No.89 December 1998 . ' Note: Deadline for the March issue will be 10th February.

Edited by TONY CROCKER Supplement to NOTORNIS Vol. 45, Part 4 December 1998 ISSN 0111-2686 118 Cones Road, Ashley RD2 Rangiora. Phone: 03-313 4995, Fax: 03-364 2057 Email: t.crocker@)cont.canterbury.ac.nz for the members of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand (Inc.)

Please note that sightings recorded in this newsletter are subject to confirma- tion. Flycatcher

OSNZ has previously provided financial at an early stage. One pair had built five hole. To their credit, whenever I had to assistance for members working in nests by early November. It has been sug- deal with them they were always very Rarotonga to assist in conservation of gested that disturbance from introduced polite when I finally did get a response. the Kakerori ( dimidiata). , such as the Common Myna and The podiums, in this huge, modern Readers will be familiar with Hugh Red-vented Bulbul, may be more signifi- conference centre where the congress was Robertson's accounts of this work and cant than first suspected. held, seemed to have a mysterious array how rat control has allowed numbers PETER GAZE of buttons or menus which continually to rise from c.30 to c.150 in less than a baffled and foiled even the most prac- decade. tised and prepared speakers. Right up until During September and October I was the last day, room lights and slides seemed able to visit 'lahiti to assess the situa- Ornithological Flocks to be run by a mischievous computer with tion with another E! - the 22 International Ornithological a mind of its own. The lights and slides nigra. Only three other species still sur- Congress, Durban. South Africa, 16-22 would be fliclung on and off in a seem- vive in this genus, all of which are on August 1998. ingly random pattern, while the speak- the Marquesas group of French "We have sorted out the laser point- ers glared at panels, punched buttons, Polynesian islands. ers, and you will not need to pay 150 looked around and muttered. The Tahiti Monarch Flycatcher was rand (about $40)~~session to use them A couple of days before the event had common in forested areas of the island after all". The crowd gave a collective sigh concluded, the government saw fit to erect last century but has undergone a dra- of relief in sympathy for the speakers and concrete carriers all around the centre, matic decrease, some ofwhich has been presenters. It did seem a rather high price in preparation for a large meeting of non- well documented even during the last to pay, especially since the cost of regis- aligned nations. It was excellent fodder two decades.Working with a resident tering for the conference was about $1600 for jokes. Aldo was not impressed. In spite French biologist, Caroline Blanvillain, we (which included a nice green bag, the of the challenges, he managed to keep a located approximately 17 , all of abstracts from the talks, and cups of cof- good sense of humour, and I always which were in lowland valleys - effec- fee at the breaks). And so Aldo Berruti, looked fonvard to his South African ac- tively four separate populations, none the Secretary-General of this year's IOC, cent and dry wit during the daily an- of which comprised more than two once again triumphed in spite of the many nouncements. pairs.Only one of these birds was in ju- hurdles organising such an event must Similar to past congresses, over one venile , suggesting that there has throw up - especially in South Africa. He thousand delegates attended. Some of been little recruitment for the species did say something about how, although the delegates at the Durban 10C were over recent years. he was glad to see it finally coming to- still talking about the Christchurch con- The forest habitat was startlingly dif- gether, if he had to do it all over again - ference, which seems to have set the stand- ferent from Karotonga, as it is largely he wouldn't. ard for IOC congresses ever since. Unique composed of introduced invasive spe- You could hardly blame him. Although to this congress, the proceedings will be cies, such as the African tulip tree, and it was obvious from many comments made published only on CD Rom, not on pa- was usually confined to a narrow strip that the South African ornithological com- per. along the floor of steep basalt canyons. munity was very pleased to be part of the Thanks in part to a generous grant One of these canyons, which held two world community once again after their from the NZ Ornithological Congress Trust pairs and one or two single birds, has long period of isolation, it was also obvi- Board, I was able to present a poster on been subjected to an intensive rat con- ous that when anything goes wrong the my work on the Chatham Island Oyster- trol programme initiated by Jean-Claude chairman hears about it, and not always catcher. Unfortunately my allotted space Thibault and Te Manu, the French in the most polite manner. was in a very out of the way corner, so Polynesian Ornithological Society. This A few things did go wrong. Turners, the visitor volumes seemed low while I will hopefully determine whether rat a company contracted to cover all the was standing near the poster. I felt a bit control holds the potential to avert ex- travel arrangements, seemed unprepared like a sales person trying to appear like I tinction for this species. for the task they had taken on. Long belonged with the poster, was friendly Unfortunately nesting in this valley queues were always snaking around their and helpful, but not too pushy. I was and elsewhere has so far been charac- desk. Pre-conference communcations pleased to hear later that someone had terised by birds abandoning their nests often seemed to disappear into a black seen the poster and remembered it. There were hundreds of other post- Another interesting fact that emerged the youth hostel, a young local fellow, ers on myriads of topics. It was good from a symposium entitled "Predation who went by the nickname of Tornado, fun making it a goal to visit all the other by birds on tidal flats" was the signifi- took an interest in our birding activities posters in the session. I was impressed, cance of nocturnal feeding by waders and came out with us one morning. He not only with the amazing types of re- (by Klaus-Michael Exo). 93% of all wad- shared with us some of the Zulu names search going on all around the world, ers forage at night as well as during the for the birds and demonstrated the lo- but also with the variety of ways one can day (and many use different methods cal handshake. Unfortunately many of present a poster. New Zealand made a to forage at night, eg tactile instead of the local African people, even those pro- good showing at the congress,with about visual). Of direct relevance to my stud- viding guided birding tours in the parks, ten other posters, all of impressivelyhigh ies was a paper by Durwyn Liley present- have no access to binoculars or field quality ing results of research and modeling into guides. Besides the challenges of visiting all the effects of disturbance (and effective After the conference I toured the area the other posters, there was also the loss of nesting habitat) on the popula- with another New Zealand student del- daunting task of choosing which sym- tion dynamics of a shore nesting , egate, Brent Stephenson, plus a couple posia, talks and workshops to attend. the Ringed Plover in the UK. Disturbance, of others. The variety of birds was amaz- Fortunately the sessions were reason- by preventing birds from nesting in cer- ing. In less than two weeks we saw be- ably concurrent, so it was possible to tain areas, can have a significant impact tween 200-300 species of birds in just move from session to session (which I on a species' population. one province (Kwazulu-Natal). In spite did frequently). In addition to the main Unrelated to my research, but abso- of all the human pressures on the IOC in Durban, I also attended and pre- lutely enthralling, was some of the work land,there are some active conservation sented a paper at a satellite conference done in the area of exploratory behav- projects underway and a good system in Cape Town (the International Wader iour in birds. In a symposium led by Hans of national parks. The ornithological Study Group conference). Both were ex- Winkler and Bernd Leisler, several fas- scene in South Africa is very active,with cellent sources of important, though cinating papers were given on how birds a high level of participation and publi- informal, information - current ornitho- respond to new objects in their environ- cation by both professionalsand ama- logical research - and the people and ment. A study by Russell Greenberg of teurs. The level of cooperation between thinking behind that research. two closely related species revealed how ornithologists and birders of all levels One of the most remarkable plenary one species (a habitat generalist) was was inspiring to see. sessions was by Nick Davies, on cuck- more curious about new objects than FRANCES SCHMECHEL oos and their hosts. He presented a slide the other (a habitat specialist), and even of a small host species feeding an enor- as young chicks the habitat specialist mous (probably three times its size) showed a highly stereotyped order of cuckoo chick and shared how, at the be- preference for exploring different ob- ginning of his research career, he wanted jects, an order that was very similar even to know why this bird was acting so stu- between individuals raised with no con- pidly. He then shared a remarkable se- tact with others of the same species. ries of experiments and models which In other experiments by PJ Drent he and others had used to answer that and C. Marchetti, individual Great Tits question. It turns out that the risk of were found to have certain personality accidentally rejecting your own eggs (or types (which were heritable to some de- chicks) can outweigh the risks of occa- gree, ie. about 50-60%).The two types sionally raising a cuckoo chick. There were labelled "fast" and "slow". The "fast" I.C.C. Conference Centre, Durban, appears to be a bit of an evolutionary personalities were bold explorvrs in a South Africa, location of 22nd IOC con- arms race between cuckoos and their new environment, bold against strange ference. hosts. Those host species with a long objects and predators, and aggressive history of parasitism by cuckoos are much against new rivals. Two strains of per- more discerning about strange eggs in sonalities were bred for, and from these their nests, and those cuckoos lay ex- they discovered that the "fast" person- traordinarily similar-looking eggs to the alities started searchmg for food relatively hosts. Using a model on the risk of a late in a new environment, and if food bird accidentally rejecting one ofits own sources disappeared they tended to steal eggs, they made some predictions and food from successful birds or copied their then tested them. One of these included searching behaviours. In contrast, "slow" proving that, if a host bird sees a cuckoo personalities were thorough and shy ex- near its nest, it is much more likely to plorers, quickly searching for food in a On left Walter Bock permanent Sec. IOC expel eggs or desert the nest, presum- new environment and if the food sup- 22nd IOC President for 23rd IOC. Right ably because the risk of having been ply diminished were quick to start search- Aldo Berutti Sec-General of Durban parasitised is much higher. ing elsewhere.Theynormally did not steal Conference. Some other interesting titbits that food or copy other successful birds. captured my imagination long after I'd On the personal side, Durban turned returned from Durban included a pres- out to be an interesting city. Much larger entation by T.C. and J.M. Williams about and more industrial than I had expected, themigrations of shorebirds across the with both a huge port and also exten- western Pacific Ocean, which probably sive and highly developed beaches. The represent the longest known migrations youth hostel where I stayed was in an over a hostile environment. The data older, inner-citytype of district complete suggest that several species make a flight with a nightclub just next door and some of up to 7,500 krns over open water. Spe- quirky local characters. South Africa has cies such as the Bar-tailed Godwit, which a high crime rate, and most of the build- On left Zheng Guang-Mei Pres. China migrate from Alaska to New Zealand, may ings (including the youth hoste1)have Ornithological Society. Right Weishu be using true bi-coordinate migration razor wire around the perimeters and Hsu V-P, China Ornithological Society which enables them to compensate for bars on the doors and windows. In spite and Sec-General of 23rd IOC. being blown off course. How do they of that, people were generally very do it??! friendly and helpful. One of the staff at All photos by C.J.R. Robertson 1 OSNZNens - No.89 - December 1998 Venue and accommodation form, are invited. Any topic relevant to The Ornithological Society of The venue is the Ngaio Marsh Func- ornithology in New Zealand or the South Pacific region will be considered. Talks New Zealand (hc} tion Centre, Students' Association Build- ing, University of Canterbury.Accommo- should be 15 minutes long with 5 min- dation is available at the nearby Acad- utes for questions. Please send your sub- Nominations for Council emy Motor Lodge, 62 Creyke Road, Ilam, missions with your registration form, or Christchurch (approximately 5 minutes email Kerry-Jayne Wilson on [email protected]. Under the provisions of the ne- walk), with the overflow at nearby mo- Constitution, the following Coun- tels. Early registrants will therefore be There will also be facilities provided cil members retire in May 1999, and accommodated at the most convenient for poster and other presentations. Please indicate if you wish to present a poster, nominations for a three year term location. Units booked range from stu- or if another presentation the nature of are hereby called for, to fill the va. dio, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom units, cancies created by: accommodating up to 2, 3 and 5 peo- the presentation, with your registration ple respectively All units contain basic folm. kitchen facilities. Continental breakfast Ms K-J Wilson (South Island is available on site for $7.00per person. All day field trips Vice-president) Cheaper cabin accommodation is Two very different field trips are be- Miss C.E.M. Reed (co-opted Sec- available from the Riccarton Park Mo- ing offered for Sunday 6 June. Field trips retary) tor Camp, 19 Main South Road, located some 30 minutes on foot from the Uni- are of course weather dependant, and all participants should be prepared for versity Please arrange to book direct - Extra ordinary vacancy phone (03) 348 5690, fax 348 3855. cold and possibly wet conditions, and have stout footwear. Early registration is recommended. A packed lunch is in- Travel arrangements cluded in the cost of both full day trips. You are urged to make travel book- Arthurs Pass - a spectaculartrip across Nominations close with the Secre- ings as soon as possible in order to take the Canterbury Plains and into the South- tary on 28 February 1999, and must advantage of low fares. Canterbury mem- ern Alps, with stops at Lake Pearson be signed by two financial members bers will be available to meet arriving (Great Crested Grebes and other and consented to by the person members from the airport, rail station waterbirds) and various forest types, nominated, who must also be a fi- or other termini (provided these details including beech. Visit Arthurs Pass vil- nancial member. Retiring Officers are are communicated to us on the regis- lage and the top of the pass in the al- eligible for re-election. tration form) and arrangements will be pine zone above the treeline. Birds will made to assist on departure. be relatively few in quantity but excel- Notices of Motion lent in quality! Council and RRs' meeting Banks Peninsula - a full day ramble through a wide variety of habitats, in- Notice of any motion to be consid- Council ar,d Regicnal representatives cluding visits to the northern end of Lake will meet from midday on Thursday ered by the 1999 Annual General 3 Ellesmere, Lake Forsyth, Okuti Valley, Meeting must reach the Secretary June and