrs

NAME BADGES Delegates are requested to wear their name badge at all times. The badge confirms access to all sessions, morning and afternoon teas, lunches and functions.

CATERING All morning and afternoon teas, lunches and the Welcome/Poster session will be held in the foyer of the Red Lecture Theatre. Please note that food and drink may not be taken into lecture theatres.

The conference dinner (Thursday 5 Dec, 7.00pm) will be held at the Point Chevalier RSA, 1136 Great North Rd, Pt Chevalier (see map inside front cover). The dinner will be a buffet with hot and cold dishes (including vegetarian options) and desserts. Two glasses of wine or beer per person are included in the dinner ticket, and additional drinks can be purchased from the cash bar.

SMOKING Unitec is a smoke-free campus. Please respect this policy.

MOBILE PHONES Please remember to turn off your mobile phone, or put it on silent when in the lecture theatres.

COMPUTER / INTERNET ACCESS Guest access to the Unitec wireless network is available for access to the internet: Login: conference Password: auckland13 A computer room (Rm 183-1105) will be available to upload, check and modify presentations, and to access the internet, webmail, etc. This room will be available during conference breaks, and at other times by arrangement through the registration desk.

5 BANKING AND CURRENCY An ANZ Bank branch is located on the Mt Albert campus for banking needs, Building 114. There are two ATM machines on campus – one opposite the Gold Lecture theatre, the other outside the ANZ bank.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT Public transport timetables are provided in your conference bag. This information can also be obtained through the MAXX website (www.maxx.co.nz).

PARKING There is parking available on-campus, some free and some Pay-and-Display ($3 per day). Although it is outside of the teaching semester, please avoid staff parking areas. (see map inside front cover).

SHOPPING St Lukes Shopping Mall (Westfield) is located within a short driving distance from Unitec. Address - 80 St Lukes Road. For directions please see the registration desk.

TAXIS AND SHUTTLES Auckland Co-op Taxis 09-3003000 Green Cabs 0508-447336 Regency Cabs 0800-3778844 Corporate Cabs 09-3770773

TELEPHONES There is a public telephone available behind the coffee cart in Building 180.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Pt Chevalier Medical Centre - 1181 Great North Road, Point Chevalier (09-8466244) Mt Albert Medical Centre - 986 New North Road, Mount Albert (09-8467493) White Cross Accident & Medical Clinic – 52 St Lukes Rd, St Lukes (09-8153111) If an emergency, please call 111 (or 1-111 if calling from a Unitec line).

COPY CENTRE The Unitec Copy Centre offers a full range of copying and publishing services - Building 117, Mt Albert campus (815 4315).

6

PRESENTERS / SESSION CHAIRS - INSTRUCTIONS

Please read the following carefully for smooth paper presentation.

Presenters:

1. Note the date, time and room for your session from the final programme. 2. Please see the chair of your session in the allocated venue at least 10 minutes before your session begins. 3. MS PowerPoint is the standard presentation software. You should ensure that the Powerpoint is compatible with Office 2010 and Windows XP. If you have embedded videos into your presentation please ensure that you also have the video file readily available as a separate QuickTime file. 4. If you intend to use/include other visuals, please see your session chair or a conference organiser well in advance to test the presentation. 5. The computers and data projectors used for presentations will be provided by the conference and no other computers (including laptops) will be permitted to be connected to the projectors. 6. If your presentation has not been supplied in advance, please report to the registration desk, or the helpers stationed in the computer room (183-1105), WELL IN ADVANCE of your session to arrange loading into the computer system. We recommend that you check the talk in the computer room beforehand to make sure it all shows correctly. 7. Speakers at concurrent sessions will have 12 minutes ONLY for the presentation followed by 3 minutes for questions (15 minutes total).

Session Chairs: 1. Note the date, time and room for the session you are going to chair from the final programme. 2. Please be present in your session room at the start and end of the break prior to your session, including the last 10 minutes prior to the commencement of your session. An assistant will acquaint you and your speakers with the general room setup. 3. Please ensure that all PowerPoint presentations for the session are visible on the computer desktop and ready to go before the session begins. 4. Please start sessions on time, even if people are still arriving. 5. Please announce student talks at the beginning of each talk for the benefit of those judging for the student prizes. (Students indicated by * in programme) 6. Concurrent session chairs: It is essential that sessions run precisely to the schedule indicated, given that there are parallel sessions. Please keep speakers to time. Give them a warning at 9 and 11 minutes, AND STOP THEM AT 12 MINUTES. Warning cards will be supplied. 7. Ensure that question time does not extend beyond the allocated 3 minutes, even if there are questions still requiring responses. 8. If a speaker finishes early, or if a talk is cancelled, do not advance the programme beyond the schedule. Have a pause or a break. 9. If you need any assistance please ask the assistant assigned to your session room, or any member of the conference organising committee. 10. Please announce any housekeeping notices at the beginning and end of your session.

Thank you for your role as session chair.

7

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr Matt Rayner School of Biological Studies, University of Auckland

Dr Matt Rayner is a researcher in the fields of avian behaviour, ecology and evolution with strong application to species conservation. Matt’s research approach relies upon cross- disciplinary research combining remote sensing and tracking technologies, molecular and isotopic markers and behavioural datasets to test hypothesis regarding the ecological and or evolutionary context of animal behaviour in space and time. As study systems he currently works on mobile avian taxa such as seabirds and New Zealand endemic terrestrial birds such as Kereru (NZ Pigeon) and Kaka (NZ forest parrots). Active study sites range from the New Zealand mainland, offshore islands (Mokohinau Islands, Red Mercury Island, Little Barrier Island and Codfish Island) and international field collaborations in Australia and the tropical Pacific (Fiji and New Caledonia). His current research is investigating the “spill over” benefits of managing endemic bird populations in fragmented landscapes, the community ecology and migration of seabirds in New Zealand waters and the wider Pacific basin, phylogenetics of cookilaria petrels, incipient speciation in Cook’s petrel and the hunt for the breeding site of the New Zealand storm petrel.

Professor Hamish Spencer Director, Alan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, and Professor of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin

Hamish Spencer is Professor of Zoology at the University of Otago as well as a founding member and the current Director of the Alan Wilson Centre. Hamish holds additional appointments as Principal Investigator with the Gravida: the National Centre for Growth and Development, an Honorary Professor at Massey University and an Academic with the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2009. His research encompasses mathematical modelling of genetic phenomena and the evolutionary relationships of diverse groups of organisms (birds, molluscs, algae), to the history of genetics and evolutionary medicine.

Dr John Ewen Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London

Dr John Ewen works at the interface between varied scientific disciplines relevant for understanding the biology and management of small populations. His work often involves reintroduction biology and the subsequent monitoring and management of establishing populations. Dr Ewen uses a clear theoretical basis to test the relevance and optimization of alternative management options and has contributed research in the fields of behavioral ecology, conservation genetics, population ecology and wildlife health. He has been Research Fellow at the Zoological Society of London’s Institute of Zoology since 2004, and is also co-chair of New Zealand’s Hihi (Stitchbird) Recovery Group. Hihi feature as one of Dr Ewen’s main study systems.

8

SYMPOSIA

Conservation and status of seabirds. Convenor: Nicholas Carlile The ecology of seabirds and the needs for their conservation is similar in both Australia and New Zealand and the AOC presents an opportunity for researchers from both sides of the Tasman to meet and discuss recent findings. In this symposium we review advances in seabird research and management since the last symposium at the Cairns AOC. The symposium is organised by the Australasian Seabird Group as one of our initiatives to promote trans-Tasman cooperation in seabird research.

The Role of Australia and New Zealand in reversing shorebird declines in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Convenor: Judit Szabo This symposium provides update on what's happening (research, projects, CEPA, lobbying, etc) on both national and international levels along the EAAF in order to reverse alarming declines in migratory shorebirds. We also discuss research needs and the linking of science to actions on the ground, what approaches do and don't work, as well as current and planned future actions. We include a discussion on what Australian and New Zealand researchers can do to conserve the shorebirds along the flyway.

Avian evolution in our region in the era of genomics: where are we headed? Convenor: Leo Joseph There have been several major turning points in the application of molecular data to evolutionary studies. Research on birds has always been at the forefront of illustrating these changes. The latest one is the advent of genomics – the methodological revolution underway that allows researchers to look across entire genomes and not just a sample of about ten (or more, if we are lucky) mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Our symposium explores how the science of bird evolution can benefit from these new tools. The field is very much in a transitional stage as researchers and labs gear up to using the new tools and dealing with the flood of information that genomics methodologies have unleased. Our talks span the birds of Sulawesi, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific islands and hint at the nature of talks to come at AOC meetings in future.

Ecological and social dimensions of wild bird feeding. Convenor: Darryl Jones The provision of food for wild birds in suburban environments is one of the most popular and widespread forms of interaction with wildlife in the world. In the Northern Hemisphere 30-70% of households participate in this activity, and similar rates have been found in Australia, despite widespread opposition. Nonetheless, there is growing concern about the possible impacts of this ‘global supplementary feeding experiment’ on birds and urban environments. At the same time, the social significance of the practice is being recognized. This symposium explores the various dimensions of this important activity.

9 The complexities of avian communication; sound, scent and sight. Convenor: Dianne Brunton This symposium presents research on the phenomenon of avian communication that occurs through complex songs and calls, scent production, and colourful plumage. Talks examine avian signals from an integrative perspective, asking such questions as how song signals function to mediate social interactions, what mechanisms underlie the production and development of signals, and what evolutionary and cultural processes drive the incredible diversity of signals seen in birds. Topics covered include social and behavioural aspects of avian vocalisations, avian communication through scent, and morphological adaptations in communication. In addition, we look at innovative approaches to collecting and analysing vocalisations.

Ratite ecology, genetics and conservation. Convenor: Helen Taylor Ratites are a fascinating group of birds and Australasia is lucky enough to play host to three families of them. This session focuses on the ecology and genetics of ratites, with special attention to New Zealand’s own endemic ratite family, the kiwi (Apterygidae). In the past few hundred years these birds, like many others, have faced challenges to their survival from anthropogenic sources. Here, the biology of ratites is discussed in light of these conservation concerns and with a view to managing this ancient group for a successful future.

Biological insights from remote tracking. Convenor: Phil Battley Remote tracking, particularly with miniature geolocators, is commonly used to track long- distance movements of birds. But in addition to revealing where birds go, such tracking has the potential to reveal novel insights about the species’ underlying biology. This symposium moves past the “where and when” questions to show how remote tracking enables deeper questions about the ecology and annual cycles of species to be addressed.

10

TIME% WEDNESDAY%04%DECEMBER% 08:30%08:50' Welcome'' 08:50%09:20' Plenary'Speaker:'Dr'Matt'Rayner'' '' Lost'and'found:'hunting'New'Zealand'storm'petrel'in'a'world'centre'of'seabird'diversity' '' Parallel%Session%1% Parallel%Session%2%

'' Symposium:%Conservation,%status%and%biology%of%seabirds% Themed%session:%Migration,%spatially%related%biology%and%its% implications%%% Brian'Gill:'The'epic'migration'of'the'long%tailed'cuckoo'pieced' 09:30%09:45' Stefanie'Grosser*:'A'Trans%Tasman'fairy'penguin'tale' together'from'museum'and'sighting'records' David'Wilson:'Latham’s'snipe'Gallinago(hardwickii'in'Australia:' Nicholas'Carlile:'Seabird'island'surveys'of'the'Lord'Howe' 09:45%10:00' trends'in'migration'patterns,'local'population'changes'and' Group:'essential'knowledge'at'minimal'cost.' data'coverage'since'1950' Eduardo'Gallo%Cajiao:'Evidence'is'required'to'address'albatross' Erin'Kennedy*:'A'spatially%explicit'approach'to'assessing'and' 10:00%10:15' mortality'in'trawl'fisheries' resolving'kea%human'conflicts' Craig'Simkins*:'Population'viability'of'whio'(Hymenolaimus( Megan'Friesen*:'Sensory'ecology'of'New'Zealand'petrel:'A' 10:15%10:30' malacorhynchos)'within'the'Te'Urewera'Mainland'Island:'a' model'for'sensory%based'conservation' spatially'explicit'individual%based'modelling'approach' Sarah'Jamieson:'An'assessment'of'recent'population'trends'of' 10:30%10:45' flesh%footed'shearwaters'Puffinus(carneipes'breeding'in'New' ' Zealand.' 10:45%11:15' Morning%Break'

'' Symposium:%Conservation,%status%and%biology%of%seabirds% Themed%Session:%Citizen%Science,%Community%and%Stakeholder%% Engagement% Fiona'McDuie*:'Trans%equatorial'migration'of'tropical' David'Bain:'Australia’s'largest'owl'in'Australia’s'largest'city:' 11:15%11:30' shearwaters'–'wintering'with'tuna% High'achieving'citizen'science% Julie'Riordan*:'Bigger'is'always'better:'an'experimental'study' Dean'Ingwersen:'Saving'critical'woodland'bird'habitat'through' 11:30%11:45' of'nestling'competition'in'asynchronous'hatching'black%faced' prioritisation'and'incentives'to'landholders'–'a'case'study' Cormorants'' Janice'Mentiplay%Smith:'Conservation'Management'Networks:' Ashleigh'Robins*:'Modelling'the'movement'behaviour'of'grey% 11:45%12:00' Recognising'the'importance'of'community'involvement'in'the' faced'petrels' conservation'of'threatened'woodland'birds'

Rachael'Sagar*:'Slim'pickings:'a'comparison'of'the' Justin'Watson:'Biodiversity'and'conservation'management'in' 12:00%12:15' development'of'mottled'petrel'chicks'in'two'different'seasons''' Western'Province,'Solomon'Islands'

Tamsin'Orr%Walker:'Changing'attitudes'towards'kea'%'conflict' Kyle'Morrison*:'Is'the'aastern'rockhopper'penguin'population' 12:15%12:30' to'co%existence%% on'Campbell'Island'still'in'decline?' ' Wray'Grimaldi*:'First'report'of'feather'loss'in'Adelie'penguins' 12:30%12:45' ' on'Ross'Island,'Antarctica' Iqbal'Muhammad:'Seabird'status,'threats'and'conservation'in' 12:45%01:00' ' Indonesia' 01:00%02:00' Lunch%Break/AOC%Steering%Committee%Meeting% Symposium:%%The%role%of%Australia%and%New%Zealand%in% ' reversing%shorebird%declines%in%the%East%AsianQAustralasian% Themed%Session:%Active%management%and%translocation% Flyway% Judit'Szabo:'Science'needs'for'the'conservation'of'migratory' Allan'Burbidge:'Assisted'island%hopping:'fairy%wrens'and' 02:00%02:15' waterbirds'in'the'East%Asian'Australian'Flyway' spinifexbirds' Chiyeunmg'Choi*:'Shorebird'species'composition'and'numbers' Dean'Ingwersen:'Achievements'and'lessons'from'three' 02:15%02:30' in'the'Chinese'Yellow'Sea'on'northward'and'southward' captive%releases'of'regent'honeyeaters'Anthochaera(phrygia'in' migration' north%east'Victoria' Danny'Rogers:'What'effect'did'the'destruction'of'the' 02:30%02:45' Martine'Maron:'Managing'an'avian'despot' Saemanguem'tidal'flats'have'on'the'great'knot?' Richard'Fuller:'Why'are'Australasian'shorebirds'declining'so' Anna'Probert*:'Developing'a'best'practice'guide'for'the' 02:45%03:00' rapidly'and'what'should'we'do'about'it?' trapping'of'Indian'myna'(Acridotheres(tristis)' Rob'Clements*:'Development'of'species'distribution'models' Laura'Molles:'Reintroduction'of'tūī'to'Banks'Peninsula,' 03:00%03:15' for'spatially'and'temporally'variable'shorebird'habitat'in' Canterbury' Australia''

03:15%03:45' Afternoon%Break/Australasian%Seabird%Group%members%meeting' 03:45%05:45' Poster%Session%and%Welcome%Function%

11

%TIME% THURSDAY%05%DECEMBER%%

08:50%09:20' Plenary'Speaker:'Professor'Hamish'Spencer'' '' 'Classification'of'the'cormorants'of'the'world' '' Parallel%Session%1% Parallel%Session%2% Symposium:%%Ecological%and%social%dimensions%of%wild%bird% '' Symposium:%%Avian%evolution%in%the%era%of%genomics%% feeding%% Leo'Joseph:'Avian'evolution'in'our'region'in'the'era'of' Darryl'Jones:'Why'bird'feeding'matters?' 09:30%09:45' genomics:'where'are'we'headed?' ' Karen'Rowe:'The'role'of'islands'as'reservoirs'of'ancient' Eric'Spurr:'Feeding'wild'birds:'results'from'New'Zealand'bird' 09:45%10:00' lineages:'Sulawesi'and'the'endemic'genus,'Myza' survey' (Meliphagidae)' ' Gillian''Gibb:'Why'fly'when'you'can'walk?'The'evolution'of' Josie'Galbraith*:'Changes'to'local'bird'communities'as'a'result' 10:00%10:15' flightlessness'in'rails' of'supplementary'feeding' Ellery'McNaughton*:'Patterns'of'supplementary'feeding'and' Nic'Rawlence:'Ratite'and'moa'evolution'in'the'age'of' 10:15%10:30' common'myna'(Acridotheres(tristis)'visitation'at'feeders'in' genomics:'progress,'problems'and'prospects' urban'Auckland' Renee'Chapman*:'Connecting'with'nature:'The'social' Nic'Dussex*:'Unexpected'genetic'population'structure'in'the' dimensions'of'feeding'birds'in'Australia'and'the'United' 10:30%10:45' New'Zealand'endemic''kea'(Nestor(notabilis)' Kingdom% ' Richard'Major:'Population'differentiation'of'a'small'passerine' Richard'Fuller:'Backyard'bird'feeding'in'Britain:'Caring'gone' 10:45%11:00' bird'at'a'continental'scale:'the'importance'of'land,'ocean'and' mad?' urban'barriers' ' 11:00%11:30' Morning%Break% Symposium:%The%complexities%of%avian%communication:% ' Symposium:%Ratite%ecology,%genetics%and%conservation% sound,%scent%and%sight% Helen'Taylor*:'Disparity'in'reproductive'effort'and'hatching' James'Dale:'The'function'of'colourful'plumage:'it’s'not'just' success'suggests'inbreeding'depression'in'a'translocated' 11:30%11:45' about'quality'signalling' population'of'little'spotted'kiwi'(Apteryx(owenii)' ' Laura'Molles:'No'translation'required'(yet):'kōkako'song'and' Sarah'Jamieson:'Baby,'it’s'cold'outside:'Exploring'the'drivers' 11:45%12:00' conservation' behind'social'roosting'in'North'Island'Brown'Kiwi' Sam'Hill*:'Vocalisations'of'mainland'tui'(Prosthemadera( novaeseelandiae(novaeseelandiae)'and'Chatham'Island'tui'(P.( Alex'Wilson*:'Behaviour'of'brown'kiwi'chicks'(Apteryx( 12:00%12:15' n.(chathamensis):'a'comparative'study% mantelli)'at'the'nest' ' Michelle'Roper*:'The'development'of'female'song'in'the'New' 12:15%12:30' Isabel'Castro:'The'sensory'world'of'ratites' Zealand'Bellbird'(Anthornis(melanura)' Rachel'Abbot*:'Effects'of'early'rearing'experience'on'rowi' Dianne'Brunton:'New'Zealand'Bellbirds:'song'learning'abilities' 12:30%12:45' (Apteryx(rowi)'behaviour'and'implications'for'conservation' of'male'and'female'juveniles' management.'

