No.92 September 1999 . Note: Deadline for the December issue will be ' 10th November.
Edited by TONY CROCKER
118 Cones Road, Ashley RD2 Rangiora. . . c .-' X\. Phone: 03-313 4995, Fax: 03-364 2057 ' Email: [email protected] . for the members of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand (Inc.)
Please note that sightings recorded in - this newsletter are subject to . confirmation.
Talking Penguins
Every year, in Dunedin, the Yellow- penguin species, speculating also on(the Presenbday YEPs eyed Penguin Consultative Group, a kinds of landscapes their predecessors coalition of central government, might have inhabited. For anyone with conservation associates and land- a taste for paleontological investigations, With regret, John Darby has owners, sponsors a one-day public this is fascinating country: it is simply concluded his long-running YEP study symposium on Yellow-eyed Penguin astonishing to see how the physiology on Otago Peninsula, where the penguins (YEP) research and conservation. The and behaviour of animals is deduced now breed in their largest mainland symposium held on Saturday 1 August from fossilised skeletal fragments. aggregations. He, and numerous other this year was the tenth in the series. volunteer observers, have left an invaluable record of YEP fortunes on the Participants converge on these Ewan's journey into the penguin South Island coast since 1981. gatherings from all parts of the YEP'S past traversed a 40 million year history mainland range (Canterbury to of crises and upheavals in New Zealand's A generally favourable trajectory in Southland). Researchers, conservation geological history. Since New Zeaiand's numbers is apparent. Known breeding managers (both amateur and oldest recorded penguin - a fossilised pair numbers, seasoned with a prudent professional), commercial operators, proto penguin - was discovered in North degree of estimation, have risen from and penguin-savvy members of the Canterbury, coastlines and climates have just fewer than 500 pairs in 1981/82 to public keep in touch with others' habitat advanced and receded markedly. Much a high of 631 in 1996/97. This upward restoration projects, science, protection of the evidence needed to fill the gaps trend, actively encouraged by predator measures, tourism, and the lives of in subsequent penguin history control and habitat restoration, is colleagues in the highly motivated undoubtedly lies out of reach in marine remarkable for its steep descent into and penguin-minding community. sediments on the continental shelf. recoverv from a catastro~hicshm~ in the early 1990s. In a series of dismaying Popular notions of giant penguins Typically, symposia have two mortality events thought to have been dominating ancient North Canterbury precipitated by food shortages at sea, components. First, participants who beachscapes are a little exaggerated. choose to do so present short numbers fell to just 150 pairs in 1990/ Even so, at 55 kilos (more or less), the summaries of their YEP research or 91. These events were extremely costly sleek, long-billed ancestors of Emperor to YEPs: not only were eggs and protection projects. These have been Penguin size which came ashore here valuable opportunities to ask for advice nestlings lost to the effects of starvation 30 million years ago would clearly have and disease, but breeding adults on problems or describe how difficulties been awkward banding propositions. have been overcome. More often than attempting to raise young also perished Size does not appear to have changed from the effort. YEPs are particularly at not, they provide interesting insights to much at the other end of the penguin managing the human dimensions of YEP risk because they routinely attempt to scale, however: what are taken to be the raise two chicks. conservation. Second, a YEP ancestors of Blue Penguins have been conservation theme is explored, usually found as comparably-sized 25 million- with the help of an invited speaker. year-old fossils in Hakataramea The cause of these food failures is Themes have been as divergent as local limestone. unknown, but today their probable authority planning mechanisms and YEP occurrence can be predicted when sea foraging behaviour, to speculating on surface temperatures rise anomalously the future ofYEP conservation. This year, Little is known of penguin evolution in the preceding winter. To preserve we took a glimpse into the very distant between 20 to 10 million years ago, but breeding adults from loss in these tough past of New Zealand's penguins. 5 million years ago, Adelie, King and seasons, YEP managers and researchers Emperor Penguins lineages were in Otago considered reduction of clutch Penguin evolution established in New Zealand waters. The and brood sizes. (In really calamitous origins of YEPs are enigmatic. They are years, the taking of all eggs was Dr Ewan Fordyce of Otago not related directly to any one of these considered in order to preserve University's Geology Department lineages, but molecular similarities experienced breeding adults.) Though summarised current wisdom on the suggest divergence from the crested politically unpalatable, these measures evolution of New Zealand's extant penguins. were and and its subscription payments,
Ornithological Society of NZ OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 1 1 PO Box 12397, Wellington [email protected] rescue programmes favoured by public Blue Penguin seats at the conference dinner. reaction to news of starvation. Sadly, Registrants came from Hamilton to however, virtually no young birds appear symposium, Oamaru Owaka, drawn from universities, DOC, to have survived from previous large- interested organisations such as the scale salvage and rehabilitation attempts. This full day meeting was the second Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, various biennial penguin meeting to be held in tourism ventures, Forest and Bird, OSNZ Clutch and brood reduction proved Oamaru, which has become a significant and individual naturalists. All agreed that problematic for several reasons. centre for penguin related activity since the meeting was an unqualified success Sometimes, the indications of a poor the establishment of the Oamaru Blue in terms of knowledge of the birds, their season were equivocal; or, a sudden Penguin colony in 1993. The interaction with man, predation and improvement might follow a disastrous development of the colony is closely climate. The only expressed regret was start. Managers needed more certainty related to the expansion of the local that there was