all day Friday 4June, with joint over Gebbies Pass to Lyttelton Harbour, before 28 February 1999 in writing meetings on Thursday evening and on Whitewash Head, the Avon-Heathcote Es- Friday. It is expected that these meet- and must be signed by the mover tuary and Bromley Sewage Ponds. Ex- and seconder. ings will take place at the Centre for pect waterbirds, seabirds, bushbirds and Continuing Education, University Drive. some estuarine species. The 1999 OSNZ Annual Conference Registration and AGM will be held in Christchurch Half day field trips on Saturday 5 June 1999. The registration desk will be open Three half day field trips are offered at the Ngaio Marsh Function Centre from on the morning of Monday 7 June. Travel 3.00 - 6.00 pm on Friday 4 June and from Christine Reed arrangements from Christchurch should 8.30 to 9.00 am on Saturday 5 June. A not be made prior to 1.00 pm if you are HonSecretary light meal can be provided in conjunc- intending to participate on one of these PO. Box 12397 tion with the social time on Friday trips. Wellington evening at the Centre for Continuing Education at 7.00 pm if arranged in ad- Avon-Heathcote Estuary and vance on the registration form. Bromley - visit to see waterfowl in large numbers, plus winter waders and other Conference and AGM shorebirds. Photographic Competition Peacock Springs and Ashley Estuary 1999 Details of the Photographic Compe- - usually closed to the public, Peacock tition associated with the AGM are in the Springs is a remarkable private conser- Christchurch, 5-7 June enclosed form which accompanies your vation initiative. Birds being captive-bred Plans are well advanced for the Confer- publications. Generous prizes have been include Shore Plover, Black Stilt and Auck- ence and Annual General Meeting of the made available for the winners in each land Island Teal. A visit to the Ashley Es- Ornithological Society of New Zealand category. Judging will be done "profes- tuary for waders and waterbirds follows. in Christchurch over Queen's Birthday sionally" by members of the NZ Photo- Kaitunu Lagoon, Lake Porsyth, Okuti graphic Society. weekend 5-7 June 1999. The Annual Valley - the morning's portion of the full General Meeting will take place on Sat- day Banks Peninsula trip, with a range urday 5 June starting at 8 pm. The week- Contributed papers and posters of habitats including lakes, coast and end will be a special occasion, marking An exciting line-up of topics and forest remnants. the 60th anniversary of the founding of speakers has been arranged for the Con- the Society. ference Day. However submissions for additional presentations of papers on Saturday 5June, either orally or in poster

OSNZNews - No.89 - December 1998 3 1 Post conference visit to Kaikoura 1230 Lunch There will be a competition to name We anticipate that many North Island 1400 Conference paper the new magazine. Members are warmly and other members my be interested in presentations invited to allow their creative juices to flow £reek and to forward suggestions for the travelling via Kaikoura on their way to 1700 Social hour or from Christchurch. While we do not magazine's name to the Editor, OSNZNews. 1830 Dinner In addition to the not inconsiderable mana propose an organised trip, we recom- 2000 mend a pelagic trip aboard the vessel AGM associated with winning the competition, operated by Oceanwings, which should Registration for the day time presentation. the winner will also be the recipient of an be particularly fruitful for close-up views includes morning and afternoon teas plus attractive prize. of large numbers of seabirds in June. lunch Suggestions for the name of the new Please indicate on your registration from Sunday 6 June Society magazine, to take effect from the start of the new millenium, are eagerly if you would like to be part of a group 0700 Arthurs Pass field trip departs on Monday afternoon and we can arrange awaited and should be in the hands of the a booking for you. Normal cost is $60.00 0800 Banks Peninsula field trip Editor by 30 Apd1999. per person, but 8+ will normally result departs TONY CROCKER $45.00. in a reduction to around 1900 Annual conference dinner Editor - OSNZ News and prize awards 118 Cones Road Monday 7 June Other activities Ashley 0830 Short field trips depart, A range of other activities is planned RD2 Rangiora for the duration of the weekend, includ- returning by 12.30 pm. ing a hotlYcontestedtwitchathon, quizzes email [email protected] and mystery bird slides and sounds. Contact details Details of a photographic competi- Wanted = Memberrhlp tion are included with your publications. Registrations and organising committee - Entries are to be submitted to Don OSNZ Conference & AGM Secretary and Back Hadden, the competition organiser, and C/o Marjory Davis Numbers Convenor will be judged by memers of the Photo- 223 Hills Road After eight years sterling service graphic Society of New Zealand. to the Society, Hazel Harty has de- Christchurch 8001 We look forward to welcoming you cided to relinquish these two po- to Canterbury and to OSNZ's 60th an- Email sitions. [email protected] niversary Conference and AGM. While Membership Secretary - the per- we cannot control winter (or any other) son should have had some offtce weather, we hope to avoid the extremes Paper and other presentations experience, banking and comput- of recent years, and in any event can ing skills and be able to keep ac- guarantee an enjoyable and memorable curate records. Seasonally de- conference. Kerry-Jayne Wilson manding, hutideal for someone. Ecology and Entomology Department with time on their hands and ORGANISING COMMI'ITEE Lincoln University wanting to give back to the Soci- ety. Must have a fairly tidy mind PO. Box 84 1999 Conference and AGM or chaos will reign! Correspond- Lincoln University ence with RRs, old members and Ornithological Society of New Fax (03) 3253844 new are some of the pleasures. Zealand (Inc.) Email [email protected] Back Numbers Convenor -main 60th Anniversary Conference and prerequisite is a space to store Annual General Meeting back numbers of Notornis and OSNZ News in a vermin-free en- 5-7 1999 June REMINDER vironment, such as a spare room University of Canterbury, Christchurch SUBSCRlPTlONS FOCI or dry and secure outside shed. Tasks include accurate recording 1999 PROGRAMME of stocks,corresponding and post- ARE NOW DUE ing of journals and liaising with Thursday 3 June the MembershipSecretary. 1200 Lunch The positions are honorary ones 1300 RRs' and Council meetings as Officers of thesociety, and may 1800 Light meal What's in a Name? be undertaken by a single person 2000 Joint RRs' and Council or two separate people. Further information may be obtained meeting Among the recommendationsof the recent Publications Review adopted by Council this from: Friday 4 June yearwas the decision that'OSVk~ausshould Christine Reed 0900 Council and RRs' meeting cease to be a supplement to Notornis and Hon. Secretary 1200 Lunch become instead the Society's official maga- OSNZ zine in its own right. 1300 Council and RRs' meeting PO. Box 12397 1500 onwards - registration OSNZ News has served members well since its inception by Barrie Heathel; then Wellington, or 1800 onwards - social evening editor of Notornis, over 20 years ago. Re- 1900 Light evening meal available luctantly resisting an impulse to call itNotomis Hazel Harty 2000 Council meeting Droppings, in the ktissue Bamie outlined Membership Secretary Saturday 5 June the role and content of OSNZ News. These PO. Box 316 0830 have stood the test of time and OSM News Late registrations has gradually increased in size and scope. Drury, South Auckland 0900 Conference paper presentations 1 OSNZNews - No.89 - December 1998 Change of address = Nest Records Scheme

Two important events have occurred in the life of our Nest Records SchemeConvenor Hugh Robertson. Firstly Hugh and family have moved, so contributors to the Scheme are asked to note that nest record cards should now be sent to OSNZ, PO. Box 12397, Wellington, NOT to the Deller Grove ad- dress as in Notornis. The second is the safe arrival of Mat- thew Quin Laurens Robertson on 15 November - congratulations to Hugh and Lea.