12:45%01:45' Lunch%Break/Workshop:%Birdlife%Australia:%Support%for%Ornithologists'

Symposium:%The%complexities%of%avian%communication:% ' Contributed%papers% sound,%scent%and%sight% Louis'Ranyard:'Automatic'classification'of'large'song'datasets,' Tegan'Douglas*:'Babbler'it’s'cold'outside:'Social' 01:45%02:00' Tiritiri'Matangi'hihi'population'as'a'case'study' thermoregulation'in'the'white%browed'babbler'

Justus'Deikumah*:'Mining'matrix'effects'on'rainforest'birds:'a' 02:00%02:15' Andrew'Digby:'Kiwi'vocal'communication' case'study'of'south%west'Ghana'

Erika'Roper*:'Piping'call'diversity'in'the'crimson'rosella'species' Katheryn'Napier*:'Mistletoebirds'vary'their'dietary'intake'of' 02:15%02:30' complex:'evidence'of'individual'signalling' arthropods'depending'on'time'of'year'

Kate'Buchanan:'One'hundred'years'of'publishing:'trends'and' 02:30%02:45' ' the'future'for'Emu'Austral'Ornithology'

Rochelle'Steven*:''A'review'of'the'research'on'travelling' 02:45%03:00' ' birdwatchers:'future'directions'for'avitourism'

03:00%03:30' Afternoon%Break'

12 Thursday 05 December continued …..

Themed%%session:%Conservation,%biology%and%status%of% ' Themed%Session:%Bird%populations%and%population%biology%% psittacines%

Clio'Reid*:'Understanding'attacks'by'kea'(Nestor(notabilis),'an' Tim'Lovegrove:'16'years'of'forest'bird'counts'in'the'Waitakere' 03:30%03:45' endemic'high'country'parrot,'on'sheep'in'New'Zealand' Ranges'following'possum'control' 'Asher'Cook*:'Terrestrial'bird'monitoring'on'Great'Barrier' Luis'Ortiz%Catedral:'Conservation'status'of'Cyanoramphus' Island'and'the'population'size'and'distribution'of'North'Island' 03:45%04:00' parakeets'in'the'South'Pacific' tomtit'and'red%crowned'parakeet'on'Mount' Hobson/Hirakimata' Mike'Perrin:'The'conservation'status'of'the'parrots'of'Africa,' C.J.'Ralph:'Value'added'in'bird'monitoring:'capture'and' 04:00%04:15' Madagascar'and'the'Mascarene'Islands.' banding'provide'new'insights'on'climate'fluctuations.' Kara'Joshi*:'Can'automated'digital'recording'methods'provide' Zoe'Stone*:'Kakapo'(Strigops(habroptilus)'breeding'patterns' 04:15%04:30' more'unbiased'and'cost%effective'bird'surveys'than'human' on'Little'Barrier'Island'in'relation'to'plant'phenology' counts?' Allan'Burbidge:'Measures'of'genetic'variability'for'ground' Marta'Ferenczi*:'Avian'influenza'virus'dynamics'in'a'waterfowl' 04:30%04:45' parrot'conservation' community'

'Cromwell'Purchase:'Reproductive'research'strategies'for' 'Penn'Lloyd:'Relationship'between'annual'adult'survival'and' 04:45%05:00' Spix’s'macaws'(Cyanopsitta(spixii)' post%fledging'survival'among'passerine'birds' ' ' '

' Conference%Dinner/%D.L.%Serventy%Medal%Award%

FRIDAY%06%DECEMBER%% Field'Trips'

13

TIME% SATURDAY%07%DECEMBER%%

08:50%09:20' Plenary'Speaker:'Dr'John'Ewen' The'biology'and'management'of'small'bird'populations' ' Parallel%Session%1' Parallel%Session%2' Themed%session:%Evolution,%taxonomy,%phylogenetics%and% ' Symposium:%%Biological%insights%from%remote%tracking% morphology% Nicolas'Rawlence:'Circumpolar'phylogeography'of'the'blue% Phil'Battley:'Individual'consistency'in'bar%tailed'godwit'migration' eyed'shag'complex'(Leucocarbo'spp.)'and'consequent' 09:30%09:45' timing' taxonomic'implications'for'the'New'Zealand'blue'eyed' shags' Elen'Shute*:'An'extinct'coucal'species'(Centropus(sp.(nov.)' Graeme'Taylor:'How'do'five'species'of'Puffinus'shearwater'breed' 09:45%10:00' from'the'early'Pleistocene'of'the'Nullarbor'Plain,'south% sympatrically'in'the'Hauraki'Gulf?' central'Australia:' Paul'Scofield:'An'update'on'the'Early'Miocene'avifauna' Todd'Dennis:'ARGOS'satellite'telemetry'reveals'the'natal'dispersal' 10:00%10:15' from'St'Bathans,'Otago:'helping'understand'the'origins'of' patterns'of'kea'(Nestor(notabilis)' New'Zealand'birds' Inka'Veltheim*:'Influence'of'thermodynamic'costs'on'daily' Jamie'Wood:'New'morphological'and'phylogenetic'analyses' 10:15%10:30' movement'decisions'and'habitat'use'of'the'brolga'(Grus( of'extinct'birds'from'the'Chatham'Islands,'New'Zealand' rubicunda)' Kelly'Matthews:'Morphology'of'the'red%browed'finch' 10:30%10:45' Reece'Pedler*:'Continental'movements'of'Banded'Stilt' (Neochmia(temporalis)'in'Queensland,'New'South'Wales' and'Victoria,'Australia'

John'McEnvoy*:'From'farm%duck'to'desert'nomad'%'how' 10:45%11:00' ' waterfowl'respond'to'rapidly'changing'environments'

11:00%11:30' Morning%Break%%

Themed%session:%Birds%in%modified%terrestrial%and%aquatic% ' % habitats%

Emily'Gray*:'Seasonal'selection'and'use'of'native'and'exotic' 11:30%11:45' vegetation'by'bush'bird'species'in'an'urban'mixed'forest' ' environment' Kate'Stevens*:'Effects'of'habitat'fragmentation'on'breeding' behaviour,'mating'systems'and'relatedness'of'family'groups'in'the' 11:45%12:00' co%operatively'breeding'grey%crowned'babbler'Pomatostomus( ' temporalis'

Birgita'Hansen:'Does'riparian'condition'influence'breeding'success' 12:00%12:15' in'woodland'birds'in'highly'modified'landscapes?' '

Robert'Green:'Avian'responses'to'rehabilitation'and'water'flow' 12:15%12:30' management'in'a'degraded'wetland'system' '

12:30%13:00' Student%awards/Conference%Close'

13:00%13:30' Lunch%

14

WEDNESDAY%04%DECEMBER% Poster'Presentations' Nigel'Adams:'Minimising'the'impact'of'mammalian'pest'management'on'non%target'birds' '

Thomas'Clay*:'Colony%based'differences'in'the'distribution'and'habitat'characteristics'of'non%breeding'grey%headed'albatrosses' '

Grant'Humpheries*:'Following'sooty'shearwaters'(Puffinus(griseus)'to'a'precursor'of'El'Nino'Southern'Oscillation:'seabirds'as'true'predictors'of' climatic'changes'

Golo'Maurer:'Shorebirds'2020'–'Turning'survey'data'into'education'and'conservation'

Pavel'Pipek:''Yellowhammer.net:'Citizen'science'projects'uncovering'the'mysteries'of'the'distribution'of'yellowhammer'(Emberiza(citronella)' song'dialects' ' Peter'Saguba:'Diurnal'behaviour,'time'and'energy'budget'and'resource'use'of'nonbreeding'green'pygmy%goose'(Nettapus(pulchellus)'at'Pacific' Adventist'University'wetlands,'Papua'New'Guinea' ' Justin'Watson:'Habitat'utilisation'by'the'black%breasted'button%quail'(Turnix(melanogaster)'in'southeast'Queensland'coastal'and'dry'vine'thicket' '

Jingjing Zhang*: Detecting behaviour states from foraging paths of little blue penguins in New Zealand

*Student presentations

15 16

ABSTRACTS

(in alphabetical order based on presenter surname)

17 18

PLENARY PRESENTATIONS

Biology and management of small bird populations

JOHN EWEN

Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London & Co-Chair of the Hihi Recovery Group

There are substantial challenges faced when undertaking conservation management of small or rapidly declining populations. The threats to these populations are driven both by external extinction drivers, and intrinsic processes related to the life history of the species combined with population smallness. Although we have had some remarkable recoveries of species on the brink of extinction, we have also frequently seen poor success rates in some of our key management techniques, such as translocation, disease risk assessments or supplementary feeding. Some have linked our poor success to the development of knee-jerk reactions by conservation practitioners and the establishment of conservation dogmas. This reflects our often poor approach to problem solving and decision-making in conservation management. I will advocate a strategic approach where all actions (including monitoring) are guided by explicit theoretical frameworks based on clearly defined objectives and thorough consideration of management alternatives.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Lost and found: hunting New Zealand storm petrel in a world centre of seabird diversity

MATT J. RAYNER1, CHRIS P. GASKIN2

1School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand 2400 Leigh Road, RD5, Whangateau, Warkworth 0985, New Zealand

The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is a globally significant seabird hotspot with 27 species breeding amongst a myriad of offshore island and mainland sites. Research in this natural laboratory is revealing the lifestyles of seabirds, their importance as ecological links between marine and terrestrial environments and, with the arrival of lightweight tracking technologies, the staggering movements of these animals at oceanic basin scales. However, in comparison with terrestrial avifauna our understanding of the biology of seabirds remains poor, yet critical for effective conservation management. Nowhere can this lack of understanding be more exemplified than in the case of the New Zealand storm petrel (NZSP), photographed in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park in 2003 following 108 years of presumed extinction. Ten years on, in February 2013, this critically endangered species was finally tracked to a breeding site on Te Hauturu o Toi Little Barrier Island only 50 km from New Zealand's largest city. From the first 2003 photo to the discovery of a breeding site the story of the NZSP has rolled with all the twists and turns of a good detective novel. This talk presents an overview of recent seabird research in the Hauraki Gulf including the highs and lows of the search for the NZSP and lessons learned from this project that can be transferred to seabird conservation in general.

Presenting author: [email protected]

19

Classification of the cormorants of the world

HAMISH G. SPENCER, MARTYN KENNEDY

Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology & Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand

Relationships among the 40 or so extant species of cormorants (family Phalacrocoracidae) have been obscured by their morphological similarities, many of which we have recently shown to be the result of convergent evolution. Previous attempts by other workers to derive an evolutionarily justifiable classification for this group of birds using osteological and behavioural data have been hampered by these similarities. Many checklists currently avoid giving any indication of relationships among the species by using the singe genus Phalacrocorax. We present a well- resolved evolutionary tree for some 40 taxa based on the results of extensive genetic work that produced over 9000 bases of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence. This tree implies a novel classification for the cormorants, which reflects their evolutionary history and can be implemented using some 7 genera. Some of the relationships among the species are well-known but many are previously unrecognized. Nevertheless, much of the classification makes sense in terms of biogeography.

Presenting author: [email protected]

20

SYMPOSIA, THEMED AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Effects of early rearing experience on rowi (Apteryx rowi) behaviour and implications for conservation management

RACHAEL ABBOTT, BEN BELL, NICKY NELSON Victoria University Of Wellington, School of Biological Sciences, Kelburn Parade, Wellington, New Zealand

Early rearing experience can have significant impacts on the behaviour of animals reared in non- natural situations for conservation management. Rowi are critically endangered flightless ratites which form monogamous, highly territorial pairs with extended periods of parent-offspring association. Restocking the sole remaining rowi population involves rearing chicks on predator- free islands isolated from adult conspecifics. During this time juvenile rowi exhibit increased social tolerance, sharing burrows with multiple unrelated conspecifics. We hypothesised that as a result of behavioural mechanisms induced by pre-release experience, individuals in larger groups would have a higher survival rate than those in small release groups. We tested this experimentally by manipulating release group size over 3 years. Modelling revealed that of all variables tested, group size has the most significant influence on post release survival (n=67, P=0.036). Survival of individuals in small groups was significantly lower than that of individuals released in large groups. We suggest that social attraction and continued conspecific tolerance resulting from an individual’s rearing environment are the reason for this. Our findings have informed conservation management leading to changes in release protocols, and triggered further research into behavioural plasticity and long term effects of rearing conditions in conservation management.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Poster Minimising the impact of mammalian pest management on non-target birds

NIGEL ADAMS1, TAMSIN ORR-WALKER2, LORNE ROBERTS1, JOSH KEMP3, ERIC SPURR4 1Department of Natural Sciences, Unitec New Zealand 2Kea Conservation Trust, 3Department of Conservation, 4Landcare Research

Toxic laced baits are often used to control introduced mammalian pests in New Zealand. Delivery of the toxin 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) in cereal bait by aerial scattering remains by far the most effective control way of targeting pests over large areas particularly in rugged terrain. By-kill of non-target native bird species by 1080, including the threatened native parrot the kea Nestor notabilis, does occur. The effectiveness of the toxic laced bait drop is increased by pre-feeding with nontoxic cereal-based pellets. This provides the opportunity for introducing bird-specific repellents to pre-feed pellets in order to develop learned aversion by the birds and to reduce this by-kill. We tested the effectiveness of a combination of repellents, introduced to the cereal bait, in potentially deterring consumption by kea. Our results indicate that most captive birds rapidly develop a learned aversion to the bait and average consumption rates dropped to levels that would make unlikely that birds would receive a lethal dose of 1080. There was however considerable individual variability in the response with not all birds developing aversion to treated pellets. This suggests a small proportion of birds may remain susceptible to by kill during pest control operations in spite of the use of repellents. While these results are encouraging, field use of these repellents can only occur on demonstration that repellency to kea in the field and the palatability to the target pests are maintained.

Presenting author: [email protected]

21 Australia’s largest owl in Australia’s largest city: High achieving citizen science

DAVID BAIN

BirdLife Australia, BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, 1 Jamieson St, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127, Australia

The powerful owl Project is a citizen science research project looking at the urban-based population of powerful owls throughout the Sydney Basin. The project was initiated by a motivated member of the public, with no formal science based training. The project is now funded through the NSW Environment Trust and led by BirdLife Australia. The project has seen up to 130 volunteers take part in surveys of known and potential territories of powerful owls in Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle over three years. This has been supplemented by over 300 sightings per year provided by other interested members of the public. Results have shown up to 53% more territories than that estimated 10 years ago and preliminary work on diet is also now indicating more varied mammal prey items. Indications are that territories are substantially smaller than in non-urban areas and their locations are being driven by an interaction of environmental factors. Significant threats exist in the urban situation with car strike the biggest single impact, possibly affecting up to 10% of the population a year. The project is also developing education resources for a range of target audiences. The project has captured the interest of a large number of people and the value of this citizen science goes far beyond the benefits to the powerful owl, with the species becoming a ‘pin-up boy’ for urban conservation.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Individual consistency in the annual schedules of bar-tailed godwits

PHIL F. BATTLEY, JESSE R. CONKLIN

Ecology Group, Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand

In addition to their utility in documenting migration routes and stopover sites of migratory birds, geolocators can allow observed and unobserved phenomena to be linked and therefore enable novel testing of previously untestable hypotheses. Here, we combine data from a range of methods including geolocation to evaluate individual consistency in annual-cycle events in bar- tailed godwits that winter in New Zealand and breed in Alaska. We found that the individual timing of northward migration from New Zealand reflects godwits’ eventual breeding latitudes, with later migrants breeding further north in Alaska where the thaw is later. We also compared individual and population variation in a range of moult, movement and breeding timing parameters. Upholding a common belief, we confirmed that migratory movements are more tightly scheduled than moults are, but we did not find that migratory movements became ‘tighter’ as birds approach the breeding grounds. This was in part due to the remarkable individual consistency shown, with an average variation between years of <5 days across most migration measures. Annual variation of individuals is often calculated as a repeatability value. By comparing repeatabilities across measures, we conclude that they may in fact be quite misleading and somewhat meaningless to compare between species and annual-cycle events, unless the population variation is also explicitly presented.

Presenting author: [email protected]

22

New Zealand bellbirds: song learning abilities of male and female juveniles

DIANNE H. BRUNTON, BARBARA K. EVANS, MICHELLE ROPER

Ecology, Conservation & Behaviour, Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Albany Campus, Auckland, New Zealand

The endemic New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura) is an ideal model for testing cultural evolution of song. Bellbirds are honeyeaters that have a natural range that includes most offshore islands and the majority of New Zealand’s forests. Most significantly both sexes sing prolifically and defend resources using song. Song learning is a key factor in the evolution of dialects and there is a critical relationship between timing of song learning, dispersal and the formation of geographic dialects. While it is undisputed that many species have sex differences in song usage, vocal learning abilities of female songbirds are effectively unknown. In this study we quantify and compare the vocalizations of 1) male and female juvenile bellbirds of comparable ages, and 2) compare songs of adults and juveniles of the same sex. Songs were recorded in February 2013 at Lady Alice Island, an island off the coast of north-eastern New Zealand. Juvenile bellbirds of both sexes ranged in age from 2-8 weeks post fledging. Song development and complexity was similar for both male and female juveniles and sex differences in song types were apparent for all ages. Both sexes had a plastic song phase and song crystallisation occurred within 8 weeks post-fledging. The implications of sex biased juvenile dispersal and song learning abilities on the formation of sex-based dialects are discussed.

Presenting author: [email protected]

One hundred years of publishing: trends and the future for Emu Austral Ornithology

M.R. YARWOOD, K.L. BUCHANAN, M.A. WESTON

School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia

Emu Austral Ornithology has been publishing ornithological findings from the southern hemisphere since 1901. During the following 110 years the face of international publishing has changed, and consequently the focus of journal. Changes in publishing have resulted in more multi-affiliated papers submitted to the journal and from researchers based at academic institutions. Across this time the number of studies documenting basic species distributions has decreased, whilst the number of hypothesis-driven studies has increased. Analyses reveal gaps in both taxonomic and geographical content, suggesting studies are consistently focussed on particular taxonomic groups or within certain geographic areas. Non-Australian studies increased proportionally from the 1970s, whilst the strong gender bias towards male authors has improved since 1960. The trends are discussed against the background of changes in the international publishing scene and the strong potential for the journal in the future highlighted.

Presenting author: [email protected]

23

Assisted island-hopping: fairy-wrens and spinifexbirds

ALLAN H. BURBIDGE

Department of Parks and Wildlife, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia 6946

The Montebello Islands, off north-western Australia, were the site of British atomic testing in the 1950s and, until recent times, have also supported populations of feral cats and black rats, and still harbour dense stands of various weed species. Disturbance has therefore been substantial, despite the relative remoteness of the islands. Some bird species, and two mammal species, were lost from the islands. Following removal of cats and rats, 36 Barrow Island white-winged fairy- wrens (Malurus leucopterus edouardi) (Vulnerable) and 47 spinifexbirds (Eremiornis carteri) were reintroduced from Barrow Island to the Montebello Islands, in 2010-2011. Despite some significant logistical and husbandry challenges, birds were released successfully. Reintroduced populations of both species have expanded their range, and approximately double the number of birds were recorded within two years of the original translocation. The primary aim of these translocations was not to do with species recovery; rather, they are part of a broader project aimed at reconstructing the vertebrate fauna of the Montebello Islands. While the project has been successful, it raises the question of how we prioritise translocations for species recovery vs fauna reconstruction vs insurance against climate change.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Measures of genetic variability for ground parrot conservation

ALLAN H. BURBIDGE, SARAH COMER, ABBY BERRYMAN

Department of Parks and Wildlife, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia 6946

Genetic investigations have been informative in relation to our understanding of the 'taxonomic uniqueness' of the traditionally accepted subspecies of ground parrot, and the lack of complexity of genetic structuring within constituent taxa. Interpretation of these data, and translation into policy and management, has, however, been challenging. These challenges are compounded by the perilous conservation status of the western populations. Phylogenetic analysis has revealed the existence of genetic lineages that are in contrast to the traditional taxonomic view based on morphology. This suggests a clarification of conservation priorities is appropriate, but changes to regulations and policy have not flowed readily. Limited morphological variation, presumably related to the cryptic nature of the species, has also made interpretation difficult. Studies of genetic variability between individuals has also been illuminating, with surprisingly low levels of variability in both eastern and western Australia. This leads to some interesting management questions. Should we translocate birds within the range of the eastern populations? Should we translocate between eastern and western populations? Or between western populations? Or should eastern birds be used to test effectiveness of habitat management in areas where western birds are no longer found? As preliminary work suggests a lack of variation in microsatellite markers in western birds, how can we use this to manage the genetic health of the captive or wild populations? Given the apparent degree of genetic uniformity, does it matter how the captive birds are paired? Should eastern birds be added to the western captive population to increase genetic variability?