insufficient time to say before taking the critical decisions to penguin population and associated all the things that needed to be said. intervene. Researchers held differing biological research. The success of the day was due in opinions about its benefits. At Otago no small part to the organisation, University, Kerry-Anne Edge's study has In September 1997 the first hospitality and compliant conference indicated that swapping eggs and chicks symposium was held to consider the facilities provided by the staff at the to leave each pair with just one chick to progress of the colony, biologically and Quality Hotel Brydone. The symposium raise might not materially reduce as a tourism venture, and, importantly, committee is grateful to several local parenting effort: the adults could invest upon their interaction. The success of bodies, service groups and businesses in one chick nearly as much effort as they that meeting encouraged the Oamaru of the Oamaru community who have do in two. As John Darby suggests, Blue Penguin Committee to establish an supported this symposium. The next however, a single chick might go to sea additional role for its monitoring and symposium will be held in 2001. earlier, perhaps at a higher fledging weware committee of arranging what will weight, allowing parent birds to enter be a biennial event for Oamaru. TONY HOCKEN the perilous moult phase with more days to spare. Each of these possibilities The meeting attracted speakers in awaits another disastrous season before the field of penguin biology and ecology, From the they can be tested adequately in the from staff and post-graduate students field. from the Universities of Otago, Victoria President's and Massey, and various parts of the Department of Conservation.
Professor Ewan Fordyce, Geology YEP numbers and distribution on the Department of the University of Otago, north coast of Stewart Island will be who is well known for his studies of surveyed comprehensively in November fossil whales and penguins, spoke on the -this- yea^. TheYe4low-eyed-P-enguinzmst- origins of ~enrmins.the oldest known is funding and supervising the survey, the first in a proposed series intended years, having-been unearthed in the to provide accurate baseline data on Waitaki Valley. Dr Chris Lalas discussed At the end of July I received the penguin conservation status. The forest the food of penguins, his research Proceedings from the 22nd International habitat on these coasts will make pointing to the importance of the Ornithological Congress held in Durban searching very difficult. For this reason, dominance of small sprats in Blue during August last year. Totalling some this summer's survey will be treated as Penguins' diet, and the consequent 3,600 pages it arrived in a small envelope a pilot, to test methodology and quantify vulnerability of the birds when the fish - the first IOC Proceedings to be search effort. biology was disrupted by adverse delivered on a CD-Rom. Apart from a weather conditions, such as El Nino and flaw in the search engine which won't La Nina, providing alteration of sea automatically find contributed papers, temperatures. North Otago is this is a major achievement on behalf of particularly affected because of the very the organisers in South Africa. I am sure Further YEP specific current patterns off its coast. the national rivalry between our two countries on the sports field has had symposia A string of speakers from Oamaru, something to do with their efforts to Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington match achievements from the 20th If you would like to be notified about then provided accounts of their own Congress. It also means that the three future YEP symposia, contact Bruce populations in a comparative series. Not southern hemisphere Congresses McKinlay, or the Yellow-eyed Penguin all penguins are equal, and there are during the past 25 years have provided Trust: quite major differences in breeding a challenge to the more traditional habits and success between the ornithology and systems of the northern Bruce McKinlay populations. hemisphere while providing a new Department of Conservation perspective on ornithology in areas of P 0 Box 5244 Finally in the afternoon, three the world where bird study is in its Dunedin speakers described predation stresses developmental stages. Phone: 034770677 and causes of death and disease in E-mail: [email protected] penguin populations from Banks There is much change going on in Peninsula, Oamaru and Australia, where the world of birds, ranging from Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust the Blue Penguin is known as the Little environmental and habitat change to a P 0 Box 5409 or Fairy Penguin, well known from the reconsideration of the species concepts Dunedin Phillip Island tourist attraction "Penguin by which we determine how to classify Phone: 03 479 0011 Parade". the taxa that we see. New techniques E-mail: [email protected] should not, however, blind us to the The meeting was well subscribed, importance of recording what we see, EUAN KENNEDY with over 70 registrants and nearly 30 especially when records in a society such
I OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 as ours, can be accumulated over long counts are increasingly being used as On 22 August I was privileged to join periods of time. databases recording such changes. Most with some 500 others at Kerikeri to regions have a variety of local schemes celebrate the life of one of our more Having celebrated the first 60 years and individual studies which contain interesting ornithologists. In mid-June of the Society this year, we embark on data collected over a period of time. The Gerry Clark and crewman Roger Sale our journey into the next millennium intention is to slowly develop a national went missing in the yacht Totorore while with two schemes which will enable the network of sites and studies which supporting a team of researchers visiting Society to fulfil its role as a compiler of maintain a regular record of visits and the Antipodes Islands. Having retired as information which reflects the status of changes. This not only broadens the a master mariner, Gerry developed a yen birds in New Zealand. range of bird study which members can for small yachts, built by himself, and a participate in, but hopefully means that gentle obsession with seabirds and the I recall early in my presidency a range of ornithological study can be fragility of the marine environment. challenging members to find me ten undertaken within any field excursion. endemic land birds which