Visit to Fred Kinsky

Your President made a flying visit to Ger- many during a whirlwind three days of Fred Kinsky. Photo C.J.R. Robertson museum visits in Frankfurt and Bonn in August. Fred Kinsky, (past President 1971- 75) at the good age of 88, is now a resi- In 1987 he was one of the original orange/rust colour noted in flight ex- dent at the Altenzentrum St Joseph, staff of the new Department of Conser- tended over its shoulders, nape and fore- Elisabethstrasse 7, D48336 Sassenberg, vation as Senior Conservation Officer head, and in a broad band a- the Germany (phone (49) 258 393130). (Flora and Fauna). "Dick leaves a legacy breast. From the bill, though, behind and Recently confined to a wheelchair, in terms of species saved... . Few people below the eye was a black mask and this enables him to be taken for pleas- have had such a distinguished career in another blackish mark was in an arc ant walks in the surrounding township conservation" said Conservator Stella across the forehead. The forehead be- and on various country and forest paths. Frances. "His eight years of work lead- low the blackish mark and the throat were We were both glad of a drink and straw- ing to the eradication of feral cats on both pure white, as was the lower breast berry shortcake at the local coffee shop Little Barrier Island and latterly the eradi- and belly. The bill was black and much after an hour of the rural pathways. cation of rats on Tiritiri Matangi, means like a Banded Dotterel's. Still active in ornithology of the phila- that many of our endangered species So the bird was a near breeding telic world (the full stamp collection is stand a real chance of survival. He is one plumaged male Mongolian Ihtterel, a on the shelves for reference), Fred was of New Zealand's foremost experts on rare bird in national terms with less than glad to hear of old friends and activities wading birds and is well respected within five records per year (though paradoxi- of the Society. The efficient German trans- and beyond these shores." cally not on the RBC rare bird list?), and port system made what seemed on the Dick has also been involved in this is the first acceptable record for the map to be a difficult trek into a pleasant projects in Australia, the United States, south-west coast of the North Island - a and timely interlude. Great Britain, Mauritius and the Sey- record in HANZAB for Hokio Beach was C.J.R. ROBERTSON chelles. He intends to continue his con- only "probablen(CSN), and one previ- tributions to conservation projects and ously reported for the Manawatu has his work with the Ornithological Soci- been withdrawn by the observer. ety. Apart from its geographical rarity, the Dick Veitch Retires DOC in-house publication timing and plumage are also odd. Win- ter records in New Zealand are very few, and birds in good breeding plumage are A public service career, that took him Rare Waders and in the minority, and usually in our au- from a humble cadet in the Wildlife Serv- Rarer Names tumn. It is most unlikely that a bird in ice to a conservationist with an interna- breeding plumage would have arrived tional reputation in the protection of en- in New Zealand from the north, so had dangered species, ended when Dick On the morning of Saturday 29 August this bird been at Turakina all winter? Veitch retired from his position as Tech- I visited theTurakina Estuary, just south nical Support Officer(Bi0diversity) in the of Wanganui, to investigate changes to The bird was still present when I was Auckland Conservancy of the Department the topography of the area after recent able to return two days later. 1 was more of Conservation. Dick had just returned floods, and particularly to see what ef- surprised to find that only some 25 me- from an expedition to Raoul Island to fect the changes had had on the Black- tres away was another unusual wader - check on some of the pest eradication fronted Dotterels which frequent the this one larger and paler, and quite ob- work in which he has been involved for area. viously a New Zealand Dotterel. NZ Dot- over thirty years. Happily, about a dozen Black-fronted terel is also remarkably uncommon on Dick's career started in 1962, and he dotterels were present, along with six the south-west coast of the North Island, worked all over New Zealand including Banded Dotterels and, unusually, a there being only 13 records in the past the subantarctic islands and the Wrybill. After a few minutes, what looked 30 years between Wellington and south Taranaki (CSN), so perhaps changes to Kermadecs. In 1970 he was appointed like a Banded Dotterel flew past me - this estuary are going to be to the liking Senior Wildlife Offtcer (Protected Fauna), but this bird had an orange head! It responsible for conservation of fauna in landed within 20 metres and was in view of rare waders! The NZ Dotterel remained until 3 September, but unfortunately the the northern half of the North Island. side-on. Mongolian Dotterel was not seen after He also worked on Campbell Island and In size and jizz it was just like a 3 1 August. in searches for Kakapo in Fiordland. Banded Dotterel, but its back and wings were grey rather than brown and the Finding a Mongolian Dotterel was mobbed? It is unlikely that any of the good, identifying at as Cbaradrius Starlings or Tui would have ever seen mongoZus was hardly difficult. but won- such a bird. So was that why they acted dering what to call it in English is more as they did? Tui are very aggressive to- vexing - in Australia and the USA: Mon- ward any bird landing in their trees, and golian Plover. For the rest of the world will chase them away, though they don't Lesser Sandplover is correct. Isn't it a usually follow beyond their territorial ridiculous state to be in? Why do we in- trees. However I can't remember a Star- sist on having our own uniquely Kiwi ling mobbing inthis way. names for birds that occur across the Could this be part of the reason that world? Lesser Knot and Siberian Tattler Kookaburras have not expanded their are two that spring to mind. We even range in New Zealand, as every time one have our own names for some Austral- tries to leave their regular sites they are Arctic Tern ian birds - eg Nankeen Kestrel and Spur- mobbed so much that they are forced winged Plover. to move? Birding is a changing, dynamic sub- ADRIAN RIEGEN ject, with species being split and merged and new names in current usage across the world. 1think that it is time for OSNZ Iceland - land of fire to promote the standardisation of Eng- lish names, as requested by the IOC, with and ice changes as and when required. At the very least we should be using the same Why not add Iceland to your list of fu- names as the Australians use. I person- ture birding destinations?It might seem ally thought that it was a shame that our a long way from here (and it is), but if newField Guide perpetuated out-of-date, you are planning to fly across the Atlan- Red-necked Phalarope esoteric names, and a recent review of tic sometime, why not arrange to go via the book in the British Birding World Iceland? Tkat way it will probably cost noted the same in an otherwise (and jus- no extra to get there. And you'll certainly tifiably) excellent review. be pleased that you went. We are currently using over 40 names Iceland is situated about 300 kms which are different to those in interna- from Greenland, about 800 kms from tional use. What do other OSNZ mem- Britain and about 1,000 krns from Nor- bers think? way. It has a land area about 90X8the size of our North Island, and 10% of it IAN SAVILLE is under permanent glaciers. It is largely treeless, anti this is no doubt one of the West Auckland limitations on the number of bird spe- cies which breed there. Over 330 spe- Kookaburra cies have been recorded, but many of these are vagrants, and only about 70 A Kookaburra was seen at Oratia, on the species breed regularly. This may not edge of the Waitakere Ranges, West Auck- sound very exciting when you consider land, a couple of years ago, though I that even our near neighbour Australia didn't see it. It was the only one I have has about ten times as many breeding heard of in this area. species. But believe me the birds of Ice- On the morning of 9 October 1998 land can be very exciting because of their I was in the bush, clearing the possum ease of accessibility, the vast numbers trap for the tenth time in two weeks, of some species, and the fact that they when somewhere nearby I heard the are Northern Hemisphere species with immistakeable laugh of a Kookaburra. I which many of us are not familiar. got into the open for a better view. I If you want to maximise the number Kittiwakes on their cliff nests. couldn't see it, but it was obviously in of species you see there, then spring and All photos by Hugh Clifford pine trees on a neighbouring property. autumn are said to be the best times to Very worried that it would go the wrong visit, as these are the peak times for mi- way and so avoid being added to my gar- gratory birds to pass through on their den list, I tried to get closer to it. To my lemot), or on the ground (Arctic Tern, way to and from their Arctic breeding Great Skua, Arctic Skua). Then there are true delight