Presenting author: [email protected]

24

Seabird island surveys of the Lord Howe Group: essential knowledge at minimal cost

NICHOLAS CARLILE, DAVID PRIDDEL

Office of Environment and Heritage, P.O. Box 1967, Hurstville, 2220, New South Wales, Australia

The Lord Howe Group is located in the South Pacific Ocean, 780 km north-east of Sydney and 1560 km north-west of Auckland. The main island (1455 ha) is approximately 12 km long by up to 2 km wide. The most significant of the surrounding 27 islets and rocks (total area 60 ha) is the Admiralty Group (1 km to the north) and Balls Pyramid (23 km to the south-east). Over 100,000 seabirds, of 14 species, breed within the Group; many of these colonies are of significant national or global importance. Although many of the islets within the Group provide the only safe breeding sites for some seabird species, very few have been visited or surveyed. The Australian Government provided funds to assess the presence of weeds and rodents on vegetated islets within the Lord Howe Group. The proposed surveys were expanded to include estimates of seabird distribution and abundance. The seabird assessments were undertaken in collaboration with volunteers from the Australasian Seabird Group of BirdLife Australia. The completed surveys not only provide baseline data from which to track future changes in seabird populations, vegetation communities and emerging threats, they exemplify the integrated use of skilled volunteers and professionals to achieve sound scientific outcomes at minimal cost.

Presenting author: [email protected]

The sensory world of ratites

ISABEL CASTRO

Ecology Group, Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand

The Paleognathous are a group of poor flying or flightless birds that include the ratites and the tinamous. They are arguably considered the basal offshoot of the Class Aves. The senses and sensory organs of this group include a number of oddities in the bird world such as the largest eye, and nostrils at the end of the bill. The differences in sensory systems between neognathous and paleognathous birds could reflect either a specific adaptation to their way of life or represent a more ‘primitive’ ancestral avian sensory system. In this talk I review what is known of the sensory systems of these birds in relation to the challenges posed by each species’ ecology and what we still need to research. In particular I focus on the sensory ecology of kiwi, the smallest of the ratites, a nocturnal insectivore.

Presenting author: [email protected]

25

Connecting with Nature: The social dimensions of feeding birds in Australia and the United Kingdom

RENEE CHAPMAN, DARRYL JONES, HELEN PERKINS

Environmental Futures Centre, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia

Bird feeding is very common and widespread throughout the world. Despite this fact there has been very little research into this phenomenon. The feeding of birds has raised many negative assumptions for both the birds and people involved. Studies have concentrated on the impacts of dependency, malnutrition, behavioural changes and disease for the species involved. Initial research has shown that the feeding public is conscious of these negative assumptions and the opposition to the practice and despite this still desire to engage in the activity. A survey has been distributed to investigate the attitudes and motivation behind bird feeding in Australia and the United Kingdom and what it means for those involved. This research examines the implications of this interaction for an individual’s personal connection with nature and the subsequent environmental values that may be associated with it. An international comparison is made with the United Kingdom as there is an extensive history of bird feeding and an opposing view to the practice when compared to Australia, where feeding is encouraged in the United Kingdom particularly during winter.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Shorebird species composition and numbers in the Chinese Yellow Sea on northward and southward migration

CHIYEUNG CHOI1, PHIL F. BATTLEY1, MURRAY A. POTTER1, ZHIJUN MA2

1Ecology Group, Institute of Agriculture and Environment, PN 624, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand 2Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China

Migratory shorebirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway are declining rapidly due to habitat loss. In comparison to shorebird research in Australia and New Zealand, relatively little has been done at the heart of the flyway, the Yellow Sea. Using the Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve and the Liaoning Dandong Yalu River Estuarine Wetland National Nature Reserve in China as examples, we summarize the functions (resting and refueling), shorebird species composition (during northward and southward migration), habitat changes and management issues at these two sites. Counts and body mass data confirm that Chongming functions as a stopover site (with high turnover) for many species on northward migration, but as a staging site for some on southward migration. Yalu River coastal wetland acts as a major staging site on northward migration, and on southward migration may act as both a stopover site and a staging site for different species. Photographs confirm that a number of species start primary moult at Yalu River coastal wetland. Given that the duration of wing moult for most species likely exceeds their length of stay at Yalu River coastal wetland, these species presumably suspend moult before carrying on their southward migrations.

Presenting author: [email protected]

26

Poster Colony-based differences in the distribution and habitat characteristics of non-breeding grey-headed albatrosses

THOMAS A. CLAY1,2, ANDREA MANICA2, PETER G. RYAN3, JANET R. D. SILK1, LOUISE IRELAND1, RICHARD A. PHILLIPS1

1British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research, Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK 2Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK 3Percy FitzPatrick Institute, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa

Advances in tracking methods have led to greater knowledge about the at-sea distributions of many seabirds, yet relatively few studies have compared the spatial usage of non-breeding birds from different populations. We tracked 66 grey-headed albatrosses Thalassarche chrysostoma with archival geolocator tags for a mean of 426 days from two major breeding colonies in different ocean basins; in the south-west Atlantic Ocean (Bird Island, South Georgia, n=41) and in the south-west Indian Ocean (Marion Island, Prince Edward Islands, n=25). Five areas of core usage were identified: the waters around Marion Island, to the north and east of South Georgia, around the Falklands, to the west of the Drake Passage and to the east of the Kerguelen Plateau. The non-breeding distributions of birds from the two populations showed limited overlap; South Georgia birds foraged mainly within 1500km of the colony or around the Falklands, and to a lesser extent around Marion Island, whereas individuals from Marion Island foraged around their colony, to the east of the Kerguelen Plateau and to a lesser extent in the Drake Passage. Grey-headed albatrosses are biennial breeders and spatial segregation was much more pronounced during the non-breeding summer than the first or second winter away from the colonies, suggesting that non- breeding birds avoid waters near other grey-headed albatross colonies due to potential competition with breeding birds. Habitat preference was modelled to determine if differences in distribution between populations were the result of differing habitat preferences or due to other factors.

Presenting author: [email protected]

27

Development of species distribution models for spatially and temporally variable shorebird habitat in Australia

ROBERT S. CLEMENS, GREG A. SKILLETER, RICHARD A. FULLER

School of Biological Sciences, Environmental Decisions Group, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia

The conservation of non-breeding habitats for migratory species is critical for the long-term viability of populations. For highly mobile, species that respond to pulses in resource availability opportunistically, the geographic location of important habitats can vary substantially over time. In Australia some migratory shorebirds use highly ephemeral wetlands when available, but these wetlands can be dry for up to a decade. This variation in habitat suitability can cloud conservation efforts, monitoring effectiveness, and our understanding of the costs and benefits of the overall availability of ephemeral wetlands. Existing metrics on the importance of a wetland for shorebirds rely on counts of the number of birds that use the habitat, but high spatial and temporal variation in the availability of these habitats has left no clear understanding of how, where or when to take conservation action sufficient to protect these species. Similarly, the interpretation of monitoring data is highly confounded by these movements. The first step in understanding both the importance and implications of these kinds of resource pulses across the non-breeding ranges of migratory shorebirds in Australia, is to map the suitability of their habitat across both space and time. Here we report on attempts to develop species distribution models that capture the variable habitat suitability in Australia over time for four migratory shorebird species; sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis), and common greenshank (Tringa nebularia).

Presenting author: [email protected]

Terrestrial bird monitoring on Great Barrier Island and the population size and distribution of North Island tomtit and red-crowned parakeet on Mount Hobson/Hirakimata

ASHER COOK, JOHN OGDEN, JAMES RUSSELL

Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Tamaki Campus, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

Bird counts were undertaken over summer 2012-13 at four locations across Great Barrier Island to gain a quantitative understanding of differences in bird abundance and diversity. These locations allowed comparability between sites with and without pest management and integrated well studied sites with less well studied sites. Sites with pest management programmes (Windy Hill and Glenfern Sanctuary) had higher incidences of tui, kaka, grey warbler, sacred kingfisher and New Zealand fantail than those which have no pest management program (Te Paparahi). The old-growth forest at Hirakimata/Mount Hobson had the highest diversity of native species, the lowest number of introduced species, and was the only location in which tomtit, red-crowned parakeet and long-tailed cuckoo were detected. Tomtit/miromiro and red-crowned parakeet/kakariki in particular are at low density, range restricted to Mount Hirakimata/Mount Hobson and vulnerable to extinction on Great Barrier Island. We estimated their density using line transect distance sampling during February 2013. All of the tracks in the Mount Hobson/Hirakimata area were surveyed and observations were used to generate population distribution maps for both species. Tomtit had a population density estimate of 0.79 individuals/ha (95%CI 0.534-1.164) but were strictly confined to areas of old-growth forest. Red-crowned parakeet occurred at very low densities (0.023 individuals/ha) but had a wider range than tomtit. Given the importance of this area to these species, further protection of the old-growth forest on Mount Hobson/Hirakimata seems essential to maintaining the island’s current native bird diversity.

Presenting author: [email protected] 28 The function of colourful plumage: it’s not just about quality signalling

JAMES DALE

Institute of Natural and Mathematical Science, Massey University, Private Bag 102904, North Shore City 0745, Auckland, New Zealand

25 years of intensive research on plumage coloration has provided compelling evidence that elaborate colour patterns function as honest (i.e. costly) signals of quality. Although this large body of research has provided great insight into many aspects of evolutionary ecology, other alternative functions to plumage coloration have been largely neglected. In this synthesis I will review three alternative signalling functions for colourful plumage and I will describe the expected properties of colour-based signals associated with each function. First signals of strategy are expected when individuals form strategy-dependent cooperative alliances and include signals of gender, some forms of delayed plumage maturation, and signals of mating strategy. Second, signals of individual identity function as “name tags” that increase overall recognisability and facilitate individual recognition between repeatedly interacting individuals. Signalling identity by colour display might be widespread in birds and appears to be associated with the highest degrees of observed colour variability. Finally signals of presence simply reveal the location of an individual to potential receivers. These alternative signal types, combined with quality signalling, represent non-mutually exclusive alternative communication functions for bird coloration and provide a rich arena for the provision of multiple messages by signallers.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Mining matrix effects on rainforest birds: a case study of South-west Ghana

JUSTUS P. DEIKUMAH, MARTINE MARON, CLIVE A. MCALPINE

The University of Queensland, Landscape Ecology and Conservation Group, School of Geography Planning and Environmental Management, Brisbane, Qld 4072 Australia

Globally, low-intensity land use matrices are being converted to high-intensity land uses such as mining. Such conversion affects biodiversity at the impacted site, and also potentially in adjacent remnant habitat, particularly for high-contrast habitat types such as tropical rainforest. We investigated how the species richness of different functional groups of tropical rainforest birds varied in remnant rainforest patches embedded in two matrix types (mining vs. agricultural) at two distances to forest edge in fragmented Upper Guinean rainforest landscapes of southwest Ghana. We hypothesized that rainforest adjacent to high-intensity surface mining would support a relatively lower richness of forest-dependent birds than remnants adjacent to a lower-intensity agricultural matrix. Data from six point counts nested within 32 study sites were used to estimate species richness within ten avian functional groups. Species richness of each group was modelled as a function of adjacent matrix type, distance to patch edge and site-level vegetation characteristics using generalized linear mixed-effects models. Forest specialists and frugivores were most strongly negatively affected by adjacent mining, irrespective of distance to mine site. Forest visitors were more common in forests adjacent to agriculture than mining, and they preferred edges to interior habitats. Forest specialist and frugivore species richness also correlated positively with the density of large trees. This effect of high-intensity matrix on forest birds suggests that even with no additional forest loss, increased surface mining in the Upper Guinea region is likely to result in population declines in forest-dependent birds. We conclude that preserving avian diversity in forest landscapes will require management of matrix quality as the widespread trend of increasing land use intensity is likely to result in negative consequences for birds and possibly other biodiversity components in fragmented tropical forest landscapes.

Presenting author: [email protected]

29 ARGOS satellite telemetry reveals the natal dispersal patterns of kea (Nestor notabilis)

TODD E. DENNIS1, ERIN M. KENNEDY1, JOSH KEMP3, COREY MOSEN3, JACINDA AMERY3, TAMSIN ORR-WALKER4, GEORGE L. PERRY1,2

1School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand 2School of Environment, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand 3The Department of Conservation 4Kea Conservation Trust

Natal dispersal, the process through which immature individuals permanently depart the areas of their birth and early development, is a fundamentally important movement process that greatly affects the spatial and temporal structure of animal populations. Knowledge of natal dispersal is essential for characterisation of spatio-temporally explicit population dynamics that are used to inform effective management strategies, for both threatened and invasive species. Here we present the results of a study describing the nascent dispersal patterns of juvenile kea (Nestor notabilis), a large (c. 1000 g) omnivorous parrot endemic to forested and mountainous regions of the South Island of New Zealand. We deployed ARGOS satellite platform transmitter terminals (‘PTTs’) on 18 juvenile kea at four regional sites throughout the Southern Alps immediately prior to the period when the study birds first left their nest cavities. The PTTs were configured to record a series (‘burst’) of location estimates (typically, 4 to 6) in 4-h blocks once every eight days. We then used the resultant location data to describe patterns of movement, rates of displacement, and estimated survivorship of the juvenile kea after they left their natal areas. Our presentation focusses on characterising natal dispersal patterns of kea through use of novel geo-visualisation techniques, and considers the value of biological insights that can be drawn through use of remote-tracking technologies such as satellite telemetry.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Kiwi vocal communication

ANDREW DIGBY, BEN BELL, PAUL TEAL

School of Biological Science and School of Engineering and Computer Science, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

As nocturnal and cryptic birds, kiwi (Apteryx spp.) are thought to rely heavily on vocal communication. Yet their calling behaviour has been little studied, even though calls are heavily relied upon in conservation monitoring. We provide insight into kiwi call function by examining the acoustic ecology of the little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii). The sexes appear to have different call functions in this species, and exhibit remarkable cooperation in call frequency that has not previously been described in any bird, and which infers likely functions of their duets. Their calls also contain complex vocal features that may be employed to add acoustic emphasis to their calls used in territory defence. Inter-individual call variation is relatively low in this species, suggesting a possible link between genetic and vocal diversity that would be of great benefit to kiwi conservation. We also explore call function and calling behaviour by using a long-term dataset to demonstrate previously untested variations in vocal activity with temporal and environmental conditions.

Presenting author: [email protected]

30

Babbler it’s cold outside: Winter thermoregulatory strategies of the white-browed babbler

TEGAN K. DOUGLAS1, CHRISTINE E. COOPER1, PHILIP C. WITHERS2, STEPHEN JJF DAVIES1

1Department of Environment & Agriculture, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987 Perth, Western Australia 6845 2School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia (M092), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley Western Australia 6009

White-browed babblers (Pomatostomus superciliosus) are socially gregarious, ground-frequenting birds of central and southern Australia. Living in close-knit family groups, they construct domed nests in which they roost communally. In semi-arid Eucalyptus wandoo woodland, free-living babblers implanted with temperature-sensitive radio transmitters maintain homeothermy in winter, even at below-freezing ambient conditions. To investigate how this is achieved we used a range of field and laboratory techniques to examine the thermal and energetic strategies of babblers, incorporating individual physiology, social thermoregulation and roost nest microclimate. Standard open-flow respirometry was used to measure metabolic rate, evaporative water loss and body temperature for solitary and small groups (2-5 individuals) of captive babblers over a range of ambient temperatures (10 – 32.5°C). Solitary babblers had a typical endothermic response to ambient temperature, with no evidence of torpor. Huddling yielded significant energy savings at low temperatures. The thermal properties of roost nests create a microclimate that buffers against low temperatures. Both communal roosting behaviour and the insulation of roost nests are important in aiding nocturnal thermoregulation of this species, conferring energetic benefits that aid in meeting daily energy requirements even in habitats with extreme diurnal temperature fluctuations and/or very low overnight minimums.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Unexpected genetic population structure in the New Zealand endemic kea (Nestor notabilis)

NICOLAS DUSSEX, IAN JAMIESON, BRUCE ROBERTSON

Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

The kea (Nestor notabilis) is an endemic alpine parrot of the South Island of New Zealand. After 150 years of persecution, it was fully protected in 1986, but the species is still declining over its whole range. Here I present data from 17 microsatellite and one mitochondrial markers for Kea sampled at nine different locations along the length of the South Island. Kea are known to have considerable dispersal capabilities and are sometimes sighted far from their alpine habitat. It is therefore expected that such a potential for gene flow would make distant populations less genetically differentiated. However, I found a significant isolation by distance (IBD) pattern. Moreover three distinct genetic clusters were identified using microsatellite data while mitochondrial data identified two main groups of haplotypes. To try and explain the contemporary population structure, I estimated the probability of two possible scenarios of post-glacial expansion: (1) a “recent divergence “from a single ancestral refugium or (2) an “ancient divergence“ in two glacial refugia followed by recent admixture. Our data suggest that kea population might have been reduced to a single refugium during the last glaciation and subsequently recolonized their range. We discuss this unexpected population structure in the context of the “beech-gap” hypothesis and recent population decline and also discuss potential implications for species management.

Presenting author: [email protected]

31

Avian influenza virus dynamics in a waterfowl community

MARTA FERENCZI

Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Pigdons Road, Geelong, VIC 3217, Australia

A predominant feature of the Australian climate is the tremendous irregularity in both timing and location of wet and dry periods over much of the continent. These erratic patterns are accompanied by large changes in bird population densities at local and broader scales. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in waterfowl species, including those thought to be the main reservoirs of avian influenza viruses (AIV). Because AIV infection usually involves contact between infected and non-infected individuals, the prevalence of AIV within a population should be influenced by both population density and immune status of uninfected birds. To investigate these interactions, I examined temporal variation in AIV prevalence in fresh duck faecal samples in relation to rainfall, waterfowl abundance and species diversity. My study site was at the Western Treatment Plant, a permanent wetland in south-eastern Australia and one of the most significant sites for waterfowl in Victoria. Duck faecal sampling was conducted on the spillways around the ponds between 2006 and 2012. Of the 3295 samples collected, 179 tested positive for AIV. Further analysis revealed very weak annual periodicity in AIV prevalence, however high prevalence values were observed in the summer months from 2009 to 2012. Because these years followed an extended drought, there appears to be a correlation between AIV prevalence and spring rainfall. Presumably these conditions resulted in higher densities of post-breeding birds at the Western Treatment Plant ponds along with a higher proportion of juveniles, which are immunologically naïve, than found in drier periods.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Sensory ecology of New Zealand petrels: A model for sensory-based conservation

MEGAN FRIESEN, JACQUELINE BEGGS, ANNE GASKETT

School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

Seabirds are thought to have evolved unique sensory adaptations as a result of their extreme environments. Tube-nosed seabirds (Procellariiformes) have been at the center of many of these studies. Their unique behaviours, such as foraging at great distances from land and returning to their burrows in colonies at night, mean that Procellariiformes rely greatly on chemical and auditory cues. Procellariiformes are also one of the most-rapidly declining orders of birds in the world. We believe that understanding and integrating their sensory adaptations into management practices is the key to more effective conservation. This project has used the grey-faced petrel (Pterodroma macroptera gouldi) as a model organism to study the sensory adaptations of petrels. Our aim is to i. compare the birds’ odour profiles to nesting material for the end goal of using these scents to aid in translocation efforts, and ii. analyse and compare vocalizations for optimal success in acoustic attractions. We extracted volatile organic compounds from feathers and nest material using solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. Additionally, we recorded and measured vocalizations of prospecting adults. Our results show similarities between calls, and odours exhibiting plant-based compounds specific to their nesting material (including terpenes, aldehydes, aromatic hydrocarbons, and others). Currently, data is being investigated to understand the link between the generated odors and the life history of the petrels and how these unique traits can be used to improve conservation practices.