it flew into pine trees in my grounds. We went in summer (second garden! the waders which also breed on the half ofJune) on a 13 day guided birding ground near the shore or on grazing land, 1still couldn't see it, but its position tour. The weather was occasionally rather both near the coast and in the interior. was given away by Starlings and Tui that cool, sometimes damp, but mostly quite It is a treat to see the waders in breed- were mobbing it. 1 counted as many as pleasant. The birds which breed in Ice- ing dress and indulging in breeding be- 10 Starlings and six Tui involved in the land were in their breeding finery and haviour, rather than the large, amorphous attack. By now I was back at my house busy at their task. Of course if you are and comparatively colourless flocks of and watched as the mobsters forced the one of those people who claim they don't waders we see here out of their breed- Kookaburra to fly overhead and into the need much sleep, then maybe you could ing season. "Our" waders of course go next clump of pines. Again the Kooka- see all we saw in half the time, because north to Alaska and Siberia, whereas the burra was not visible, but the mobbing there is more or less 24 hours of day- ones in Iceland come from places like birds gave away its position. It was soon light each day! Africa, so there are some that we don't forced to fly yet again but that was the Seabirds are present in huge num- see here. Common Redshanks seemed last I saw or heard of it. bers, breeding in burrows (puffins), on to be the most obvious, but Snipe, Several questions spring to mind, cliffs (Northern Fulmar, Common Guil- Whimbrel, Golden Plover, Dunlin and which readers might have views on. lemot, Brunnich's Cuillemot, Razorbill, Red-necked Phalarope were also com- Firstly, why did the Kookaburra get Kittiwake), under boulders (Black Guil- mon. 1 OSNZNenrs - No.89 - December 1998 Then there are the waterfowl. Around The North Island Thrush, now re- 1-1-302,Beijing Science and Technology the coast the most obvious species is the ferred to as Piopio or New Zealand Commission Apt, Balizhuang, Haidian Eider. At the time of our visit the males Thrush, had all but disappeared by 1900. district, Beijing 100037, China. Ph/fax were still in their striking breeding dress, The last confirmed specimen in the North 86 (10) 6846 5605, email and, though some ducklings were seen, Island was shot at Ohura, southern King [email protected]) or the Assistant Secre- most of the ducks were still sitting. There Country, in 1902. "Reports of sightings, tary-General (The Honourable Liu Feng, are about 20 duck species on the Ice- mainly in the Urewera Ranges and in- China International Conference Centre land list, and in summer Lake Myvatn in land Wanganui/raranakiup to 1950 could for Science and Technology, Xueyuan the north of the country is home to about not be confirmed (Heather & Robertson, Road, Beijing 100081, China. Ph 86 (10) 100,000 ducks. 1996). Was the sighting at Atiamuri a 6217 4952, fax 86 (10) 62180142, email Many duck species were new to us, remnant population still hanging on in [email protected]). 1945?Next time I pass through Atiamuri though not to our European compan- All enquiries about the scientific pro- my eyes will be wide open! ions. However two species which got gramme, as well as comments and sug- them excited were Harlequin and Bar- The Linnet, often referred to as the gestions for the general programme, ple- row's Goldeneye, because these are Grey Linnet, is an exotic species and was nary lectures and symposia should be North American species, and Iceland is introduced from England by both the sent to the Chair of the Scientific Pro- the eastern limit of their range. We saw Auckland and Nelson Acclimatisation gramme Committee (Dr Fernando Spina, two breeding species of goose (Greylag Societies around 1867/68. The introduc- Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Sehatica, and Pink-footed), and frequently admired tion appears to have failed, but other Via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 1-40064 Ozzano the beautiful white Whooper Swan. The small birds such as Goldfinch, Green- Emilia (BO), Italy. Ph 39 (51) 65 12 111, two divers (Great Northern and Red- finch (Green Linnet), Redpoll, Yellow- fax 39 (51) 79 66 28, email throated) were something special, and hammer and Chaffinch have all become [email protected]) the Slavonian Grebe was a little cutie. established. Information about the IOC can also Anyway, I'm not trying to give you a There have been many reported be obtained from our new home page complete list of the birds we saw, and if sightings of Linnets but these were not at http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/ you went to Iceland and had eyes only confirmed and were most probably those IOC/which is currently under construc- for the birds you'd be missing an awful of Redpolls. However, the sighting of Lin- tion. lot. The landscapes are varied and mag- nets 'A few - Atiamuri 3/45." will again nificent, the plants are fascinating, the whet my appetite when I travel through geology and vulcanism are amazing, and Atiamuri. WALTER BOCK the human history is long and impres- President, 23rd IOC sive. What other reasons do you need to put Iceland on your list? ROY WESTON

HUGH CLIFFORD Moa Footprints wanted Correction Blue Penguin symposlum I am interested in footprints and trackways of the extinct moa species. I am aware of specimens, both originals Late records of N.I. The preliminary announcement regard- and casts, in museum collections around ing the Blue Penguin Symposium to take Thrush? New Zealand and 1 have accessed most place in Oamaru in 1999 incorrectly in- of these. There are occasionally anec- cluded the date Friday 18 July. The cor- dotal suggestionsthat some material may I had never owned or read Perrine rect date is Friday 18June 1999. My apolo- be in the hands of private collectors. If Moncrieff 's New Zealand Birds and How gies for any confusion created by this any readers have knowledge of moa to Identify Them as I was weaned on oversight. footprint or trackway material that is held the 2nd edition of New Zealand Birds The full programme and call for reg- privately, I would be interested in hear- by W.K.B. Oliver (1955). I spotted istrations will be published in the March ing about it. Moncrieff's second edition (revised and OSNZ News. I would be similarly interested in re- enlarged) at a recent antique fair in TONY CROCKER ceiving information about material held Rotorua and purchased same to add to either in museum or private collections my library It is not dated but I believe it overseas. It appears that some material was published soon after the first edi- 23rd IOC, Beijing, was distributed in the late 19th or early tion which came out circa 1926, which 2002 20th centuries by the scientific educa- was also not dated. tional supplier Wards, but to whom and It was signed on the title page O.S. how much has not been ascertained. At the 22nd International Ornithologi- Burt. Who is or was 0.5 Burt? Was he a My thanks in advance if you can help member of OSNZ? In the body of the cal Congress held in Durban,South Af- rica, 16-23August 1998, the International out with this. I have hopes of preparing book he or she has made annotations a catalogue of specimens and their re- concerning sightings of various birds Ornithological Committee voted to ac- cept the invitation from Chinese orni- positories and to accompany this with around Atiamuri in 1943 and 1945, also an illustrated guide. We also hope to date at Katikati in 1944. Two notes which in- thologists to host the 23rd International Ornithological congress in Beijing, China, the substrates in which these ichnites trigued me are those concerning North (fossil footprints) have been found. Island 'Thrush and Linnet. on 11-17 August2002. Information can be obtained on email The notes read as follow: North Is- ([email protected]), via theinternet land Thrush - "Saw Atiamuri 14/3/45 5.30 Associate Professor MURRAY at http://www.ioc.org.cn or via the GREGORY pm. Scrub besides river.", and the Lin- homepage of the 22nd congress at http:/ Department of Geology net 'Atiamuri 3/45 - A few." There ap- hww.ioc.org pears to be no confusion with Song Requests to be included on the mail- University of Auckland Thrush as the annotation states "Atia - ing list for brochures and for informa- Private Bag 92019 fairly plentiful. 3/45." tion on the 23rd congress should be sent Auckland to the Secretary-General (Professor Xu Weishu, Beijing Natural History Museum, Email [email protected] -- OSNZNews - No.89 - December 1998 7 Review of the islands and kept us amused and to behold. The Kokako came down from astonished at his adventures. Andrea the treetops to bathe and drink at the Forshaw, J.M. and Kirschner, D. Encyclo- Booth then rounded off the talk by giv- water troughs, where most of us had the paedia of Birds - Second Edition (1998). ing us a summary of her research at the pleasure of watching them. The keen University of New South Wales. 240 pp. Bounty Islands, and although it was the photographers had a ball. ISBN 0 86840 7127. AUD49.95. fourth time I had heard Andrea's talk I During the evening, armed with As described on the cover, this is "a was still captivated by the photos torches,we set off to watch Grey-faced comprehensive illustrated guide by inter- We were lucky enough to have a Petrels fly in and scramble up through national experts". ~ollowin!ga general in- meeting at the Aroha Island Ecological the undergrowth to their burrows. Some troduction to birds, their behaviour and Centre in Kerikeri, and during our time people were making weird calls and habitat requirements, the main section there we were entertained by a tame theseactually seemed to attract the birds of the book looks at each order of birds. Pukeko who rummaged through our which occasionally answered. One lucky A box of "key facts" is included for each gear and cried when he was ignored. person saw a lone kiwi scuttling off down order. These state the number of species Our next speaker is Doc worker Sandra a track. A great weekend was had by all. within that order, along with a diagram Heihei who is spreading the word about Some of our members have been showing the smallest and largest species Kukupa (Kereru) in Tai Tokerau away on very interesting trips. Gerry against a recognisable symbol for size (Northland). Brackenbury visited Codfish Island, off comparison. Also listed are those species The monthly beach patrols continue Stewart Island, and gave an informative of conservation concern, ranging from in the Far North, primarily on 90 Mile talk with slides. Dr Ray Pierce went to critically endangered to vulnerable^^ brief Beach and Karikari. I would like to take South Africa and visited some wildlife outline of each family is then given. this opportunity to say a big thank you parks where he saw many species of A book of this size could not hope to to Isobella, John and Laurie for organ- and birds. His trip was brought cover each species in detail, but it is a ising these patrols. Beach patrolling is to life with some wonderful slides. useful introduction to the world of birds. a wonderful way to get out and explore Pauline Smith went to Norfolk Island Illustrated with over 200 high quality pho- the coast of New Zealand, catch up with where she saw, among other things, hun- tographs (with a definite bias toward the fellow OSNZers, learn about seabirds, dreds of White Terns. Australasian region), along with many and beach comb- you never know what Prue Cozens went up to the Far North paintings and maps, anyone with a gen- treasures you may find! The real gem recently and saw 16 Royal Spoonbills sit- eral interest in birds would find this a on the last beach patrol of 90 Mile Eseach ting in their favourite macrocarpa tree welcome addition to their bookcase. was the discovery of a Leach's Petrel at Unahi, just north of Kaitaia. Some of (yet to be confirmed). us went with a Doc worker who is moni- toring Fairy Terns to Mangawhai Spit in PAM AGNEW We also managed to get out to Motukawanui Island for the annual tree August. We saw four terns flying together, planting excursion. This was delayed then sitting in pairs on the sand before Recipe for Recovery (as in previous years) due to bad flitting off to meet up with the other pair weather. However we finally made it again. They continued this activity for across to the island on 15 August. Al- the one to two hours we were on the The inscription on the metal bands used though it was a little windy, Mother spit. The same day we saw 74 New Zea- by the US Department of the Interior to Nature smiled down on us with a hot land Dotterels, some in breeding plum- tag migratory birds has been changed. The sunny day. This year several thousand age. waking among the short grasses and bands used to bear the address of the trees were planted.Thiswas a mammoth weeds in a sheltered damp area between Washington Biological Survey, abbreviated effort for Far North and Northland some sandhills. Recently seven Cattle "Wash. Biol. Surv.", until the agency re- OSNZers, Forest and Bird, volunteers Egrets were seen amongst a herd of dairy ceived the following letter from an Ar- and Doc staff. All those who attended cows on the old Kokopu Road just north kansas camper: should be extremely proud of them- of Whangarei. selves. Restoration of Motukawanui Is- We continue to patrol about 34 kms "Dear Sirs, land is proceeding at a faster rate due of the west coast near Dargaville, and While camping last week I shot one to their efforts. about 27 kms on the east coast near of your birds. I think it was a crow. I fol- Protection and monitoring of New Whangarei on a regular basis. We have lowed the cooking instructions on the Zealand Dotterels at Karikari was initi- had big numbers of diving petrels, Flut- leg tag and I want to tell you it was horri- ated by Doc Kaitaia in September. Nicky tering Shearwaters and Blue Penguins ble." Syddell has been aided by one of our during the past four months on both Far North OSNZ members coasts. AntheaGoodwin, who has spent hours The bands are now marked Fish and Members are looking forward to the out watching the antics of Tuturiwhatu Wildlife Service. Whangarei and North Kaipara Harbour pukenui. I will be banding NZ Dotterel censuses, and helping with the Far North chicks in the Far North as part of my wader census, which is always a favour- from Galah, in-house newsletter research carried out with Dr John ite activity, plus our Christmas barbecue, of Birds Australia. Dowding, so if you are out and about all in November. and happen to come across any please (Janet Snell) give me a call. Regional Roundup (Leigh Honnor) South Auckland Far North Northland It is taking me a little longer than antici- Our monthly meetings have had an in- pated to come to grips with the role of ternational flavour recently. Paul Harrison RR for Far North OSNZ but we have had In early August a group from Northland took us through Hong Kong, England, a very entertaining meeting and several OSNZ spent an interesting weekend on Gambia and back to New Zealand. Not eventful outings in the past few months. Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki only were we treated to excellent qual- On 5 August we were captivated by Gulf. It was wonderful to see the great ity slides of such avian delights as Abys- tales of Gerry Clarke and his numerous variety of birds so close at hand, and sinian Roller and Senegal Coucal, but sorties to the Bounty Islands. Gerry to listen and identify their calls. The Paul also had some stunning shots of showed us breath-taking video footage three tame Takahe. which wander casu- butterflies and wildflowers as well. allv around the d&ellings.-, were a sightv 8 OSNZNews - No.89 - December 1998 Pam and Des Agnew shared their ex- fledging, plumage changes with age, age the firm's efforts to make the heavy in- periences of spring migration in the Lone at fvst breeding, etc, not only taught us dustrial site more environmentally li-iendly Star State, where over 300 species were a lot, but also emphasised how much more Tasman's environmental manager, Rob seen during a trip in April with Paul there is to learn. Hunter, took the time out of a Sunday to Harrison and Keith Woodley. Another August activity was the an- escort a good turnout of members from What would we call ourselves if our nual Cattle Egret survey There are two our local branch. All were there, I think, national icon were to become extinct? places near Hamilton where the birds interested to get a "bird's eye view" of This question was posed at our Novem- return each year between breeding sea- the running ofenvironmental operations ber meeting by Adele Smaill, who runs sons in Australia. These preferred places of the comDany and to ascertain whether the Kiwi Recovery Programme on the cover just a few dairy farms, and good- the company's bad reputation was war- Coromandel Peninsula. Adele gave us a ness knows why the birds come back to ranted. very interesting and insightful talk about them when there are thousands of other The "black drain", I learned, was her work. The outlook for unmanaged dairy and beef cattle farms in the Waikato caused by tannin from the processed trees, populations appears gloomy, but thank- to choose from. It does however make it which at this stage they have no way of fully there are dedicated people like Adele easy for us to find them each year. Find- dealing with, although they have only a which gives tremendous hope for the ing them is one thing, but counting them limited time from Environment BOP to future of this national treasure. is another, and they are adept at making resolve the problem. The colour does it difficult by keeping their distance, hid- We had a mini wreck of Fluttering inhibit photosynthesis and therefore the ing below drain banks and so on. Num- biodiversity of the river, so it is a prob- Shearwaters on our beaches in early bers fluctuate from year to year, and this spring, with 38 being picked up right on lem with Rob Hunter recognises has to year there was an increase at Rangiriri to be resolved. the tideline in August, followed by a fur- 230 from 180 last year, while the Ngaroto ther 10 in September and 10 in October. count (35) was unchanged from last year. The scaleof the industrial site and its Five species of prion were collected in