Presenting author: [email protected]

32

Why are Australasian shorebirds declining so rapidly and what should we do about it?

RICHARD A. FULLER1, ROBERT S. CLEMENS1, NICHOLAS J. MURRAY1, COLIN E. STUDDS1, TAKUYA IWAMURA1,2, HOWARD B. WILSON1, BRUCE E. KENDALL3, KIRAN L. DHANJAL- ADAMS1, HUGH P. POSSINGHAM1

1School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia 2Department of Biology and Department of Environmental Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94035, USA 3Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5131, USA

Recent analyses of migratory shorebird population data from Australia and New Zealand are revealing declines of staggering severity and rapidity, with some migratory shorebird populations crashing by up to 80% in 20 years. Data from Moreton Bay in Eastern Australia show that migratory shorebirds are declining while resident species are not, suggesting that the causes for these declines may lie outside Australasia. Using satellite data we have documented rapid loss of intertidal wetlands in eastern Asia, a region known to be of critical importance as stopover habitat for many migratory shorebirds. Our modelling work suggests that habitat loss in this region could have profound implications for shorebird populations at a flyway level, and comprehensive analysis of Australasian shorebird data indicate severe declines in several species dependent on East Asian stopover sites. Finally, we briefly discuss some of the possible solutions to this difficult conservation problem, focussing specifically on the need for collaboration throughout the flyway and the possibility of creating or restoring lost habitat.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Backyard bird feeding in Britain: Caring gone mad?

RICHARD A. FULLER

School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia

It’s a national obsession over there! The RSPB, Britain’s national bird conservation organisation boasts one million members, and more than 30 million Brits regularly feed birds in their own backyard. According to some environmental psychologists these two statistics are tightly linked – if we interact with biodiversity around where we live, we might care more about conservation in a broader sense. This could mean big payoffs for conservation from encouraging direct interactions with backyard birds. I will show you some data from Britain about how bird feeding benefits birds, and how being close to nature benefits people. In some places, there are more than 1000 bird feeders per km2! What lessons can we learn for Australia in particular, where bird feeding is frowned upon by most of the ornithological community? There are of course several negative outcomes of feeding birds, but under what circumstances should we consider these a price worth paying?

Presenting author: [email protected]

33

Changes to local bird communities as a result of supplementary feeding

JOSIE A. GALBRAITH1, JACQUELINE BEGGS1, DARRYL JONES2, MARGARET STANLEY1

1Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand 2Environmental Futures Centre and Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia

Supplementary feeding of birds is a global phenomenon, involving millions of people and vast quantities of food annually. There are, however, a number of potential negative ecological effects that may arise as a result, including dependence, increased aggression, and disease outbreaks. In the New Zealand context, an important concern is the potential for feeding to enhance populations of introduced species, yet the practice has received virtually no attention from the scientific community here. We have carried out an experimental feeding study in urban Auckland to investigate the effects of common New Zealand feeding practices. A key aim was to examine whether feeding causes changes in local avian community structure. In addition, baseline information on seasonal variation in feeder use was collected, both at the individual and species levels. Dramatic increases in local abundance of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis) were observed at experimental feeding sites. All species observed visiting feeding stations during the study were introduced, with the exception of the silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), which was a seasonal visitor in winter months only. The findings from this study indicate that bird feeding contributes to the patterns of avian community structure observed in urban New Zealand, with the potential to inflate numbers of invasive birds.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Evidence is required to address albatross mortality in trawl fisheries

EDUARDO GALLO-CAJIAO1, GRAHAM H. PYKE2

1Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia 2School of the Environment, University of Technology, Sydney. Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia

To examine the current management of trawl fisheries (TF) is important to ensure albatross mortality is not being overlooked. Fishing by-catch threatens albatrosses, but their cryptic mortality in TF has hindered conservation policy development. The implementation of tasked seabird observer programs in TF, nevertheless, has shown that albatross mortality can occur at threatening levels. Consequently, mitigation measures have been developed and adopted in some TF. Despite the above, some TF lack clear policy in relation to albatross mortality. In this context, we investigated the management of albatross mortality in a state TF in Australia. We conducted a literature search and addressed a set of questions to the responsible management agency through questions on notice at the relevant state parliament to understand albatross interactions from a policy standpoint. Our results indicate that current policy neither comprises albatross mortality nor is evidence-based. Albatross mortality in this TF, however, might be occurring because its fishing grounds overlap with albatross occurrence and its gear is similar to that used by TF elsewhere that report albatross mortality. Hence, the responsible management agency should take action according to legal obligations. In this scenario, the implementation of a tasked seabird observer program, collection of baseline data, and adoption of adaptive management by the examined TF are recommended. As uncertainty can hamper conservation efforts because management actions require evidence, it is imperative to fill current information gaps in this TF. Additionally, an improved understanding of albatross mortality from individual TF will enable to prioritise conservation efforts in an international and multi-gear fishing context.

Presenting author: [email protected]!

34

Why fly when you can walk? The evolution of flightlessness in rails

GILLIAN GIBB, STEVE TREWICK

Ecology Group, Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. evolves.massey.ac.nz

The rails (Rallidae) are a cosmopolitan group of birds with a broad distribution through the Pacific and globe. Flightlessness has evolved multiple times within the group, often in association with the colonisation of islands and there are numerous examples in the New Zealand/Pacific region. Nearly all islands of the Pacific have been colonized by one or more rail lineages, and before human contact it is likely that most islands had endemic flightless rails. Morphological and molecular studies confirm that flight has likely been lost independently in each of these lineages. In New Zealand, the South Island takahe (Porphyrio porphyrio) and weka (Gallirallus australis) are living examples of flightless rails, and a number of recently extinct species are also known, including Capellirallus karamu, Fulica prisca, Gallirallus dieffenbachi, Gallirallus modestus and Porphyrio mantelli. Museums are an invaluable source of tissue samples from recently extinct species. Recent advances in sequencing technology means it is now relatively straightforward to sequence large amounts of DNA from very small amounts of starting material. This has opened up the opportunity to uncover genetic information from extinct species, even when the samples are small and the DNA is degraded into fragments. Here we present recent findings on the genetic relationships between the extinct and extant New Zealand rails, and discus this in the context of adaptation to a flightless lifestyle.

Presenting author: [email protected]

The epic migration of the long-tailed cuckoo pieced together from museum and sighting records

BRIAN GILL1, MARK HAUBER2

1Auckland Museum, Private Bag 92018, Auckland, New Zealand 2Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, USA

Long-tailed cuckoos (Eudynamys taitensis; 125 g) breed only in New Zealand, parasitising three species of endemic songbirds (Mohoua spp.). After performing perhaps the most remarkable overwater migration of any land bird, cuckoos winter in a vast arc of tropical Pacific islands extending 11,000 km from Palau (Micronesia) to Henderson Island (Pitcairn group). Our study aimed to reinterpret the long-tailed cuckoo’s migration based on data (age, place, month) from 1120 museum specimens and published sighting records. The sexes are alike, but immatures are readily distinguishable from adults, allowing the analysis of migration patterns in relation to age. At the start of the breeding season (spring) practically all long-tailed cuckoos in New Zealand are in adult plumage, implying that none return from migration as immatures. In New Zealand, immatures are overwhelmingly restricted to late summer and autumn, showing that these are young of the most recent breeding season and have not retained immature plumage during a cycle of migration to and from the Pacific. In the autumn migration, there is an age-related lag in departure, with adults moving north up to 3 months before immatures. In the winter, the average longitude of long-tailed cuckoos in the Pacific decreases progressively, consistent with a slight westward shift in population. This raises the possibility that a portion of the cuckoo population undertakes a counter-clockwise loop-migration. Such a migration pattern could partly explain the unusual distribution of the species fanning out from the breeding to the wintering grounds.

Presenting author: [email protected]

35

Seasonal selection and use of native and exotic vegetation by bush bird species in an urban mixed forest environment

EMILY R. GRAY, YOLANDA VAN HEEZIK

Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand

In highly modified landscapes such as urban areas, the ability of native birds to alter foraging behaviour in accordance with environmental and anthropogenic change will play a fundamental role in their survival, but not much is known about behavioural flexibility in foraging by native birds. This study aimed to assess the use of common native and exotic tree species by native and introduced birds over four seasons. Bird counts were carried out at 70 locations throughout a chain of urban forest fragments consisting of mixed native/exotic vegetation. Actual behaviours exhibited by different bird species were documented in three native and three exotic tree species. In spring there were strong indications for native bird preference of mostly native vegetation and exotic bird preference for mostly exotic vegetation, however this was no longer the case from summer, when native birds increased their use of exotic vegetation, and exotic birds were found across all vegetation types. Native fuchsia and kanuka trees are important resources for native birds in spring and summer. Exotic trees, such as oak, were used by native species when native resources became depleted. The concept that native birds want or need native vegetation is not “cut and dried”.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Avian responses to rehabilitation and water flow management in a degraded wetland system

ROBERT GREEN1, BRYAN HAYWOOD, STEVE CLARK

1PO Box 3211, Mount Gambier, South Australia 2CMB, Moorak, South Australia 3Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Mount Gambier, South Australia

In 2005 the Department for Environment and Heritage (South Australia), purchased 230ha of coastal grazing land and degraded Tea-tree and Cutting Grass wetland with the aim of re- invigorating it and re-connecting it with the adjoining world-renowned Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park wetland system (declared a RAMSAR site in December 2012). By blocking drains, building levy banks, creating fish ways, revegetating and managing water levels, a permanent freshwater swamp has been re-established. Since May 2007, monthly bird surveys have been conducted at the site to assist in reporting back on the recovery of the wetland system. The site is surveyed as four distinct habitat zones, with one hour spent in each per month to record species composition and abundance. To date 147 species have been recorded and the site is proving to be important as a regional drought refuge for waterbirds in a landscape where most wetlands have been cleared and drained. Revegetation work has added further shrubland and woodland habitat providing increasing benefits to other avifauna. We will present results of the trends in species diversity and abundance between 2007 and the present. The site contains four IUCN Red Listed species, two of which are birds, the Australasian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) and the orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster), as well as numerous species rated as threatened on a State and/or National scale.

Presenting author: [email protected]

36

First report of feather loss in Adelie penguins on Ross Island, Antarctica

WRAY GRIMALDI1, DANIEL TOMPKINS2, PHIL LYVER3

1Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand 2Landcare Research, Private Bag 1930, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand 3Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand

During the 2011-12 season and the 2012-13 season on Ross Island, mainly adult Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) at three main colonies were observed to have feather loss on various areas of their bodies. The number of affected birds was estimated to be 1 in 1000 in 2011-12 and 1 in 1500 birds in 2012-13. This condition had never been seen before in more than 40 years birds at these colonies have been monitored. No obvious causative infectious agents, such as lice or mites, were observed at the time of handling. The cause of this condition is currently under investigation. It was not possible to determine whether or not feather loss resulted in increased mortality or if the affected birds grew in replacement feathers after moulting as researchers are not present when the birds moult. Additionally, no signs of feather loss were observed on the only other avian resident at these colonies, the south polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki). The results of electron microscopy and next generation sequencing screening for putative causative agents will be considered.

Presenting author: [email protected]

A Trans-Tasman fairy penguin tale

STEFANIE GROSSER1, NICOLAS J. RAWLENCE1, R. PAUL SCOFIELD2, JONATHAN M. WATERS1

1 Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand 2 Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand

Many of New Zealand’s (NZ) endangered species are believed to be declining remnants of once widespread populations impacted by humans. For some coastal vertebrate species, however, recent advances in ancient DNA (aDNA) research have revealed complex ecological responses of biota to human disturbance as shown for the iconic yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) that only recently expanded its range northwards to mainland NZ from the subantarctic after the anthropogenic demise of its previously unknown sister species M. waitaha. Molecular data from pre-historic and modern NZ sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) suggests a similar extinction- recolonisation scenario. Because the yellow-eyed penguin story is not an isolated incident, we hypothesise that such events have occurred several times in coastal NZ. For example, little penguins (Eudyptula minor) are split into two major groups based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences: one consisting of birds from NZ and the second consisting of birds from Australia and surprisingly NZ’s Otago region. Previous research has suggested that the Australian lineage arrived in NZ ca. 180 kya and has been outcompeting NZ E. minor in Otago. I predict that similar to M. antipodes and P. hookeri, E. minor were extirpated in Otago by Polynesian/early Maori settlers in more recent times. We aim to determine the current distribution of the Australian E. minor lineage in Otago using comprehensive mtDNA analysis of extant E. minor specimens and estimate the time of arrival in NZ using aDNA analysis and radiocarbon dating of Holocene fossil and archeological bones.

Presenting author: [email protected]

37

Does riparian condition influence breeding success in woodland birds in highly modified landscapes?

BIRGITA HANSEN

Centre for Environmental Management, University of Ballarat, PO Box 663, Ballarat, Victoria 3353, Australia

Riparian zones are typically areas of higher avian diversity and abundance compared to surrounding landscapes. Where riparian zones and their hinterland vegetation are relatively intact, the full suite of resources necessary to support populations of woodland birds should be available. However, when riparian zones are degraded, successful breeding is expected to be restricted to a suite of predominantly generalist species capable of exploiting limited resources. Woodland bird breeding success might be predicted to be higher in riparian zones where livestock grazing is absent, the tree layer includes multi aged stems, shrubs are present and understory is intact. This research project investigated the influence of riparian condition, in terms of vegetation cover and other structural attributes, on woodland bird breeding success in riparian zones within agricultural landscapes of northern Victoria. Nine riparian sites, representing a gradient of impact from highly modified through to relatively intact, were surveyed throughout spring 2012. Abundance, richness and breeding activity data were collected. In all sites, woodland and generalist species were observed attempting to breed, but the proportion of woodland species successfully breeding (as evidenced by the presence of young) was generally higher at more intact sites. Preliminary data analysis indicates a positive relationship between breeding activity and shrub, tussock grass and litter cover, density of eucalypt saplings, and riparian extent (patch width and length). This shows that structural elements of riparian zones that represent purported indicators of condition do appear to have a positive influence on desirable ecological functions like woodland bird population productivity.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Vocalisations of mainland tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae) and Chatham Island tui (P. n. chathamensis): a comparative study

SAMUEL D. HILL, WEIHONG JI, KEVIN A. PARKER, CHRISTOPHE AMIOT, SARAH J. WELLS

Human-Wildlife Interactions Research Group, Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, North Shore Mail Centre, Private Bag 102904, Auckland, 1131, New Zealand

Vocalisations are important for territorial defence, mate attraction, and species recognition in many songbirds. Comparative studies on the songs of birds between islands and mainland populations provide insight into the evolution of vocal communication in terms of both ecological and social factors. We compared the vocalisations of tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae), an endemic honeyeater from New Zealand’s mainland, with those of a subspecies from the remote Chatham Islands (P. n. chathamensis). Song spectral variables of male long-range ‘broadcasting’ songs differed between mainland and Chatham Island tui populations. Songs recorded from five mainland populations had significantly greater syllable diversity and produced a higher percentage of trills than those from the Chatham Islands. These characteristics have been revealed in past studies as being sexually selected traits positively correlated with male genetic diversity. The acoustic adaptation hypothesis could also help to elucidate the presence of a significantly higher percentage of trill components in the songs of the mainland population, as the mainland study sites in general contained more areas of open vegetation, where trills transmit more effectively than in dense forest, which dominated the sampling sites on the Chatham Islands.

Presenting author: [email protected]

38

Poster Following sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) to a precursor of El Nino Southern Oscillation: seabirds as true predictors of climatic changes

GRANT HUMPHRIES

Dept of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Seabirds are affected by changes in marine systems, which is reflected in population sizes and geographic distribution. When certain oceanographic changes occur that are both precursors to climatic events and affect seabirds, it follows that it could be possible for seabirds to act as predictors to these events. Previously we have shown that an index derived from the sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus) hunt is able to predict changes in the Southern Oscillation by 4 – 12 months, and thus predict the onset of El Nino/La Nina. In this study, we investigate the oceanographic mechanism for how sooty shearwaters are able to predict El Nino/La Nina. We have used satellite derived data of sea surface temperature, wind vectors, and atmospheric pressure, combined with GPS and GLS tracks of sooty shearwater movement. Oceanographic parameters in foraging hotspots were studied to test if changes in these variables were also able to predict El Nino/La Nina events at the same temporal scale as the sooty shearwater harvest index. By applying techniques which take into account complex ecological data, we are able to provide a snapshot of how oceanographic parameters in foraging areas may drive sooty shearwater populations. These techniques may lead to an inexpensive way of predicting El Nino events up to a year before they occur, which has implications in various aspects of human society.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Achievements and lessons from three captive-releases of regent honeyeaters Anthochaera phrygia in north-east Victoria

DEAN INGWERSEN

National Regent Honeyeater recovery coordinator BirdLife Australia, Suite 2-05, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053

The regent honeyeater Anthochaera phrygia recovery team, administered by BirdLife Australia’s Woodland Birds for Biodiversity project, has conducted three captive releases of the Critically Endangered species in north-east Victoria, Australia - in 2008, 2010 and 2013. Each subsequent release has seen a slight refinement of methods used, both in terms of logistics and monitoring. Across these releases a total of 109 birds have been released, with intensive radio-tracking undertaken on at least half of each cohort of birds. All three release cohorts have demonstrated high survival rates, with a conservative figure of over 70 percent of birds surviving beyond ten weeks post-release in each instance (and often longer). A number of different transmitter attachment techniques have been trialled in captivity and used in the field, and a new design was developed prior to the 2013 release. During the 2010 and 2013 releases recapture efforts were conducted post-release (n=25 and 15 released birds caught respectively) and demonstrate that birds carrying radio-transmitters show no significant weight changes compared to birds not fitted with transmitters. Despite extensive searching none of the 2008 cohort has been seen after the initial six month intensive monitoring period, but nine of the 2010 birds have now been seen again over 12 months after release. Of note has been a male found over 100km north of the release site, a female which bred successfully with a ‘wild’ male adjacent to the release site two years post-release, and the return of four birds to the release site in 2013.

Presenting author: [email protected]

39

Saving critical woodland bird habitat through prioritisation and incentives to landholders – a case study

DEAN INGWERSEN1, CHRIS TZAROS1, MICK RODERICK1, SALLY BRYANT2, DOUG ROBINSON3, NIGEL JONES4

1BirdLife Australia, Suite 2-05, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053 2Tasmanian Land Conservancy 3Trust for Nature 4Nature Conservation Trust NSW

Since 2009 BirdLife Australia’s Woodland Birds for Biodiversity project, in partnership with covenanting organisations across three states in south-east Australia, has worked to reduce critical threats to a range of woodland birds using high profile species such as regent honeyeaters to gain community interest. The main aim of the project has been perpetual covenanting of high quality woodland remnants on private property, using incentive payments based on a novel prioritisation process. The prioritisation process used threatened woodland bird records from across the woodland regions of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania as a means to develop a map of threatened woodland bird ‘hotspots’ which would yield greatest return from investment in habitat protection. A standardised assessment metric was also developed for the project, both to rank prospective properties and to calculate incentive payments to be offered. Over the four years of the project, a total of just on 2,700 hectares of high quality woodland was protected across 30 properties, with a total of just over $1M paid out as incentives. In each phase of the project it was oversubscribed, with many properties not meeting the criteria or not being of a standard of those successfully covenanted. In this presentation the prioritisation process and assessment metric will be explained, some of the amazing properties covenanted will be showcased, and the lessons learnt and results will be discussed, such as the use of a property by nearly 50 critically endangered regent honeyeaters Anthochaera phrygia just months after covenanting.