operations necessitated the use of a bus October - Fairy, Thin-billed, Antarctic, In September Paul Harrison spoke at to cover the ground which is being used Salvin's and Broad-billed. Other south- our evening meeting, with a selection of to clean up the water used by themill. ern species included two Kerguelen, one slides he had taken in New Zealand, the The scarred landscape and huge, bub- Cape, one Blue and three White-headed UK, Hong Kong and Gambia. His exten- bling ponds, needed to filter the water Petrels. However the most exciting find sive ornithological knowledge, together through various stages before it enters of recent times was two Westland Petrels, with his expert photography; ensured that the river, left me wondering whether the both found on south Kariotahi Beach in we had a fascinating evening. The desti- ideals of the RMA were achievable. Was October. These are the first of this spe- nation that was least known to most of it possible, I asked myself, to manage the cies to be found on our stretch since 1985. us was the Gambia on the west coast of adverse effects of such a heavy industrial As expected, the November patrol saw Africa, through it is apparentlyfairly popu- activity to the point where I, a lover of the start of the "Sooty season", with 11 lar with British birders. wildlife, could live happily next door? Sooty and two Short-tailed Shearwaters Debbie Stewart-Badger, of the Wing- However the objective is laudable and being picked up. span Birds of Prey Trust, was our speaker we do, as Rob Hunter said, have to try. In early September we had our an- for October. She gave a highly entertain- The birdlife around the ponds is not nual weekend trip to Tiritiri Matangi Is- ing and very informative account of her numerous by any means, but we did see land. The kowhaiwere only just starting work in rehabilitation and breeding of ducks and NZ Scaup in one of the ponds, to flower, but the birdlife was still pro- harriers and falcons. The ingenious meth- and stilts, Pukeko and some Californian lific. Sitting quietly at the end of the Wat- ods of training or retraining these birds Quail near the outlet. It is a beginning. tle Track, our patience was rewarded with to fly and hunt. and the tremendous excellent, close-upviews of three Kokako. amount of work involved, impressed us (Narena Olliver) At one stage one was even feeding out in all. the open, on the ground, on the main Our October field trip was to the vehicular track to the whdUnfortunately Miranda Shorebird Centre for the annual Hawkes Bay the Little Spotted Kiwi were not so bold, "Welcome to the Birds". It was the usual with only one call being heard. interesting day, but inspecting the wad- Until recently there have been few inter- 'She Firth of 'Shames summer census ers and other birds on their high tide roosts was a task for the more hardy en- esting sightings. Two Cattle Egrets near has just been completed, with numbers Clive, first seen on 30 June, were still of godwits and knots appearing to be thusiasts, as the weather was none too pleasant. present in early August. At nearby Muddy down on recent counts. Other sightings CreekIWaitangi, c.250 Black-billed Gulls included 20 Whimbrels, a tattler, three Two notable sightings have been a and c.600 White-fronted Terns had con- Marsh Sandpipers, three Sharp-tailed flock of 14 Kaka feeding on Acacia at gregated, hopefully with the intention of Sandpipers and eight Pacific Golden Plov- Opoutere in September and 12 Royal establishing a breeding colony. A visit by ers. Spoonbills at Raglan Harbour in Octo- Murray Jeffries on 20 October revealed (Pam Agnew) ber. increased numbers of birds but no nests Beach patrolling has continued yet. He also recorded 14 Bar-tailed through the period, with tallies not be- Waikato Godwits, six Lesser Knots, a Wrybill and ing particularly numerous or containing a NZ Dotterel. The dotterel sighting is unusual species. More seals, both dead interesting because the only records of The topic of our August meeting was Black- and alive, have been seen than is usually them in the Napierklastings area are one billed Gulls. Tony Habraken described the the case. on 18 November 1989, two on 20 No- banding work that he and others have (Hugh Clifford) vember 1989 and one on 26August 1990, all at Ahuriri. Gillian Eller, visiting from been carrying out at Manukau Harbour Bay of Plenty and at Miranda on the Firth of Thames Auckland, reported a Kaka in Waipawa in recent years. We tend to think that eve- township on 23 July, and again several rything must already be known about At the start of a visit to Tasman Pulp and times in the following weeks. relatively common bird species. Then Paper Company's water use systems and Wayne and Margaret Twydle turned someone realises that there are gaps in settling ponds on 18 October 1998, which up a of south island Pied Oystercatch- the knowledge and starts a study to fill serve to clean up the water before it re- ers on a visit to Mangatahi on 20 Sep- some of them. So Tony's description of enters the Tarawera River, a pigeon fly- tember, one of which was banded in the results of this study on movements after ing overhead seemed to auger well for same area in 1993. Of the nine birds

OSNZNews - No.89 - December 1998 91 we banded between 1993 and 1995, Islands preparing to nest. One Little Egret necked Stints were joined by up to four three have been resighted,which is pretty remains at Mokau. A beach patrol re- more during October, a Little Tern was good going. One turned up at Farewell port from David Medway included 24 seen twice, two Sharp-tailed Sandpipers Spit in 1994, while another well trav- Fluttering Shearwaters, while a later pa- were in residence, with a Pectoral Sand- elled bird was seen on several occasions trol produced 1 1 wrecks, including two piper for comparison on 8 November. at Foxton Beach between 1995 and 1997, Cape Pigeons. "Our" Grey-tailed Tattler returned on then at Whangarei this year. The current Reports of waders indicate that the 30 October for yet another summer. Pa- bird is the only one seen back on the local population is breeding and num- cific Golden Plover numbers increased breeding grounds, this being the second bers of migratory birds are regularly seen steadily through October to a respect- time we have located it. passing through. 37 Pacific Golden Plov- able total of 24 by 1 November, then there A recent field trip to Blowhard Bush ers at the Waiongana River mouth far was an unexpected influx, with over 60 and Lawrence Hut was well attended by exceed any previous sightings. present on 8 November- the highest total members, who were greeted with a NZ A whitebaiter on the Mokau River ever. Finally a juvenile Great Knot was Robin singing near the track informa- reported large numbers of Fernbirds, and found on 24 October, remaining until tion board. Other birds seen or heard a nest with young. He also saw a pair of at least 1 November - this is the sixth were ,Whiteheads,Tomtits, Shin- kingfishers attack a stoat as it climbed a time a Great Knot has been found at the ing Cuckoos, Tui, Bellbirds, Chaffinches, large kahikatea. They were successful in Manawatu, out of less than 20 records Redpolls, Grey Warblers and a Long-tailed knocking the stoat to the ground twice, in New Zealand. What else could one Cuckoo. A Common Green Gecko pro- but as the fish began to run we can't expect from the best birding site in the vided a close view in a roadside manuka. finish the story! An interesting item of country? A visit to the Ahuriri Estuary on 24 news is the recent discovery of a moa (Ian Saville) October turned up c.60 Bar-tailed bone found embedded in papa rock at Godwits and six Pacific Golden Plovers, Waihi Beach, Hawera. The age of the bone while a Wrybill and two Red-necked Stints is to be checked. Wellington were present at Westshore Reserve, and scattered Pied Stilt nests. On the lagoon (RosemaryMessenger) The survey of Wellington Harbour is now itself was a White-winged Black Tern. into its fifth month. Some seasonal trends are appearing, with a reduction in Red- (Margaret Twydle) Manawatu billed Gull numbers from 1380 in July to 300 in October, and Little Shags down from 244 to 18 for the same months.The Taranaki As reported in the last issue, Manawatu major increase has been with Fluttering region has recently restarted evening Shearwaters, from 8 in July to 428 in meetings and field trips on a more regular October. We noted in August that NZ Robin num- basis. The aim is to hold quarterly evening We had a walk through the bush at bers in the Moki Forest were as high as meetings and to have field trips about Tunnel Gully on the lower slopes of Mt other areas visited, with other bush birds bi-monthly, plus regular beach patrols. Climie north of Wellington. We found RR. in good numbers. At a meeting in Sep- Full details from the A recent meet- the nesting site used by a pair of NZ tember, members were able to observe ing heard from Massey student Sara Falcons in an epiphyte high in a beech closely the olive green colouring on a Treadgold on her work on Fairy Terns tree. The birds weren't present at that tiny Grey Warbler's body, emphasising Good birds in the region over the time but we hope to see them later in the importance of careful observation late August-early November period have the year. skills. Members discussed a report of a been as follow: five Spotted Shags fly- kiwi that must be a swimmer, as it has ing north past Foxton Beach on 23 Au- Leigh Bull spoke to us about her re- been reliably reported on both sides of gust were unusual, and 51 Wrybills at search on the breeding biology of Blue a river. Bob Talbot told us about the mist- the Manawatu Estuary on the same day, Penguins on Somes/Matiu Island. As this net capture ofmFlute",one of the last re- coinciding with the main departure of is an island many of us visit frequently maining Kokako in the Moki Forest. Two Wrybills from the north, was a good count and easily, it was great to hear about the birds remain. for here. A Mongolian Dotterel and a life of the penguins there. September's field trip was to a QEII New Zealand Dotterel at Turakina on 29 The Chatham Islands was the topic covenanted piece of land, an area of 110 August were excellent records. of Hillary Aikman's talk to us in Novem- hectares of heavily forested, steep hill September weather was dominated ber. Hillary is the DOC Technical Sup- country. 