Presenting author: [email protected]

40

Baby, it’s cold outside: Exploring the drivers behind social roosting in North Island brown kiwi

SARAH E. JAMIESON1,2, THOMAS JENSEN3, ISABEL C. CASTRO1, BARBARA DURRANT3

1Ecology Group, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand 2Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 169 Tory St., Wellington, New Zealand 3San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, California 92027

Factors driving social behaviours have been the focus of much debate and analysis since E.O. Wilson’s seminal book Sociobiology: The New Synthesis (1975). There have been numerous hypotheses put forward to explain the evolution of roosting social behaviours in birds. For example the “Mate Hypothesis” proposes that communal roosting enables an individual to gain and/or maintain a mate and the “Thermoregulation Hypothesis” suggests that birds roost together so that they may reduce the amount of energy they need to invest in thermoregulation as they are able to take advantage their neighbours’ heat production and limit the amount of surface area they themselves expose to the environment. We tested these hypotheses using data collected during a two-year intensive study on the ecology of North Island brown kiwi Apteryx mantelli- a species that commonly roosts both alone and in groups of up to five individuals. Specifically we tested whether the frequency of individuals roosting together increased A) as temperatures decreased (Thermoregulation Hypothesis) or B) as the breeding season approached and peaked when the females were most fertile (Mate Hypothesis). We will discuss roosting behaviours of North Island brown kiwi and how our findings shed light on the evolution of social roosting in birds.

Presenting author: [email protected]

An assessment of recent population trends of flesh-footed shearwaters Puffinus carneipes breeding in New Zealand

SARAH E. JAMIESON, SUSAN WAUGH

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 169 Tory St., Wellington, New Zealand

Flesh-footed shearwaters are considered to be one of New Zealand’s seabird species that is most heavily impacted by both commercial and recreational fisheries, yet they have an IUCN ranking of Least Concern. In order to resolve these two contradictory facts we conducted surveys on three large breeding colonies spread throughout the country and compared them to historical data to determine population trends. We found that nesting densities declined significantly on the two most northerly colonies we surveyed (Lady Alice Island, Hen and Chicken Islands Nature Reserve, Northland and Ohinau Island, Mercury Islands Group, Coromandel, respectively), while they decreased at the smaller southern colony (Titi Island, Marlborough Sounds), which is at the southern limit of the species New Zealand range. We hypothesise that the spatial variation in population is related to differences in fisheries pressure throughout the region and competition with other burrow-nesting seabird species. We strongly suggest that the conservation status of Flesh- footed Shearwaters needs to be re-examined and mitigation strategies be implemented.

Presenting author: [email protected]

41

Why bird feeding matters?

DARRYL JONES

Environmental Futures Centre, Griffith University, Nathan 4111, QLD, Australia

Attracting wild birds to domestic gardens is an extremely popular practice throughout the Western world with participation rates of 35-65% being commonly reported. Despite this popularity and ubiquity, remarkably little is known about the implications of providing the huge amounts of additional food into the largely suburban environment. While opponents of bird feeding allude to issues of disease transfer, nutrition, habituation and the possibility of dependency, few reliable studies have been conducted. Similarly, those promoting feeding suggest benefits such as enhanced conservation status of threatened species and enhanced pro-environment attitudes, though evidence is again patchy. Here I outline an agenda of research priorities aimed at advancing our understanding of this important human-wildlife interaction.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Avian evolution in our region in the era of genomics: where are we headed?

LEO JOSEPH

Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia

Evolutionary research is again poised at an exciting methodological transition. Our symposium focuses on possibilities arising from the advent of genomics and, in particular, its application to museum collections. Phylogenetics benefits from the analytical power of choosing different kinds and numbers of loci for different problems stands. Bioinformatics challenges of handling such volumes of data are still substantial, however. Traditional museum collections can be seen as treasure troves of genetic data lying dormant. Now, this taxonomic, spatial and temporal data is within reach, and can complement cryofrozen material. This will revolutionize sampling applied to trenchant problems from phylogenetics through to landscape genetics. Notably, inclusion in phylogenetic analyses of extinct species, which are only available in collections, stands to improve. New windows are opening on selection in natural populations and the prediction of how populations will respond to environmental change. This may call for some changes in the way specimens are collected. Evolutionary Rescue is a nascent field developing in parallel with genomics. It emphasizes evolutionary dynamics on short time-scales, and genetic variants of large effects and absolute rather than relative fitness. An emerging key area in Evolutionary Rescue is the genetic and genomic mechanisms of adaptation to climate change. Collections-based research stands to offer much to this whether from existing collections and the sample sizes and temporal range they offer or as repositories of new kinds of specimens.

Presenting author: [email protected]

42

Can automated digital recording methods provide more unbiased and cost-effective bird surveys than human counts?

KARA A. JOSHI1,2, RAOUL A. MULDER1, KAREN M. C. ROWE2

1Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia 2Museum Victoria, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia

Conservation management requires standardized survey methods to determine what species are present at a site over time. Human-based visual surveys are most frequently used to assess bird community composition. However, there are substantial problems associated with this method, including cost, time, and observer bias. Automated digital recording methods provide a potentially cost-effective and unbiased alternative means of surveying birds, but they have not yet been validated. We compared standard survey protocols (point-count transects) with automated digital audio recording to evaluate potential advantages and disadvantages of the two methods for species detection and species richness estimates in the Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia. We discuss the outcomes of these comparisons and provide recommendations for unbiased species detection and species richness estimates. We also explore the potential for rapid species assessment from digital field recordings through the development of automated call recognizers and consider how these methods can result in more efficient and reliable surveys.

Presenting author: [email protected]

A spatially-explicit approach to assessing and resolving kea-human conflicts

ERIN M. KENNEDY1, GEORGE L. PERRY1,2, JOSH KEMP3, COREY MOSEN3, JACINDA AMERY3, JINGJING ZHANG1, TODD E. DENNIS1

1School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand 2School of Environment, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand 3The Department of Conservation

The kea (Nestor notabilis), New Zealand’s iconic mountain parrot, is under continual threat to significant population decline due to increasing conflicts with humans. However, little is known about how the kea’s patterns of movement, space-use, and activity vary in relation to human influence, and how interactions with humans directly expose kea to conflicts. To assess the extent of kea-human interactions, we developed global-positioning-system archival data-loggers and used them to track the movements of adult male kea in Arthur’s Pass National Park. The GPS devices were configured on a 3-min fix interval and had operational periods ranging from 118 – 177 hours. From the observed location and time data, we estimated individual daily: 1.) distances travelled; 2.) range lengths; 3.) kernel-density utilisation distributions; 4.) overlap of space-use patterns; 5.) periods of activity, and: 6.), number of changes in roosting sites. We also applied ‘behavioural change-point analysis’ to each bird’s movement trajectory to infer distinct bouts of behaviour (sitting, walking, and flying) based on information about the speed and turning angles between sequential fixes. We then used the resultant information about movement, space-use, and activity to assess how the behaviour of kea changed as a function of spatio-temporal context, particularly in relation to the proximity of anthropogenic landscape features such as buildings, parking lots, roads, and tourist areas. Our study provides an unprecedented look at spatially explicit patterns of kea behaviour in human occupied areas, and provides information that may be critical for reduction of kea-human conflicts.

Presenting author: [email protected]

43

Relationship between annual adult survival and post-fledging survival among passerine birds

PENN LLOYD

Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd, PO Box 1376, Cleveland, Queensland 4163, Australia.

Avian life history theory predicts that high adult survival and populations near carrying capacity favour reduced clutch size but increased investment per offspring to increase juvenile survival. Consistent with this hypothesis, south temperate and tropical birds are longer-lived, have smaller clutch sizes and exhibit extended post-fledging parental care, with young reaching nutritional independence at an older age and delaying dispersal to remain on the natal territory for longer after reaching independence, than north temperate species. Yet, comparative analyses of juvenile survival are largely lacking. Measurements of adult and post-fledging survival from a community of south-temperate passerines were combined with a review of published studies from around the world to test whether survival through the first few weeks post-fledging correlates with adult survival such that longer-lived southern and tropical species exhibit higher post-fledging survival than northern species. South temperate species had higher annual adult survival than related tropical species. While post-fledging survival correlated positively with adult survival, variation in post-fledging survival across species was explained by region, with south temperate species having higher post-fledging survival than both north temperate and tropical species. The results are broadly consistent with life history predictions but highlight the need for more studies of post- fledging survival in tropical species.

Presenting author: [email protected]

16 years of forest bird counts in the Waitakere Ranges following possum control

TIM LOVEGROVE1, KEVIN A. PARKER2

1Auckland Council, Private Bag 92 300, Auckland 1142, New Zealand 2www.parkerconservation.com

A forest health survey in the Waitakere Ranges in 1995 showed declining forest health and significant damage by possums to palatable tree species. Index trapping of possums produced a residual trap catch (RTC) index of 24%, indicating a high possum population. In 1997-98 possums were controlled over the 17,000 ha Waitakere Ranges Regional Park and 10,000 ha of buffer land. This reduced the RTC to below 1% by late 1998. To monitor the impacts of the possum control on bird populations, we did five minute bird counts annually from 1997-2012 on 9 tracks sampling a range of forest types and topographies. Total numbers of native birds increased significantly, while total numbers of introduced birds did not increase. Of the native birds, kereru and tui showed the most significant increases. There was a negative correlation between kereru numbers and the possum RTC, suggesting that kereru may be sensitive indicators of possum numbers. Although five minute bird counts are a fairly blunt tool for indexing bird populations, given sufficient numbers of counts and sufficient time over which the monitoring is undertaken, useful trends can be detected. In this study just two experienced observers carried out all of the counts, so this ensured observer consistency. Observer experience is also an important aspect of forest bird monitoring, because a high proportion of birds are detected by ear only. Few long term studies of forest bird numbers exist in New Zealand, so it is important that studies such as this one continue into the future.

Presenting author: [email protected]

44

Population differentiation of a small passerine bird at a continental scale: the importance of land, ocean and urban barriers

RICHARD MAJOR, GEORGINA COOKE, REBECCA JOHNSON, ANDREW KING

Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Dispersal ability is a fundamental attribute of threatened species that influences their prognosis for survival in fragmented habitats. Urbanisation represents the most extreme form of matrix transformation and has the potential to fragment animal populations by inhibiting dispersal. Isolation by urbanisation is considered to be a significant threat to several endangered bird populations, although genetic differentiation has seldom been demonstrated for any bird population listed under threatened species legislation. The aim of this study was to determine whether two endangered populations of the white-fronted chat Epthianura albifrons have been isolated by urban development, and the relative strengths of urban barriers, oceanic barriers and euclidean distance as barriers to gene flow. DNA was extracted from feathers from 260 individuals from 15 locations around Australia, including three islands and two saltmarsh remnants situated within the intensively urbanised zone of a city of more than three million people. Eighteen microsatellite markers were used to measure genetic diversity and compare genetic structure between populations. Analyses of population structure demonstrated that the two populations surrounded by intensive urban development were genetically distinct from each other, despite being separated by less than 20 km. The island populations were also distinct, despite separation by as little as 20 km. In contrast, minimal genetic variation was detected between mainland populations separated by the entire Australian continent. This study demonstrates that small passerines are highly variable in their dispersal capacity and that even small extents of unsuitable habitat can represent significant barriers to gene flow for some species.

Presenting author: [email protected]

45

Managing an avian despot

MARTINE MARON1, MERILYN J GREY2, CARLA P. CATTERALL3, RICHARD E. MAJOR4, DAMON L. OLIVER5, MICHAEL F. CLARKE2, RICHARD H. LOYN6, RALPH MAC NALLY7, IAN DAVIDSON8, JAMES R. THOMSON7, DEAN INGWERSEN9, CHRIS TZAROS9, DOUG ROBINSON10

1The University of Queensland, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management & Environmental Decisions Group, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia 2Department of Zoology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia 3School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia 4Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia 5Biodiversity Conservation Section, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Office of Environment and Heritage, Queanbeyan, New South Wales 2620, Australia 6Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment, PO Box 137, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia 7Australian Centre for Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia 8Regeneration Solutions, 15 Weir Street, Wangaratta, Victoria 3677, Australia 9BirdLife Australia, Suite 2-05, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053 10Trust For Nature, Level 5/379 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

The noisy miner Manorina melanocephala is a native of eastern Australia, but it markedly depresses the abundance of almost all smaller bird species within its territory. It is a Key Threatening Process (KTP) in Victoria, with KTP nominations currently being considered in NSW and nationally. Despite three decades of research establishing the species’ impact on entire assemblages at a scale unparalleled by a native species, there is no large-scale synthesis of the causes of and solutions to the problem. To address these information gaps, the Australian Centre for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (ACEAS) supported formation of a working group. The group developed conceptual models of noisy miner site occupancy and impact, and pooled bird survey data from over 2,500 sites in four states to test the postulated relationships. It also compared the cost-effectiveness of alternative management approaches, including active and passive habitat alteration, and direct control through culling. This presentation will outline the findings of the working group’s research. Despite the very large distribution of the noisy miner and apparently conflicting results from past research, a cohesive understanding of the factors leading to increased risk of negative effects from noisy miners was developed. A spatial model of noisy miner impact was developed. Direct culling of noisy miners was found to be cost-effective in some circumstances, and may be desirable where threatened species are affected and where development of a dense woodland structure is inappropriate.

Presenting author: [email protected]

46

Morphology of the red-browed finch (Neochmia temporalis) in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, Australia

KELLY MATTHEWS

RPS, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

The morphology of birds is of utmost importance for its overall success and survival, and each species is thought to have an optimal size. Slight differences in morphology are however often interpreted as having arisen through adaptation to distinct foraging ecologies. In this study the morphology of the Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis) was recorded across three Australian States (i.e., Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria) to examine whether there are any morphological differences between interstate populations. A large set of banding data collected from a number of licensed bird banders across the three States was analysed. Data on morphological and physiological parameters including standard body measurements was analysed. This included, the length of the wings, bill and tarsus; body fat/muscle; body weight and estimated age of recapture. We compared morphological features of different populations and undertook a literature review to estimate correlations between morphology and foraging techniques, as well as between morphology and microhabitat selection. We also evaluated the morphological relationship between age classes and between sexes. This paper summarises our findings and provides insight into the population size and survival rate, which can play an important role in designing conservation programs.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Poster Shorebirds 2020 – Turning survey data into education and conservation

GOLO MAURER, DAN WELLER

BirdLife Australia, Suite 2-05, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC, Australia

Over the last decade populations of migratory shorebirds in the East-Asian Australasian Flyway have been declining dramatically. BirdLife Australia’s Shorebirds 2020 program aims to maintain and grow the volunteer surveys that provide data for population research and national and international conservation. Importantly, Shorebirds 2020 is not restricted to data collection alone. Instead, the program recently expanded to include conservation advocacy and advice and education. The aim is to grow the profile of migratory shorebirds locally and nationally to facilitate their protection. Here we present data from two Shorebirds 2020 volunteer questionnaires run two years apart to clarify the motivation, aspirations and achievements of the participants in the program.

Presenting author: [email protected]

47

Trans-equatorial migration of tropical shearwaters – wintering with tuna

FIONA MCDUIE, BRADLEY C. CONGDON

Centre for Tropical Environmental & Sustainability Science (TESS) & School of Marine & Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870 Australia

Migratory patterns and wintering areas of tropical pelagic seabirds are not well known. This is the first study to track the migratory movements of non-breeding wedge-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica) from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Using ambient light sensitive geolocation devices, we tracked 15 adult wedge-tailed shearwaters from the population breeding at Heron Island on the GBR. Tracking was undertaken for 8 -12 months to: 1) determine the pattern of post- breeding season migration, 2) identify over-wintering grounds and 3) to establish foraging patterns and sites used during the early breeding and incubation periods. Adult shearwaters primarily departed in mid to late May, conducting a rapid north-east migration into the Pacific Ocean, crossing the equator and travelling up to 6000 kilometres in approximately 2 weeks. The next 3-5 months were spent in the region of the Western Pacific Warm Pool and Mariana Trench in the Federated States of Micronesia. There was high overlap among individuals of core foraging areas in an area spanning approx. ~2000 x 1500kms, a region also used by Streaked shearwaters from Japan during their winter. Importantly, these migration routes and foraging grounds overlap considerably with the Western and Central Pacific Tuna Fishery – globally significant and providing some of the world’s highest commercial catch rates. The presence of high numbers of tuna in these areas may be important for over-winter survival - a consequence of strong known associations between sub-surface predators and tropical Procellariiformes. Therefore, this finding raises previously unidentified conservation concerns for this GBR breeding species.

Presenting author: [email protected]

From farm-duck to desert nomad - how waterfowl respond to rapidly changing environments

JOHN MCEVOY

School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia

In dynamic and unpredictable landscapes individuals must respond to highly variable resource distributions. Understanding the behaviours associated with this response is a key issue in the ecology of arid regions. In Australia, irregular cycles of flooding and drought produce localised pulses of productivity separated by many years and interspersed with prolonged dry periods. The ecology of many birds in this system is dictated by this irregular cycle of “boom and bust”. A one in twenty year flooding event provided a unique opportunity to deploy GPS technology to track the movements of 38 individual pacific black duck (Anas superciliosa) during a “boom’ phase. The trajectories of these individuals were analysed using Behavioural Change Point Analysis to identify switches between sedentary and nomadic movement phases. The initiation and cessation of long distance movements were examined in relation to local and regional scale changes in weather conditions. These data demonstrate how movement behaviour can change rapidly in relation to both local fluctuations in local weather conditions and landscape level changes in resource distribution.

Presenting author: [email protected]

48

Patterns of supplementary feeding and common myna (Acridotheres tristis) visitation at feeders in urban Auckland

ELLERY MCNAUGHTON, JACQUELINE BEGGS, CHERYL KRULL, JOSIE A. GALBRAITH, MARGARET STANLEY

Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand

Supplementary feeding of wild birds by the public is a common and widespread practice globally. Provision of supplementary food in urban New Zealand is likely to benefit abundant introduced and invasive bird species such as the common myna (Acridotheres tristis). Localised spatial patterns of supplementary feeding on Auckland’s North Shore were determined through the delivery of questionnaires to houses within 100 m of focal properties (n = 23). Eleven focal properties contained supplementary feeders as part of a wider two-year experiment. Seasonal and daily patterns of myna visitation to feeders were determined using wildlife cameras. Fifty-six percent of respondents (n = 266) provided supplementary food to wild birds, and 58% of those observed common mynas consuming the food. Mynas were also observed utilising feeders at focal sites and the results of the wildlife camera observations will be discussed. Supplementary feeding may be benefitting the common myna at the expense of native birds which needs to be taken into account when considering the best practice for feeding wild birds in urban New Zealand.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Conservation Management Networks: Recognising the importance of community involvement in the conservation of threatened woodland birds in the Goulburn Broken catchment, Victoria.

JANICE MENTIPLAY-SMITH1, JENNY WILSON2, CHRIS TZAROS3

1Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, 89 Sydney Road Benalla, Victoria 3672 Australia. www.gbcma.vic.gov.au (03) 57611644/0418316169 2Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, 168 Welsford St Shepparton, Victoria 3632 Australia 3Birdlife Australia, Suite 2-05, 60 Leicester Street Carlton, Victoria 3053 Australia

Conserving Victoria’s threatened woodland bird community and associated species such as the bush-stone curlew (Burhinus grallarius), grey-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis) and regent honeyeater (Xanthomyza phrygia) requires not only good science, but strong community support and participation, which contributes to a species’ survival. In the Riverine Plains, which comprises of mostly privately owned land, the current extent and quality of native vegetation cannot support viable populations of species within the woodland bird community. Therefore, if we are to conserve species and create resilient landscapes, public and private land managers and the broader community need to be engaged in conservation activities. Conservation Management Networks (CMNs) work across all land tenures to actively develop partnerships with agencies, community groups, industry and individuals to achieve conservation outcomes. The Broken Boosey and Whroo Goldfields CMNs currently deliver two projects aimed at woodland bird conservation, ‘Yellow Gums & Goldfields’ and ‘A Blueprint for Woodland Birds in the Broken Boosey’. Creative extension is critical in achieving practice change, and a diverse range of events allows the CMNs to act as a conduit between scientific research and the community. At these events the public is informed about actions such as increasing connectivity, reducing fragmentation and removing pest bird species, which is then translated into on-ground works – annually 140 ha is revegetated and 30 ha of remnants protected. The number of participants grows with each event as the CMNs work together with community, agencies and industry towards a more resilient and enhanced environment for the Victorian woodland bird community.

Presenting author: [email protected]

49 No translation required (yet): kōkako song and conservation

LAURA E. MOLLES1, SANDRA V. VALDERRAMA2, DAVID W. BRADLEY2, JOSEPH R. WAAS2

1Ecology Department, AGLS, PO Box 85084, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand 2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand

Since 2009, we’ve recorded and played back to kōkako (Callaeas wilsoni) in several populations whose histories have been determined – and often initiated – by intensive human intervention. In terms of their physical conservation, kōkako are a New Zealand success story, with all remaining populations managed and numbers nationwide trending steadily upwards. What are the effects of all this intervention on the kōkako’s wonderful song, and how might this affect future management decisions? Our work has shown that in remnant populations, population size and/or growth rates correlate with measures of song complexity. In populations with poor internal connectivity and those established through translocation, we detected clear changes in repertoire composition and song structure despite relatively short separations of time or distance. While these differences have the potential to hinder communication among pairs and to affect pair formation among birds from different locations, it may take decades for differences to reach the point where birds from source and derived populations consider each other “foreigners.” In addition to providing a window into the process of dialect formation in a duetting species, this work suggests that attention to singing behaviour could enhance long-term management of kōkako, particularly the establishment or supplementation of small populations.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Reintroduction of Tūī to Banks Peninsula, Canterbury

LAURA E. MOLLES

Ecology Department, AGLS, PO Box 85084, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand

In the 1980‘s, the only remaining breeding population of tūī (Prosthemadera novaseelandiae) in the Christchurch/Banks Peninsula area dwindled and finally vanished. Exactly why tūī vanished from Banks Peninsula is unknown, but candidate causes include increases in densities of introduced mammalian predators, loss of suitable habitat, and potentially disease. Since then, much has changed on the Peninsula; approximately 15% of the Peninsula is now under regenerating bush, with about 4% formally protected, and the amount of area subject to some level of predator control is gradually increasing. The Tūī Restoration Project was developed by the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, Ngāi Tahu, and the Department of Conservation to plan and implement the reintroduction of tūī to Banks Peninsula. In 2009 and 2010, a total of 72 tūī were translocated from Maud Island (Marlborough Sounds) to Banks Peninsula, the first-ever mainland translocation of tūī. On behalf of the Tūī Restoration Group and the many enthusiastic Peninsula residents who have provided information and sightings, I report on the translocation methods used for the translocation and summarise from the monitoring of tūī breeding, survival and movements in the first four years post-release.

Presenting author: [email protected]

50

Is the eastern rockhopper penguin population on Campbell Island still in decline?

KYLE W. MORRISON

Ecology Group - PN 624, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, 4474, New Zealand National Institute for Water & Atmospheric Research, 301 Evans Bay Parade, Hataitai, Wellington, 6021, New Zealand

Over the 43 year period from 1942 to 1985 the population of eastern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes filholi) on New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic Campbell Island declined by an estimated 94%, from ~800,000 to ~51,500 breeding pairs. Concurrent and on-going population declines of a similar proportion have been documented at multiple other breeding sites throughout the species’ range, resulting in an IUCN threat ranking of ‘vulnerable’ and ‘nationally critical’ in New Zealand. The most important cause of these declines is likely reduced food availability related to ocean warming. I estimated colony-specific population changes over the 27 year period from 1985 to 2012 by comparing colony areas and nest densities from photographs and physical measurements. I found a huge degree of inter-colony variation in recent population change from a decline of ~60% to an increase of ~30%. This variation appears related to how the physical characteristics of some colony sites facilitate predation, rather than being linked to differences in food availability. The current overall population trend on Campbell Island appears relatively stable compared to the previous period of rapid decline. The relative stability of the eastern rockhopper penguin population in recent years may be linked to a shift to the positive phase of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation from 1978 to 1999, associated with cooler ocean temperatures in the region. Additional research on how oceanographic conditions relate to food availability is required.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Seabird status, threats and conservation in Indonesia

IQBAL MUHAMMAD

Species Officer, Spirit of South Sumatra Bird Society, Jl. Tanjung Api-api km 10 Komp P&K E 1, Palembang 30152, Indonesia

A total of 42 species of Seabird has been listed in Indonesia. Following BirdLife International’s data assessments for the 2013 IUCN Red List, there are two Critically Endangered, two Endangered, one Near Threatened and one Data Deficient species. Indonesia's islands support regionally and globally important breeding colonies of at least 15 seabird species. Historical records since the early 20th century suggest severe fluctuations in breeding numbers, with surveys during the last thirty years suggesting marked declines and with all Pelecaniform breeding colonies in West Indonesia now extinct. The need for regular monitoring of the islands with key colonies is highlighted. In addition, there are also potentially many new areas to survey, which may reveal some new breeding sites. The key threats to seabirds in Indonesia comprise: 1) Egg harvesting and poaching of adults, 2) Human disturbance, encroachment and habitat modification, 3) Introduced rats and 4) Fishing practices. The key priority species for research and designation of Indonesian seabird are the Christmas Island frigatebird (CR), Abbott's booby (EN), Chinese crested tern (CR), Streaked shearwater (regional endemic), and noddy and booby species that may act as indicators. In the future, facilitation of the gathering of seabird data by other organisations within Indonesia is needed to establish current status and action needed for seabird conservation in Indonesia.

Presenting author: [email protected]

51

Mistletoebirds vary their dietary intake of arthropods depending on time of year

KATHRYN R. NAPIER1,2, TODD J. MCWHORTER3, CARLOS MARTÍNEZ DEL RIO2, PATRICIA A. FLEMING1

1School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia 2Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA 3School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, SA 5371, Australia

Mistletoebirds (Dicaeum hirundinaceum, family Dicaeidae) inhabit a wide variety of wooded and forested habitats across Australia. Mistletoebirds are locally nomadic and follow fruiting mistletoe around the landscape. Mistletoebirds are the primary dispersers of mistletoe seeds and are mistletoe fruit specialists, with a specialised alimentary system adapted for the ingestion and quick passage of mistletoe fruits. They are also known to ingest other fruits, nectar, and invertebrates. We used stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) in breath, blood and feathers and nitrogen (δ15N) in blood and feathers from mistletoebirds to detect potential changes in diet through time and to investigate the proportional contribution of arthropods vs. fruit to their diet. Mistletoebirds were mist-netted and sampled and diet sources (i.e. arthropods and mistletoe fruit) sampled at three sites in south-west Western Australia when ripe mistletoe fruit was available at each site. Sampling occurred during the austral autumn, winter and summer months. We found that mistletoebirds appear to change their diet over time, as indicated by the significant differences in δ13C values of breath and feathers (tissues that have significantly different turnover rates) from birds at two of the three sites. We also found that the contribution of arthropods to the diet of mistletoebirds varies depending on the time of year, or between sites. The contribution of arthropods to the diet of mistletoebirds ranged from 45% to 67%, and could be associated with increased protein requirements during breeding and moulting or differences in availability of food sources between the sites occupied at these times.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Changing attitudes towards kea - conflict to co-existence

TAMSIN ORR-WALKER1, LORNE ROBERTS2

1Kea Conservation Trust, 83 Tanekaha Rd, Titirangi, Auckland, New Zealand; 2Department of Natural Sciences, Unitec Institute of Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland, New Zealand.

Condemned as a sheep killer from the mid 1800’s, the kea population was reduced by an estimated 150,000 during a legal government bounty until partial protection in the early 1970’s. Now numbering fewer than 5,000 they are listed as Nationally Endangered but kea deaths attributed to conflict situations still occur today. The reasons for conflict, sheep strike and property damage, remain relatively unchanged from the early 1900’s and unfortunately the attitudes of some people living within the species range remain similarly unchanged. New Zealand is hailed for its conservation philosophy and successes and this continued negative relationship with kea should concern all New Zealanders. Resolving conflict through changing people’s perceptions and finding methods of reducing the impact of kea on human property is therefore a priority for us all. The Kea Conservation Trust (2006) partnered and supported by Department of Conservation (DOC) has recently formalised a new Strategic Plan for Kea Conservation. Two of the three aims include threat mitigation and community engagement, and as such it is hoped that the issue of human-kea conflict and the resulting 150 year struggle with kea will finally be laid to rest.

Presenting author: [email protected]

52 Conservation status of Cyanoramphus parakeets in the South Pacific

LUIS ORTIZ-CATEDRAL

Ecology and Conservation Lab, Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand

Since the pivotal revision on the conservation of Cyanoramphus parakeets by Taylor in the 1970s, a significant body of research on this genus has been developed. Here I present a synthesis of the relevant advances in taxonomy, ecology and management that have contributed to the preservation of the seven extant species of Cyanoramphus in New Caledonia, Australia and New Zealand. I also discuss the current conservation of these species, and present challenges that require further research. Refinements in captive-breeding and release in the wild has allowed a significant population increase and range expansion for the critically endangered Orange-fronted parakeet in New Zealand and Norfolk Island Green parrot in Australia. In New Zealand, translocation of wild individuals to predator-proof sites has facilitated the establishment of at least six populations of red-crowned parakeets and three populations of yellow-crowned parakeets. Nevertheless, lacking an adequate monitoring scheme for either captive-bred or wild parakeets at source and release populations prevents a precise assessment of the effectiveness of these management approaches. Recent advances in monitoring options for New Caledonian parakeets might be successfully applied in New Zealand populations, which will allow to determine remaining population sizes of remnant as well as translocated and recovering populations of most species. Lastly, the role of disease management, potential competitors and nest provisioning for Cyanorampus is discussed.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Behavioural ecology insights with conservation relevance: satellite telemetry of Australian banded stilt

R. D. PEDLER, A. T. D BENNETT, R. RIBOT, M. WESTON

Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Australia

Iconic among Australasian birds for their classic boom and bust life strategy, banded stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus) travel hundreds of kilometres to inland salt lakes following infrequent major rainfall, exploiting rich but highly ephemeral food resources to nest in colonies totalling tens of thousands. Little is known about the factors important to this complex and risky ecological strategy; particularly in view of threats facing banded stilt from deleterious gull predation at such breeding events and anthropogenic modification of wetlands used as non-breeding refuges. Ten banded stilt were tracked with 5 gram solar Argos PTTs for 90 - 398 days during their dispersal from an inland breeding site. Nine individuals made overnight dispersal flights of 300 - 700 km to coastal saline wetlands. Many of these major overnight movements coincided with the passage of large weather systems, suggesting wind-assisted movement. Two birds dispersed west, with one flying over 2,000 km in 48 hours and the other 1500 km in 72 hours, in the process confirming connectedness between eastern and western Australia, where populations have previously been assumed separate. Following dispersal stilts used a wide range of natural and artificial wetland sites across south-eastern and western Australia, highlighting the number and diversity of habitat sites important in the maintenance of the population between infrequent and unpredictable breeding opportunities.

Presenting author: [email protected]

53

The conservation status of the parrots of Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands

MIKE PERRIN

Research Centre for African Parrot conservation, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3201, KZN, South Africa

Many populations of parrots of Africa and Madagascar are declining and the need for conservation actions is increasingly recognised. This requires a solid knowledge-base on which decisions can be made, but there is no synthesis of the status of parrot populations in Africa, or the threats they face. The knowledge gap is impeding progress. There is little current research or conservation action focussed on African parrots or lovebirds. Most attention is focussed on the African Grey Parrot, the Cape Parrot, the Black Parrot (of Praslin Island), the Echo Parakeet of Mauritius and two southern mainland African lovebird species. While some trading continues, the massive exports of the past appear to have decreased very considerably. However this needs to be monitored, and the wild-type genome conserved in the wild and in captivity. Developments since the production of the IUCN Parrot Action Plan published in 2000 are reviewed, identifying areas where critical knowledge is lacking, and highlighting opportunities to address them. There has been a strong bias towards published studies on populations in southern Africa, while atlassing projects have illuminated the large geographical gaps that remain. Importantly, an absence of published data on key life-history parameters, phylogeography and molecular systematics persists for most species, impeding efforts to model the population impact of conservation strategies.

Presenting author: [email protected]

54

Poster Yellowhammers.net: Citizen science projects uncovering the mysteries of the distribution of yellowhammer (Emberize citrinella) song dialects

L. DIBLÍKOVÁ1, P. PIPEK,1, J. SVOBODA1, Z. VERMOUZEK2, T. TELENSKÝ1, P. PROCHÁZKA3, A. PETRUSEK1, T. PETRUSKOVÁ1

1Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, Praha 2, 128 44 2Czech Society for Ornithology, Na Bělidle 252/34, 150 00 3Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Society, Květná 8, Brno, 603 65

We present two citizen science projects focusing on mapping the geographic distribution of song dialects of Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella. This species is a good candidate for such studies: its characteristic song is easy to recognize even for an untrained ear (especially late in the season when other birds tend to be silent) and no specialised equipment is needed to record the song in sufficient quality for identification of dialects (most digital cameras and new mobile phones will do). Thus, even people without extensive ornithological experience or special devices can be involved in the research and with their help large amount of data, necessary for mapping, can be obtained. The Dialects of Czech Yellowhammers (DCY; www.strnadi.cz) project started in 2011, when the species was chosen as the Bird of the Year by the Czech Society for Ornithology. Its aim was to map dialect distribution in the Czech Republic and to find out whether a border between two European macrodialect groups (containing at least seven dialect types distinguished by the final phrase) runs through the Czech territory. During three years of DCY, with the help of over 140 people we obtained more than 2600 recordings covering most of the country, and detected not only all dialect types known so far but also additional local variants. Recording of yellowhammer songs enriched daily walks, bike trips, or family journeys of our volunteers. For some, collecting recordings from different places and seeing them appear on an interactive online map, became a real passion. Thanks to the success of DCY, we decided to expand abroad in 2013. The new Yellowhammer Dialects project (www.yellowhammers.net) aims to compare geographic distribution of dialects in Great Britain and New Zealand, with involvement of the public in both countries. Yellowhammers were introduced to New Zealand by British colonists in the second half of the 19th century and spread so rapidly that by the beginning of the 20th century they were regarded as serious pests. Data about numbers of introduced birds and localities of release are known; their origin can be assumed to be in the vicinity of London, from where the ships with yellowhammers departed to New Zealand. The distribution of Yellowhammer dialects in the newly colonised territory may thus reflect both founder effects (thanks to substantial introduction bottlenecks) and subsequent cultural evolution during the biological invasion. Project has just started by we still collected considerable number of recordings already.

Presenting author: [email protected]

55

Developing a best practice guide for the trapping of Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis)

ANNA PROBERT1, MARK MITCHELL2, CHERYL KRULL1, JACQUELINE BEGGS1, MARGARET STANLEY1

1Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, Tamaki Campus (Bld 733) University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand 2Environmental Services Unit, Auckland Council, Unit 303, Corsair Lane, Ardmore Airport PO Box 72132, Papakura 2244, Auckland, New Zealand

The Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis), native to central and south Asia, is considered an invasive species in Australia and New Zealand. An aggressive and highly territorial bird that competes for food resources and nest sites, the Indian myna has been implicated in the decline of native species. Mynas also cause damage to crops and are an agricultural pest. Therefore from both an ecological and economic perspective, there is a need to manage populations. In Australia large- scale coordinated trapping initiatives have been in place for some time to help manage myna populations. However, such programmes are not present in New Zealand. Trials were conducted to test for differences in trapping success, using two different trap designs (modified Australian crow trap and Pee Gee trap), and three different attractants (callbird, vocalisation playback, mirror). Results support the use of the ground entrance Pee Gee traps already employed in large- scale trapping initiatives in Australia and suggest the use of call birds will result in faster catch rates than myna vocalisation playback. Important issues involving animal welfare were raised during the trials. These will need to be addressed if community–based trapping programmes are to be encouraged. Furthermore, a best practise guide for the humane euthanasia of mynas was established.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Reproductive research strategies for Spix’s macaws (Cyanopsitta spixii)

CROMWELL PURCHASE1, DANIEL NEUMANN2, HEINER MÜLLER2, TIM BOUTS1

1Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, P.O. Box 44069, Al Sheehaniya, Qatar 2Parrot Reproduction Consulting, 56588 Waldbreitbach, Germany

Spix’s macaws believed extinct in the wild since 2000 with small captive population. There are only 83 individuals left within the official breeding program and most of these birds originate from one sibling pair (June 2013). These genetic issues and additional disease pressure have put this species in a precarious position. Egg viability over the past 13 years is down to only 10% overall and only 3% in the F2 population. This is a serious problem and makes reproductive research a major priority for Spix’s macaw recovery. Stress hormone levels tested during the breeding season to gain knowledge into reproductive stress and its influence on breeding success. Comparative analysis of hormone levels in successful and unsuccessful breeding pairs is analysed for differences. Faecal samples are analysed during the breeding season for the presence, quantity and quality of spermatozoa. Non-developing eggs are examined using fluorescence microscopy for spermatozoa and cell nuclei to determine if successful copulation and fertilization occurred. Semen collection has recently been successful in this species led to attempts at artificial insemination, now an important technique for the species recovery. In vitro fertilisation of eggs is still in an experimental stage but is a future tool to increase productivity. Future research areas include; viable semen extenders and cryopreservation of Spix’s semen. Potential hormone therapy using a slow release GnRH to increase sperm production could be an important therapy for this species. The research techniques used here could help Australasian (kakapo, orange bellied parrot) species on the brink of extinction.

Presenting author: [email protected]

56 Value added in bird monitoring: capture and banding provide new insights on climate fluctuations

C. JOHN RALPH

U.S. Forest Service, Redwood Sciences Laboratory, Arcata, California 95521 USA

Historically, capture and banding of birds has largely been used to determine the location of birds as they migrate, based on band recoveries. Over the past several decades recording of metrics, such as physical measurements, demographic information, and physiological estimates have been increased for captured birds. New innovative tools such as analytical programs, and increasing data storage capacity on birds and environmental variables that affect them, will be highlighted. Census data tell where and when a species occurs. Capture adds a great deal of value and gives an idea, for example, of why it is there: it’s breeding, moult, migratory status, body condition, and age. Investigation of these data allows us to form hypothesis to explain the abundance and trends, as well as behavior such as seasonal movements. I will highlight the value added from capture data focusing on our long term studies of passerines in Costa Rica and California and the effects of climate change and El Niño Southern Oscillation on demographic and condition measures of resident and migratory birds.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Automatic classification of large song datasets, Tiritiri Matangi hihi population as a case study

LOUIS RANJARD1, SARAH J. WITHERS2, DIANNE BRUNTON3, HOWARD A. ROSS1,2, STUART PARSONS2

1Bioinformatics Institute, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand 2School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand 3Institute of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Albany Campus, Private Bag 102 904, NSMC, Auckland 0745, New Zealand

The study of avian populations can greatly benefit from the analysis of their vocalization. In particular, the distribution (e.g. geographical) of songs can be used to infer behavioural mechanisms. For example, song sharing between individuals can result from mutual learning behaviour or, alternatively, from common ancestry. However, such study requires to identify shared vocalizations, in other words, to classify song into types. Such task can be performed by human experts but can therefore be subjective. Moreover, the identification of song types can be very laborious in cases of large datasets. Alternatively, automatic computer approaches can be used but these are limited by computer memory requirement as sound datasets get larger. I will introduce an automatic classification method that aims at tackling these challenges. The algorithm relies on song alignments and classification trees and avoids the memory intensive step required to compute full pairwise comparison of songs. The classification of male song recordings from the hihi population of Tiritiri Matangi, Notiomystis cincta, will be presented. Finally, I will show how the analysis of the geographical song variation and dispersal patterns can help us understand the processes of song repertoire acquisition in that species.