20 bird species were identified early on by some very strong W-NW winds port Officer for the Chathams, based in and a great variety of native orchids were which made sea-watching at Foxton re- Wellington. She spoke about the many seen and named. warding - four albatross species were endangered species of birds there and Members at the October meeting recorded, lots of giant petrels including focused on the continuing success story reported many sightings of Shining Cuck- flocks of 9 and 20+, and a Little of the Black Robin. oos. the first bird being heard at Egmont Shearwater among many Fluttering and Later this moth we'll visit the Villageon 22 September. The first Long- Sooties. A Rook flying down the beach Manawatu Estuary at Foxton with the tailed Cuckoo was heard in the Waitaanga on 20 September was another new bird Manawatu branch of OSNZ. Hopefully Forest on 24 October. for Foxton Beach. Two of the previously we'll see some unusual waders. David Medway gave members a talk reported Glossy Ibises were seen again at Lake Omanu on 4 October and two on the William Swainson bird specimens (Ros Batcheler) held in the Taranaki Museum. An orni- more Barbary Doves were seen at thologist of note, Swainson collected his Halcombe in September. specimens in the early 1800s. Wader numbers at the Manawatu Es- Otago Another monthly trip was to the south tuary started to build up in late Septem- A short,mild winter meant that the bank of the Mokau River estuary. 32 spe- ber. The first few Red Knots arrived with Silvereye banding programme was a brief cies were recorded, including seven one white flagged bird, and then an or- one, though over 2,000 new birds were Fernbirds and many Tui, the latter feed- ange flagged one from 18 October. Num- banded at three banding stations. Not ing on flowering rewarewa. bers rose to 185 by the end of October, much movement has been recorded by which time Bar-tailed Godwits had Four coots are on Lake Mangamahoe. away from Dunedin, so we are concen- increased to 520, also including a white trating on movements within the city. Two gull species and White-fronted Terns flagged bird. The two wintering Red- appear to be settling on the Sugar Loaf 110 OSNZNews - No.89 - December 1998 At least two Royal Spoonbills What's On Hamilton and Forest Lake monthly overwintered in Otago. The first return counts - Ph. Barry Friend (07) 8436729. to the breeding colonies was at Maukiekie Hawkes Bav on 10 September - the fifth year in suc- cession that they have arrived in the sec- 2 1-26January - field trip to Miranda and ond week of September - and ten birds Tiritiri Matangi Island. Ph. Christine were at Green Island on 26 September. McRae (06) 8799139. The season's first Shining Cuckoo was 20 or 21 February - Porangahau Estu- reported by Derek Onley at Waitati on ary. Ph Christine McRae. 11 September. Bob Cunninghame saw and heard the first Dunedin one on 25 Wellington September. Newly arrived Bar-tailed Evening meetings, third Wednesday of the Godwits (40) on 15 September at Beach patrols -Jean Luke (04)293 5601. month(except January), DOC Conference Harbour survey, 2nd Sunday of the Blueskm Bay had increased to 60 by 18 Room, London Street, Hamilton. Ph. September. month, 1-3 pm. Ph. RosBatcheler (04) Hugh Clifford (07) 855 3751 for all ac- 479 4095 or Reg Cotter (04) 568 6960. (Peter Schweigman) tivities. 1 February -evening meeting, DOC Sci- 17 February - evening meeting, members' ence Centre, first floor, 58 Tory Street. Southland night. How doyou know what bird it is? Hugh 20 February - wader watching, Kidds Farm, Robertson. Karaka. Contact Hugh Clifford. Meet op- 1 March - evening meeting. We seem to have escaped very lightly from posite Bloodstock Centre 10.30am. Planned for 1999 - a trip to Matarua Is- the sinking of the Dong Won 529 off 17 March - evening meeting, AGM. land and Pukepuke agoo on. Stewart Island in October. There have 21 April - evening meeting, Pitcairn Is- been no recorded seabird deaths at all, land, Kerry Oates. and Eric Black, who worked on the clean- Monthly beach patrols of west coast up programme, reports a Yellow-eyed beaches and Mt Karioi 5 minute counts. Penguin porpoising through a thin slick. Ph. Paul Cuming (07) 856 3891 Recent reports include single Reef Herons at Barracuda Point and Konini Bay, 28 Royal Spoonbills on Omaui Is- land on 29 October, seven Cattle Egrets at Timpanys on 10 October with 35 at Wallacetown on 31 October. A reported Silvereye with an orange band may have come from Christchurch. 14 CaspianTern nests were at 'l'iwai Point on 25 Novem- ber, and there were 50 scrapes at the shellbanks on 29 November, along with a White-fronted Tern colony. This seems to be the best year ever for flowering of flax, cabbage trees and beech. All three species of beech are flowering in the Blue Mountains with great clouds of pollen. This means an enormous drop of beech seed in March, a population explosion of mice and in- vertebrates and a consequent increase in the stoat population. More stoats mean fewer Yellowheads. There is a plan to transfer a number of Yellowheads to predator-free Uva Island - it will be in- with Kiwi Wildlife Tours teresting to see how they make the tran- sition from beech to podocarp forest. 14 days July 1999 On 21 November we had our fourth annual aerial survey of gull colonies on One trrp only 1999. A fantastic wet tropics Southland riverbeds. We were away for natural history four wifh like-minded over four hours, including a fuelling stop enthusiasts. Tour involves a wide range of at Manapouri. Some fifteen colonies were drfferenthabitats focusing on birds. Tour led by located, along with other birds seen from the air. We will need help with banding John Kendrrck and Karen tzaird wtA local the Black-billed Gulls nesting on the guides ii7 some locations. includes luxury Waiau Bar. outback lodges and travel by 4 W. The Yellow-eyed Penguin survey of the south coast by seven members yielded For further informath and itinerary contack several at Curio Bay, none at Blue Cod Bay and a few at Slope Point. The next Kiwi Wildlife Tours day three nests were located in flax at 24 Polkinghorne Drive, the northhead of Waikawa 1 iarbour. The next survey is planned for mid Decem- W hangaparaoa, Auckland ber. Ph: 09 424 2505; Fax 09 428 0347 (Lloyd Esler) E-mail: [email protected]

OSNZNews - No 89 - December 1998 111 Own the definitive work on

The Handbook ofAustralian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (HANZAB) is widely recognized as one of the most important scientific natural history publications ever produced in Australasia, and is now es-tablished as the most comprehensive and reliable source of information on the exceptionally rich diversity of birdlife in our region.The series includes colour plates showing the full range of for every species, which, together with detailed species accounts which summarize all that is known of each species, form a truly unique resource for both the keen birdwatcher and the professional scientist. Volume 4 (Parrots to Dollarbird) is the last, and possibly the most spectacular; of the volumes which make up the non- component of HANZABThis volume includes all of the cockatoo and parrot species, including the Kakapo and Yellow-crowned Parakeet; the kingfishers, owls, frogmouths, nightjars, cuckoos and swifts. As HANZAB progresses to a complete coverage of all our bird species, no serious ornithologist, ecologist or natural historian should be withc~uttheir own set. Volume 4 of HANZAB will be published during March 1999. Birds Australia is now offering this volume at the special pre-publication price of A$295 (plus A$20 post, pack. & insurance), or all four volumes for A$1 250 (plus A$60 post, pack. & insurance).

The Brd Shop Blrds Australla Royal AustralasIan Ornlthologlsts Un~on Ph: (006 1 3) 9882 2622 Fax: (006 1 3) 9882 2677 Birds Australia EM: [email protected] CONSERVATION THROUGH KNOWEDGE

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11 2 OSNZNews - No.89 - December 1998