Presenting author: [email protected]

57

Ratite and moa evolution in the age of genomics: progress, problems and prospects

NICOLAS J. RAWLENCE

Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P. O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

The evolution of ratites, including the extinct moa of New Zealand (Aves: Dinornithiformes), has long intrigued biologists. Vicariance- and dispersal-based theories about their biogeographical origins have been developed using morphological and molecular datasets, and multiple, evolutionarily independent losses of flight have been proposed. Recent advances in genomics, however, have considerably altered our understanding of these and other facets of ratite evolution. Applications of genomics can be seriously affected by library preparation protocols and sequencing platform, and are not immune to issues such as choice of out-group taxa, need to consider morphological data, and informed use of analytical methods. Nonetheless, the prospects offered by genomic approaches and improved analytical techniques are opening the way to resolution of species-level conflicts in ratite evolution. Similar issues in the evolution of penguins, where current morphological and genetic approaches cannot resolve taxonomic issues, will also be discussed.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Circumpolar phylogeography of the blue-eyed shag complex (Leucocarbo spp.) and consequent taxonomic implications for the New Zealand blue eyed shags

NICOLAS J. RAWLENCE1, CHARLOTTE E. TILL1, R. PAUL SCOFIELD2, ALAN J. D. TENNYSON3, CHRIS LALAS4, JONATHAN M. WATERS1, HAMISH G. SPENCER1, MARTYN KENNEDY1

1Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O.Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand 2Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand 3Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand 4Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

The world’s blue-eyed shags have a complicated taxonomic history. Some authorities recommend giving all the different forms specific status, while others give sub-specific status to each form within the New Zealand and South American blue-eyed shag complexes, and others still suggest a mixed model with the New Zealand blue-eyed shags each having specific status and the South American blue-eyed shags being given sub-specific status. We present the results of molecular phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses that address these issues, looking at the levels of diversification within these groups and the processes that may have generated the diversity (or lack thereof) that we see today. These studies include a phylogeographic study of the blue-eyed shags as a whole, and a targeted study of the New Zealand blue-eyed shags, including morphometric and plumage analyses, and ancient DNA to investigate Holocene fossil and archaeological specimens from now extinct populations.

Presenting author: [email protected]

58

Understanding attacks by kea (Nestor notabilis), an endemic high country parrot, on sheep in New Zealand

CLIO E. REID1, BRETT D. GARTRELL1, EDWARD O. MINOT2, KEVIN J. STAFFORD1

1Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Tennent Drive, Massey University, New Zealand 4442 2Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Tennent Drive, Massey University, New Zealand 4442

Kea (Nestor notabilis), a threatened species of parrot endemic to the high country of New Zealand’s South Island, attack sheep, a phenomenon known as “kea strike”. These attacks represent a classic unresolved example of human-wildlife conflict between kea and high country sheep farmers. Kea strike causes injury and death to sheep. In response, a long-term government bounty resulted in a population decline that led to the kea’s current threatened status. Kea strike was first described in 1868, but has been inadequately studied and is still poorly understood, with the majority of the literature on the subject being dated and/or anecdotal. Kea strike has declined in incidence but still occurs, and on some farms is severe. Several methods are currently used to mitigate kea strike, including killing birds. Illegal means of control of kea are also used, which include inhumane methods such as poisoning. Our objectives are to assess the current prevalence of kea strike on high country farms, and to assess risk factors and underlying behaviours that are involved in kea strike. We aim to understand the cognitive drivers of kea strike and develop mitigation strategies that will benefit kea, farmers and sheep welfare. Our methodology and results to date will be described, including an investigation of the prevalence of kea strike injuries of sheep examined during shearing on high country farms with known histories of kea strike.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Bigger is always better: an experimental study of nestling competition in asynchronous hatching black-faced cormorants

JULIE RIORDAN

Environmental Future Centre, Griffith School of the Environment, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia

This presentation describes the nestling interactions that occur in the broods of black-faced cormorants (Phalacrocorax fuscescens), an Australian brood-reducing seabird. Black-faced cormorant nestlings hatch asynchronously and thus are not equal in size. Adults control nestling hatching order resulting in physical and developmental differences between nestlings. This generates competitive asymmetries between more developed nestlings (large size and greater co- ordination) and less developed nestmates (small size and lesser co-ordination). Larger nestlings are assumed to have a competitive advantage over smaller nestmates and secure the majority of the food resources. We tested this hypothesis by experimentally manipulating brood size in black- faced cormorants and measuring (a) levels of adult food provisioning, (b) nestling begging dynamics, and (c) aggression between nestlings. We found that: (a) nestlings do not beg equally and use different begging strategies depending on size asymmetries and the competitive nest environment; (b) larger nestlings use aggression and begging as a competitive strategy to out- compete smaller nestmates; and (c) adult feeding strategies favour larger nestlings. Nestling hatching order is therefore an important determinant of competitive behaviour (aggressive and non-aggressive) and influences how adults allocate food in asynchronous hatching brood-reducing bird species.

Presenting author: [email protected]

59

Modelling the movement behaviour of grey-faced petrels

ASHLEIGH ROBINS1, JINGJING ZHANG1, GRAEME TAYLOR2, CLAIRE POSTLETHWAITE3, TODD DENNIS1

1School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand 2Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand 3Department of Mathematics, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

Much attention has been given to describing the behaviour of animals by fitting movement models to remotely obtained tracking data. As a result, a number of fundamentally different models of individual movement have been developed. Despite this recent interest, little is known about how different modelling approaches compare in: 1.) their ability to infer ‘biologically relevant’ behaviour; 2.) the requisite computational effort; and 3.) the value of information derived from the given outputs. Here, we present a study in which three conceptually different inferential movement models (Markov-chain Monte Carlo; K-means clustering; and Multi-scale Straightness Index) were fit to movement trajectories of grey-faced petrels (Pterodroma macroptera gouldi) collected during their breeding period. Observed trajectories were recorded by GPS data-loggers at 30-s intervals. The movement models employed information about the speeds and turning angles between sequential fixes to classify each observed location into three distinct behavioural states. Each model provided meaningful insights regarding the movement ecology of grey-faced petrels, and advanced understanding of how the behaviour of the study species varies during foraging. However, the computational effort of the three methods varied greatly, so that there was a strongly inverse relationship between ease of use and the extent of biological signals that could be extracted from the movement trajectories. Our results highlight the value of such models for studying the behaviour of animals, but also identify important issues regarding the level of training and computational effort required to use them.

Presenting author: [email protected]

60

What effect did the destruction of the Saemanguem tidal flats have on the Great Knot?

DANNY I. ROGERS1, PHIL BATTLEY, NIAL MOORES, KEN ROGERS, CHRIS HASSELL, ADRIAN BOYLE, THEUNIS PIERSMA, CLIVE MINTON, KEN GOSBELL

1Arthur Rylah Institute of Environmental Research, PO Box 137, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia

Saemangeum, a tidal flat system on the west coast of South Korea, used to be the single most important staging site for migratory shorebirds in the East Asian – Australasian flyway. It was of particular importance to great knot (Calidris tenuirostris), with 20-30 % of the flyway population staging there on northwards migration. Saemangeum has been largely lost to shorebirds through a huge ongoing 'reclamation' project in which tidal flats are converted to dry land and permanent lakes. Most of this habitat loss occurred following completion of a 33 km sea-wall in 2006, causing a dramatic decline in the numbers of great knots staging in Saemangeum. A Korea-wide survey in 2008 showed that few great knots relocated to other Korean staging sites, and that some 80,000 were 'missing'. We argue that most of these birds must have perished, because sea-wall closure at Saemangeum coincided with (1) declines in numbers of non-breeding great knots reaching Australia in the austral summer; (2) declines in apparent annual survival of adult great knots colour-marked in north-western Australia (demonstrated by mark-recapture studies). There has been some subsequent recovery in numbers of great knot in north-western Australia, but this appears to have been driven by fortuitous high breeding success in several consecutive years; annual adult survival has not returned to its previous levels, and population recovery has not occurred in southern Australia. Our study supports several others strongly suggesting that tidal flat reclamation projects are responsible for serious ongoing declines in many species of migratory shorebird.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Vocal diversity in the crimson rosella species complex (Platycercus elegans): evidence of individual signaling

ERIKA M. ROPER, KATHERINE L. BUCHANAN, RAOUL F. H. RIBOT, ANDREW T. D. BENNETT, MATHEW L. BERG

Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, 3220

Avian vocalisations enable effective communication of a range of information, from mate attraction and territorial defence, to the recognition of kin, species, or individuals. In order to perform these functions, vocalisations must convey reliable information about the signaller, and often provide honest indicators of individual condition or quality, or individual identity. This study tested for individual, age, and geographic variation in the piping call of the crimson rosella species complex (Platycercus elegans), in order to determine the possible function of the piping call. We analysed 480 calls from 89 individuals representing three subspecies of the crimson rosella, and a hybrid population. Ten acoustic variables were tested, including a range of temporal and frequency variables. We found that crimson rosella piping calls had high levels of individual variation, especially in frequency variables. We propose that local populations may have consistent basic call structure (call duration, number of elements), but that individual rosellas within populations could use distinctive frequency combinations as indicators of individual identity. In contrast to earlier work on the contact calls of this species, we found little evidence to support the hypothesis that crimson rosellas display subspecies or ontogenetic variation in their piping calls. Our results demonstrate the occurrence of individual level variation in acoustic signals and highlight their potential importance for individual recognition.

Presenting author: [email protected]

61 The development of female song in the New Zealand Bellbird (Anthornis melanura)

MICHELLE M. ROPER, DIANNE H. BRUNTON

Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation Group, Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 102-904, North Shore Mail Centre, Auckland 0745, New Zealand

Both sexes of the New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura) sing a diversity of complex song types. Previous studies demonstrating the phases of song development have all concentrated on species where only males sing in the wild. Here we present the first evidence of female song development under field conditions. Chicks (n=52) were banded at the nest on Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Harauki Gulf, New Zealand. Recordings were made of chicks in the nest, juveniles within or near the natal territory and of juveniles post dispersal from the natal territory where possible. Recordings were made of one female throughout all three stages from November 2012 to May 2013. At the nest she made contact/begging calls (recorded at 4 to 5 days old). By one month old she had left the natal territory. She was found in a nearby forest patch at 7 weeks old where she was singing subsong. At 24 weeks old she was found singing full female song at a location away from the natal territory. Compared to most studies focusing on males, this provides evidence that females who naturally sing go through similar phases of song development. This result provides a foundation for further research on song learning in females and a direct comparison of the learning process between sexes within the same species.

Presenting author: [email protected]

62

The role of islands as reservoirs of ancient lineages: Sulawesi and the endemic genus, Myza (Meliphagidae)

KAREN M. C. ROWE1, ALICIA TOON2, ÁRPÁD S. NYÁRI3, TRI HARYOKO4, N. WAYNE LONGMORE1, JOHN TRUEMAN5, JANET GARDNER5,6 & LEO JOSEPH7

1Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia 3Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, 501 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA 4Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Jl. Raya Jakarta-Bogor KM. 46, Cibinong, Indonesia 5Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia 6School of Biological Sciences, Monash University Melbourne, Vic 3168 Australia 7Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, GPO Box 1700, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Islands often harbour unique ecological opportunities, and as such, can serve as important centres of diversification. The island of Sulawesi, Indonesia lies at the crossroads of Asia and Australo- Papua, harbouring a unique blend of endemic birds and species from both regions. Sulawesi represents the extra-limital distribution of the predominantly Australian honeyeaters (Meliphagidae), thus understanding the evolutionary relationships between the island species and their continental counterparts can provide critical insight into their diversification, colonisation, and phylogeography. Using a multi-locus approach, we explored the evolutionary relationships and divergence dates among the honeyeaters (Meliphagidae), in particular to evaluate the placement of species in the genus of endemic Sulawesi honeyeaters, Myza. Our results suggest Myza represents a deeply divergent split from all other honeyeaters and that this split occurred sometime during the Miocene. The remarkably disjunct distribution between Myza and all other honeyeaters implies the extinction of geographically intermediate lineages and suggests a role for islands as reservoirs of ancient lineages. Relationships among several lineages remain unresolved, however, and the application of genomic approaches promises novel insights into the evolution of this ecologically diverse family.

Presenting author: [email protected]

63

Slim pickings: a comparison of the development of mottled petrel chicks in two different seasons

RACHAEL SAGAR1, KEN HUNT2, BRENDON DUNPHY1, MATT RAYNER1

1Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand 2Poutiri Ao ō Tāne, c/o Department of Conservation, PO Box 644, Napier, New Zealand

Chick growth and development, meal size, and provisioning frequency of mottled petrel, Pterodroma inexpectata, on Codfish Island (Whenua Hou) were studied at the end of the 2012, and for the entire 2013 breeding seasons. Foraging range in relation to sex was studied using archival light-recording devices, and, the trophic level of diet was determined by C and N stable isotope analysis of blood throughout the chick rearing period in 2013. Chick development was slower in 2013 than in 2012, and the 2013 chicks fledged at significantly lower weights than the 2012 chicks (mean weight 290g ± 25g vs. 348g ± 30g; P < 0.001). Meal size and provisioning frequency in relation to chick age will be presented. Adults ventured below 70˚ south, to waters as cold as -1.7˚C (indicating that they were among the pack-ice) during foraging trips made in the 2013 chick rearing period. Shifts in the trophic level of diet across the 2013 chick rearing period will be described. The meal size and provisioning frequency data indicate that chicks were more poorly provisioned in 2013 than in 2012, and chick development was affected as a result. Possible reasons for the differences in chick condition between the two seasons will be discussed.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Poster Diurnal behaviour, time and energy budget and resource use of nonbreeding green pygmy- goose (Nettapus pulchellus) at Pacific Adventist University wetlands, Papua New Guinea

PETER K. SAGUBA

Pacific Adventist University, School of Science and Technology, Private Mailbag, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea

Focal animal sampling methodology was used to describe and quantify diurnal behaviour, time and energy budgets and resource usage of 20 non breeding green pygmy-geese (N. pulchellus) at Pacific Adventist University Wetlands for two months from late July to August, 2011 and from mid- July to mid- August, 2012. Behaviour of the green pygmy-geese were categorised into 6 major categories: feeding, alert, resting, preening, aggression and swimming. The species spent 64% of the time and energy feeding, 15% preening, 9% swimming 7% resting and 3% on alert and 2% on other activities such as flying and aggression. Feeding behaviour mostly through dabbling at the surface shows a typical bimodal activity pattern with peaks early in the morning and late in the afternoon and was separated by a distinct peak in resting and preening during midday and early afternoons. Resting and preening occupied much of the mid-day hours through to early afternoon. Furthermore, the birds preferred resting and preening on snags and among aquatic vegetation and avoided the lake banks and the open water. N. pulchellus fed mainly on Azolla pinnata and occasionally on water lilies. This study highlighted the importance of snags, A. pinnata, water lilies and other aquatic vegetation in freshwater ponds and lakes. These resources should be taken into consideration when planning efforts to protecting and conserving the green pygmy goose.

Presenting author: [email protected]

64

An update on the Early Miocene avifauna from St Bathans, Otago: helping understand the origins of New Zealand birds

ALAN J.D. TENNYSON1, TREVOR H. WORTHY2, R. PAUL SCOFIELD3, SUZANNE J. HAND4, STEVEN W. SALISBURY5

1Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand 2School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia, Australia 3Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand 4School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; 5School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia

Abstract The St Bathans Fauna derives from Early Miocene (16-19 million years old) lacustrine outcrops around St Bathans, Central Otago. Its diverse avifauna includes minimally 39 taxa (2 moa, 1 kiwi, 1 diving petrel, 9 waterfowl, 2 raptors, 2 herons, 1 palaelodid, 1 adzebill, 2 rails, 3 waders, 1 gull, 2 pigeons, 4 parrots, 1 owlet-nightjar, 1 swiftlet, 5 passerines and 1 new family). The fauna supports the idea that a few modern taxa had ancient origins in Zealandia, perhaps arriving vicariantly as this continental fragment split away from the rest of Gondwana. These taxa include all of the iconic ‘old endemics’ of New Zealand (i.e. moa, kiwi, adzebill, Strigopidae parrots and NZ wrens). However, most bird taxa reached Zealandia by over-water dispersal. There is high endemicity at all taxon levels in the St Bathans Fauna, with no species and few genera (e.g. Palaelodus, Aegotheles and Collocalia) shared with Australia, and there are no shared waterfowl genera despite equivalent-aged lacustrine faunas dominated by waterfowl in Australia. These data add to overwhelming evidence refuting total drowning of Zealandia during the Oligo-Miocene and show that extinction of lineages since the Early Miocene has been significant (e.g. palaelodids and swiftlets).

Presenting author: [email protected]

65

An extinct coucal species (Centropus sp. nov.) from the early Pleistocene of the Nullarbor Plain, south-central Australia: biogeographical implications

ELEN SHUTE

School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, PO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001

The Australian mainland is today home to only one resident species of large ground cuckoo, the pheasant coucal Centropus phasianinus, which inhabits coastal and sub-coastal forests of northern and eastern Australia, as well as Papua New Guinea and Timor. This species, commonly found near watercourses, has a tropical to sub-tropical distribution corresponding with the Torresian zone, and does not approach Australia’s temperate southern margin. The fossil record, however, shows that coucals were more diverse in Australia within the last few hundred-thousand years, and had a much wider geographical distribution. There is one described extinct species, the giant pheasant coucal C. colossus, which is known from Green Waterhole Cave in south-east South Australia. Here, I announce a new extinct species, 30% larger than C. phasianinus and 25% smaller than C. colossus, that has recently been discovered within Early Pleistocene (>780,000 years before present) sediments of Leaena’s Breath Cave on the Nullarbor Plain in Western Australia. These two large extinct cuckoos from southern Australia may signal deep evolutionary and biogeographic links to the more mesic habitats that prevailed in Australia during the Oligo- Miocene, and which contracted to the eastern and south-western margins with the expansion of the arid zone from the mid-Miocene through to the Pleistocene. While it is not surprising that a monotypic species had recent congeners that went extinct, the fossil record reveals evidence for the past diversity as well as the geographical and temporal spread of this genus, which are ‘invisible’ to phylogeographic and biogeographic studies.

Presenting author: [email protected]

66

Population viability of whio (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) within the Te Urewera Mainland Island: a spatially explicit individual-based modelling approach

C. E. SIMPKINS1, G.L.W. PERRY1,2, A. GLASER3, T. ALLERBY3, AND T.E. DENNIS1

1School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand 2School of Environment, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand 3Department of Conservation, Te Urewera Whirinaki Area Office, 1/100 Valley Road, Whakatane, 3120, New Zealand

The blue duck or whio (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) is a threatened anseriform endemic to New Zealand that is the focus of an intensive management programme aimed at increasing population numbers and viability. While attempts have been made to quantify the effectiveness of management schemes, little is known about how chance events such as floods and behaviour of individuals affect these schemes. Spatially explicit individual-based models (SEIBMs) provide a means of investigating dynamics of populations while accounting for variation in behaviour of individuals within heterogeneous environments. We constructed a SEIBM to assess population dynamics, and identify key threats to whio inhabiting two catchments (Te Waiiti Stream and the Tauranga River) within the Te Urewera Mainland Island, New Zealand. Our SEIBM was parameterised using a 13-year monitoring study and a satellite-tracking investigation of natal dispersal within the area. The model was used to investigate the effects of predation and flood frequencies on the viability of the population. Population size was significantly larger under current predator-management compared to the population under no management. However, the population’s mean growth rate was negative, indicating that current management may not be sufficient to ensure long-term viability. Both populations were especially at risk when there was a marked increase in flooding frequency. The Te Waitii population alternated between being a source and sink of individuals from surrounding areas. Under current management schemes the Tauranga River acted as a permanent sink. We recommend that management be expanded to include the Tauranga River, thereby maximising the viability of the populations.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Feeding wild birds: results from New Zealand Garden Bird Survey

ERIC B. SPURR

Research Associate, Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640

Data on feeding wild birds in New Zealand gardens was obtained from the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey 2007–2012. Information collected included the proportion of gardens in which supplementary food was provided for birds, the types of food provided, and the species and numbers of birds counted in gardens with and without supplementary food. Results were different in urban and rural areas and in different regions of the country.

Presenting author: [email protected]

67

A review of the research on travelling birdwatchers: future directions for avitourism.

ROCHELLE STEVEN

International Centre for Ecotourism Research, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University Gold Coast campus, Qld, Australia, 4222

Avitourism is a growing sector of the nature-based tourism market with birders travelling long distances to see new birds. English language reviewed or edited literature was reviewed to quantify the current nature and extent of research about avitourism. Using specific keywords, a systematic search method was used to identify studies and reports published between 1989 and 2013 that examined avitourism across several discipline fields. More than half of the studies focused on avitourism in the northern hemisphere, dominated by studies from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. There was a preponderance of studies assessing the social elements of avitourism using questionnaire surveys, which focused on tourism and hospitality aspects (e.g. birder classifications, motivations, trip expenditures) as opposed to the nature of the bird-based product (e.g. bird diversity). There were comparatively fewer studies that looked at the importance of the birds themselves in driving the industry. Consequently, there has been little investigation into (i) the ecological and conservation knowledge of avitourists, (ii) demonstrated positive or negative impacts of avitourism on birds, (iii) the role of specific types of birds in attracting avitourists to a destination, and (iv) how avitour operators use birds in their marketing. Avitourism and the conservation of birds and their habitats are inextricably linked given that avitourists travel to these places to participate in birdwatching activities. However, few studies reviewed here quantified the conservation outcomes arising from birdwatching and the potential for avitourism to contribute to avian conservation remains under-examined.

Presenting author: [email protected]

68

Effects of habitat fragmentation on breeding behaviour, mating systems and relatedness of family groups in the co-operatively breeding grey-crowned babbler Pomatostomus temporalis

KATE STEVENS1, KATHERINE HARRISSON2, RAYLENE COOKE1, ROHAN H CLARKE2, ANDREW F BENNETT1, FIONA E HOGAN2

1School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hway, Melbourne, Australia, 3251 2School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia, 3800

Ecosystems that were once naturally connected have suffered drastically from anthropogenic landscape modification. Agricultural systems particularly, have radically modified almost one third of the world’s terrestrial habitats, resulting in landscapes of remnant habitat patches within fragmented ecosystems. Critical wildlife habitat continues to be a dwindling resource, profoundly effecting species' experiencing large-scale habitat destruction. Many species are left confined to isolated patches, threatening their persistence in the landscape. This project aimed to identify the effects of habitat fragmentation on the genetic structure of a declining bird, the co-operatively breeding Grey- crowned Babbler, in northern Victoria, Australia. DNA extracted from blood samples taken across a large-scale study area provided genotypic data, used to determine the differences in genetic structure relating to population size and isolation. Data was analysed to specifically investigate fragmentation effects on breeding behaviour, mating systems and relatedness of family groups. This was conducted by employing a stratified field design of two population sizes; large and small, and two isolation levels; near and far, between groups. We tested the hypotheses that (1) relatedness is higher amongst connected and more closely located groups than more isolated groups, and (2) smaller populations will have higher levels of relatedness amongst individuals than larger populations. We also examined if a combined effect of population size and group isolation on Babbler demographics and genetic structure was apparent.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) breeding patterns on Little Barrier Island in relation to plant phenology

ZOË L. STONE

School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

The kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) is one of New Zealand’s most unique birds, with its breeding closely associated with phenological patterns of mast seeding podocarp species. This talk will present findings from MSc research conducted on Little Barrier Island on the plant phenological patterns in relationship to past breeding patterns of kakapo, and their potential future breeding success. During previous occupation in the 1990s, kakapo on Little Barrier Island had several breeding attempts, although the stimulus for this breeding was uncertain at the time. An analysis of the phenological patterns of over 70 plant species on the island during showed some relationship between female breeding attempts and fruiting patterns. In particular, kauri cone production appeared to be greatest during years of attempted kakapo breeding, and female kakapo were found to highly prefer kauri dominated forests during a breeding year using resource selection ratios. Since the 1990s, kiore eradication and an increase in native pollinators have improved current food abundance on the island. This may increase the potential for Little Barrier Island to support a breeding population of kakapo, and become an important site for their conservation and management.

Presenting author: [email protected]

69 Science needs for the conservation of migratory waterbirds in the East-Asian Australian Flyway

JUDIT SZABO

East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership Secretariat, Incheon, Republic of Korea

EAAFP is an informal and voluntary partnership that aims to conserve migratory waterbirds, their habitat and the livelihoods of people dependent on them. There are currently 30 partners including 15 countries, 4 intergovernmental agencies, 10 international NGOs and one international private enterprise. In this talk I will discuss what has happening on both national and international levels and what we need to focus on in the future in order to reverse alarming declines in migratory waterbirds. We recently surveyed 62 individuals and organisations asking what scientific aspects they considered most important in order to reverse waterbird declines in the Flyway. Identifying threats, monitoring, identifying necessary actions and studying ecology were most often mentioned. Currently much of the science in the Flyway is on the ecology of species, which was the lowest rated by the respondents. The top three questions were: 1) How are numbers of waterbirds in EAAF changing over time? 2) How do migratory waterbirds react to habitat loss? Can they find alternative habitats? 3) What wetland restoration techniques work in the EAAF? Besides filling in knowledge gaps, it is also important to inventory where different sources of existing data are (about species distribution, abundance, habitats, threats etc.) and how to bring them together in order to get robust answers to questions. Also, without effective communication, science has no practical use and data limitations should not hold back the communication to policy makers.

Presenting author: [email protected]

How do five species of Puffinus shearwater breed sympatrically in the Hauraki Gulf?

GRAEME TAYLOR1, MATT RAYNER, CHRIS GASKIN

1Department of Conservation, PO Box 10420, Wellington, New Zealand

The seas near Auckland support more breeding shearwater (Puffinus) species than in any other comparable region on Earth. How these species avoid inter-specific competition for food resources will be the focus of the talk. The use of tiny data-logging devices (e.g. geolocaters and time-depth recorders) now provides our first insights into where all these species go to find food during different stages of the breeding season. These tags sample ambient light, sea immersion activity, sea temperature and water pressure. Time-depth recorders were used to assess diving performance in the three larger species. These datasets can help us to understand how each species uses the resources of the entire Pacific Ocean to breed and moult their feathers annually. Information about where failed breeders go once released from central place foraging will also be presented. The migration paths used by successful and unsuccessful breeders will demonstrate the flexibility of bird movements relative to breeding status. All this information will be combined to reveal how it is possible for five similar species to breed in one of the world’s seabird biodiversity hotspots.

Presenting author: [email protected]

70

Disparity in reproductive effort and hatching success suggests inbreeding depression in a translocated population of little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii)

HELEN TAYLOR, NICOLA NELSON, KRISTINA RAMSTAD

Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Victoria University of Wellington, School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand

Monitoring the performance of reintroduced populations is crucial for optimizing their management and long term success. New Zealand’s little spotted kiwi (LSK) (Apteryx owenii) comprises 1,700 birds distributed between one large population (n~1,200) founded by as few as three individuals 100 years ago and seven new populations founded via translocations over the past 30 years. Reproductive output in the translocated populations has never been measured directly. We present the results of the first study of hatching success in reintroduced populations of LSK from two locations; Zealandia Sanctuary and Long Island. We show that, in spite of significantly higher reproductive effort, hatching success is significantly lower on Long Island than in Zealandia. We demonstrate that LSK are capable of producing more eggs per season than previously supposed and suggest this could explain their rapid recovery to date. We caution that, given the very low levels of hatching success on Long Island, there is potential for poor reproductive performance in this species, perhaps linked to an extreme secondary bottleneck (n=2) at translocation and subsequent inbreeding. LSK require continued management and the mechanisms behind the variability in hatching success in this species demand investigation.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Influence of thermodynamic costs on daily movement decisions and habitat use of the brolga (Grus rubicunda)

INKA VELTHEIM1, MICHAEL KEARNEY2, MICHAEL MCCARTHY3, SIMON COOK1

1School of Science, Information Technology and Engineering, University of Ballarat, PO Box, Ballarat, Victoria 3353, Australia 2Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia 3Department of Botany, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia

Endotherms produce heat as a result of internal metabolic processes. The core temperature of endotherms is independent of external temperatures within the thermoneutral zone. When external temperatures exceed the upper critical temperature of an animal, it needs to lose heat, which is associated with increased rate of water loss. To maintain core temperature within non-lethal limits, animals may change their behaviour to increase evaporative cooling or shift their location to habitats that provide a thermal environment with lower metabolic costs and reduced water loss. Brolgas (Grus rubicunda) forage in open, exposed paddocks and are therefore subjected to external environmental conditions that can result in individuals experiencing heat stress and water loss. These factors are likely to constrain the amount of time available for foraging and influence decisions on when and where to move to maintain water balance and reduce metabolic costs. Daily patterns of habitat use and movements are thus likely to be driven by environmental conditions. We investigated these patterns of behaviour by utilising GPS tracking data to study daily habitat use of brolgas. We then combined location data on habitat use with detailed behavioural observations, weather data and a biophysical model to understand mechanisms behind daily movement decisions of brolgas. Preliminary results indicate that brolgas foraged in paddocks during the cooler part of the day and roosted in wetlands during the hottest part of the day. Movements between the two habitats were triggered by biophysical requirements to reduce heat loss and metabolic costs and to maintain water balance.

Presenting author: [email protected]

71 Biodiversity and conservation management in Western Province, Solomon Islands

JUSTIN WATSON1,2, TYRONE LAVERY3

1Institute for Land, Water & Society, Charles Sturt University, Australia 2Gondwana Ecology Group 3School of Animal Studies, University of Queensland, Australia

The Solomon Islands have long been recognised as a region of outstanding avian endemism and ornithological importance. The Solomon Islands Endemic Bird Area (EBA) has the greatest number of restricted range bird species of all the world’s EBAs. It is also a region that has thus far avoided widespread extinctions as a result of habitat loss. However, in recent years, this area has faced a rapid escalation in forest degradation through destructive commercial logging operations. The logging practices in Solomon Islands have been described as some of the worst globally, with current trends indicating native forest timber resources will have been exhausted by 2015. This activity is largely unregulated and companies face little environmental scrutiny. Furthermore, uncertainties associated with customary land tenure and royalty negotiation procedures often mean communities receive limited benefit from these activities. Commercial logging operations also impact on the ecosystem services these forests provide to local subsistence communities (e.g. food, shelter, transport, garden lands and medicine). Loss of biodiversity, including many endemic birds, is a reality with the potential for species extinction on islands. The communities of Zaira (Vangunu Island), Tetepare Island and Biche (Gatokae Island) in the Western Province have thus far managed to resist the pressures of commercial logging. These three islands fall within the Marovo-Tetepare complex that has been proposed as one of 15 Important Bird Areas for Solomon Islands. This baseline study aimed to provide the Zaira community with data on avifaunal communities to support their natural resource management efforts. Avifaunal surveys by community members have since been incorporated into monitoring activities by local rangers to support the awareness and management of biodiversity in the long-term.

Presenting author: [email protected]

72

Poster Habitat utilisation by the black-breasted button-quail (Turnix melanogaster) in southeast Queensland coastal and dry vine thicket

LIZ FISHER1, JUSTIN WATSON2,3

1Eco Logical, Australia 2Institute for Land, Water & Society, Charles Sturt University, Australia 3Gondwana Ecology Group

The black-breasted button-quail (Turnix melanogaster) is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, Commonwealth and Queensland, and is critically endangered in NSW. Presence and habitat utilisation across a gradient of dry (inland) vine thicket and hoop pine plantation (Yarraman State Forest); and coastal vine thicket (Inskip Peninsular), in southeast Queensland was analysed. Both localities have some degree of anthropogenic impact, including commercial harvesting of Hoop Pine, human-related traffic, sand mining and weed invasion. All areas support remnants of the “original” vine thicket community and are considered to support an important population of Button- quail. This assessment aimed to determine potential habitat preferences, responses to levels of disturbance and the dynamics of habitat use for the exiting population. Data collection included floristic composition, bird surveys, platelet counts and motion detection camera. A relatively complex upper and under-storey vegetation structure with corresponding ground layer is preferred, especially in inland habitats. Plantation areas also support this species when an understorey of the invasive Lantana (Lantana camara) is present, albeit in lower numbers. In coastal habitats, Lantana is avoided, areas characterised by a select suite of understorey and canopy species were preferred and high levels of human activity surrounded the core areas. Remnant vine thicket patches are core habitat for the button-quail with surrounding habitats serving as supplementary resource. It is also evident that this species is relatively tolerant of human activities and disturbances, particularly if suitable cover and vegetation structure is available. Measures for conservation management of this species are recommended.

Presenting author: [email protected]

73

Behaviour of brown kiwi chicks (Apteryx mantelli) at the nest

ALEX WILSON, SARAH JAMIESON, ISABEL CASTRO

Ecology Group, Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Ratites are a group of large flightless birds that produce precocial young. Males are generally the sole incubator and provide parental care. Kiwi (Apteryx Spp.) are the smallest ratites and have highly precocial young. In some species both parents incubate (A. australis, A. rowi, A. haasti), in others only the male incubates (A. mantelli and A. owenii). With the exception of juvenile Stewart Island tokoeka (A. autralis lawryi), no parental care is thought to be given to young Kiwi other than the provision of warmth to the chicks in the nest. Here we present the research detailing behaviour of young Brown Kiwi (A. mantelli) around the nest. Video cameras were set up outside nests, recording 914 hours of video data from 21 chicks of 20 nests in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Chicks initially emerged from the nest at an average age of 4.3days. They were seen in the nest entrance, and emerging from the nest the greatest number of times at five days of age, this number decreased with age until chicks only emerging and returning to the nest once per night. The time spent in the vicinity of the nest was also greatest at this age as was probing behaviour and the number of times chicks fell over. Vigilance behaviours like sniffing did not change with age, indicating this may be an innate behaviour. Lastly, of the 161 recorded nights, seven interactions between chicks and adults were seen, this may show that parental care does occur in Brown Kiwi, however is difficult to observe due to the nocturnal nature of this species.

Presenting author: [email protected]

Latham’s snipe Gallinago hardwickii in Australia: trends in migration patterns, local population changes and data coverage since 1950

DAVID WILSON

Ecology and Heritage Partners, 292 Mt Alexander Road, Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia 3032

Latham’s snipe Gallinago hardwickii is a non-breeding visitor to eastern Australia, where it over- winters in permanent and ephemeral fresh and brackish wetlands. It is listed under the commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) 1999, and perceived declines in this species were one of the motivations for the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA). Due to Latham’s snipe being listing under the EPBC Act, actions which may impact the species must be assessed, and approved, by the commonwealth government before they can proceed. Evaluation of impacts to Latham’s snipe is hampered by the poor understanding of the species’ ecology, behaviour and population size for Australia in general, and at a local scale. Using sighting data from 1950 to the present day I explore a range of the species’ ecological parameters, including the timing of migration at a continental scale, prevalence of overwintering records and local patterns and timing of pre-migration movements within Australia. While the duration of stay in Australia appears constant, both arrival and departure dates are becoming earlier in the year, and this pattern is not constant across areas. I then consider whether the existing data is sufficient to draw strong conclusions on the total size or trends in the Australian population, and suggest a range of actions which would significantly increase our ability to determine population sizes and trends, and evaluate the potential of actions to impact on the species.

Presenting author: [email protected]

74

New morphological and phylogenetic analyses of extinct birds from the Chatham Islands, New Zealand

JAMIE R. WOOD1, KIEREN J. MITCHELL2, R. PAUL SCOFIELD3 ALAN J.D. TENNYSON4, NICOLAS J. RAWLENCE5, JON M. WATERS5, BASTIEN LLAMAS2, ANDREW E. FIDLER6, ALAN COOPER2

1Landcare Research, P.O. Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand 2Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia 3Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch 8001, New Zealand 4Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, P.O. Box 467, Wellington, New Zealand 5Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand 6Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

The Chatham Islands, c. 800 km east of mainland New Zealand, were first settled by humans sometime between the 13th and 16th centuries AD. As with most east Polynesian islands, the post- settlement phase of the Chatham Islands was characterised by numerous avifaunal extinctions. Holocene fossil bones of these birds have been collected since the late 19th Century; however, several undescribed taxa and species with uncertain taxonomic affinities still remain. We used morphological and ancient DNA analyses to help resolve these issues, and found that: 1) the phenotypically-divergent Chatham Island duck (Pachyanas) is nested within Anas, and is the basal member of the New Zealand/sub-Antarctic brown teal clade; 2) Nestor bones represent a distinct species sister to the kaka (N. meridionalis), but which was largely terrestrial and may have had a diet more similar to a kea (N. notabilis); 3) the undescribed Chatham shelduck is a near-relative of the paradise shelduck (Tadorna variegata). Although it appears to have occupied a similar niche to the Chatham Island duck (terrestrial grazer), the shelduck was likely a more recent dispersal to the Chatham Islands. We also critically re- examine the Chatham Island penguin fauna, including the identity of crested penguin bones that have been reported to include an undescribed taxon. In addition, we report the discovery of a previously unrecognised form of Megadyptes, which was significantly smaller than the Waitaha penguin (M. waitaha) but whose mitochondrial DNA is nested within the diversity of yellow-eyed penguin (M. antipodes).

Presenting author: [email protected]

75

Poster Detecting behaviour states from foraging paths of little blue penguins in New Zealand

JINGJING ZHANG1, KATHLEEN M. O’REILLY2, TODD E. DENNIS1

1School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland, New Zealand 2Biology Department, University of Portland, USA

Little blue penguins (Eudyptula minor) are well distributed around the coasts of New Zealand and Australia, however, little is known about what factors influence their micro-scale patterns of foraging behaviour. Movement trajectories of free-ranging animals can provide information on energy expenditure related to environmental heterogeneity. Understanding what factor(s) drives the foraging patterns of little blue penguins provide valuable insights into their ecology. With the continued improvement of GPS (global positioning system) technology, tracking devices are now small enough for this smallest of penguin species. We collected foraging trajectories of breeding- stage birds from two distinct colonies in New Zealand: Burgess Island in the Mokohinau Archipelago (175°E 36°S) located offshore the North Island, and Matiu/Somes Island (174°E 41°S) located within the heavily urbanised Wellington Harbour. Ours is the first study in which high- resolution GPS tracking data have been collected from this species in New Zealand. We also simultaneously collected dive-profile data from temperature depth recorders (TDRs attached to some individuals that were tracked with GPS units. Using spatial and temporal parameters such as speed and turning angle, we extracted behaviour states from their foraging tracks and investigated foraging strategies of little blue penguins. Initial results indicate there are three major behaviour states within a foraging trip and foraging effort was concentrated in areas near river mouths in/near Wellington Harbour and at zones of upwelling in the Mokohinaus. Our study demonstrates the value of high-resolution GPS telemetry for elucidation of patterns of behaviour and ecology of penguins and other marine birds.

Presenting author: [email protected]

76