were His exploits, first in the Katega and increasing in numbers. The list struggled Each region will be looking in then Totorore, make hair-raising to about seven with some species only coming months for some 8-10 listening and reading, even for the most showing signs of local population permanent sites or locations with a intrepid mariners. I remember telling increase, but generally as one gets older range of habitat types (and hopefully him when he was writing the Voyage of the view of birds once common seems including existing long term study areas) the Totorore that it could be better to diminish both in impression and which will be monitored regularly in the called Somersaulting round the recorded fact. One of the areas where future. Apart from the basic seasonal Subantarctic, so many times had he there is the greatest lack of information details of species, numbers, breeding managed to rotate his yacht in unusual is our knowledge of habitat use for and behavioural activity, we need to and abnormal directions. Gerry set out species, and even a clear record of what develop data on feeding habits and to encourage people to take notice of their food requirements might be. habitat use. It is further hoped that what is going on far from land in the other organisations will participate wilds of the southern oceans - and There is continuing argument over (such as Fish & Game) with a set of broadened our ornithological and whether we should be removing exotic standard monitoring sites of their own adventurous knowledge immensely. He vegetation and replacing it with in the network which will enable us to was determinedly passionate about what endemics in order to foster native birds. provide explanations for the broad he wanted to do and achieve. The Conversely, species such as Tui and NZ distributional changes which may numbers present at Kerikeri Pigeon seem to be benefiting from become evident from the Atlas scheme. demonstrated the support for his increasing numbers of introduced nectar lifelong achievements. and fruiting plants, providing food in This project also provides an avenue urban areas, where both seem to be for every member to contribute to such My most enduring memory of Gerry making a comeback in some parts of the national data collection, and provide a was a long way from the places that he country. chain of specific birding sites throughout loved, when he had me paged in the the country where people may study the distinguished precincts of the Natural The Society will commence a new changing birding patterns or differing History Museum in New York. On a Atlas Scbeme in December 1999 to run habitat and seasonal use. freezing January day, fresh off the plane for a period of five years. This scheme from New Zealand summer and Totorore will depend largely on the resources of But enough of the serious world of at the Chatham Islands, there was Gerry Society members, though Council is still birds! I note that the RRs are proposing looking like a bear, dressed in an ankle hopeful that other associated parties will to organise you into a national length fur coat loaned courtesy of his participate throughout the project. The competing 'Twitchathon' in October. host and the New York Yacht Club. new atlas will concentrate on recording The benefit in this case is that it will also only the distribution of birds in relation be related to an international event He was there to receive the most to habitat, and will not record numbers. which through sponsorship will help to distinguished sailing award in the world Each 10,000m square in the country will benefit the activities of Birdlife - the Blue Water Medal of the Cruising need to be visited at least once in each International (formerly ICBP). Club of America. Some days later we season during the five year project (a shared a reception at the NZ embassy in minimum of four visits per square This is an opportunity to have fun, Washington, before both fulfilling during the term of the project ). look for a wide range of species and help speaking arrangements on consecutive world conservation at the same time. In days. Birds of New Zealand, seabirds and There will be regular maps showing a country which thrives on competition, adventure got a good airing to packed survey coverage published in OSNZ I hope that this will develop in future audiences courtesy of the Smithsonian News so that you can plan to undertake years to include people who are not and the US National Zoo. expeditions into the more remote parts OSNZ members. How many of your local of the countryside. For the next five years school science classes can be challenged There is no real knowledge of what the AGM and Conference of the OSNZ to compete? How many teams will we happened back in June, and only small will be held in some unusual places (see have where an OSNZ member has a team pieces of wreckage were found. We can the minutes of the AGM) to ensure that of accompanying non-members? See be assured, however, that Gerry was in members can see more of the country how many you can persuade to become his element and where he wanted to be and contribute extra material for the members. As President I will be with the sea and birds he enjoyed so atlas. delighted to award an additional (liquid) much. We would do well to emulate the prize to the first team to submit a list to determination to succeed and accept The other new project will be the the organisers containing 50 or more challenges, epitomised in the life of National Monitoring Scbeme. It has taxa seen, within the terms of the Gerry Clark, MBE, Fellow of the Royal become increasingly clear to members competition (organisers please note). I Geographical Society, master mariner, who have been monitoring or studying hope also that all lists and routes will adventurer, ornithologist and gentle populations and areas for long periods be kept as a national archive, because friend. of time that there is a continuing pattern even a Twitchathon done on a regular of change. Existing schemes like the basis provides a cross section and status C.J.R. ROBERTSON Beach Patrol and the periodic wader report on our avifauna. President
OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 3 1 MINUTES OF THE The Notornis March issue was sent Miranda and Twizel are to be reviewed. out just before the AGM, following Poster displays which will enable a wider 60th AGM OF THE problems with binding. This was a distribution are to be investigated. special wader issue in memory of Sibson ORNITHOLOGICAL and Heather, which again demonstrates A national Royal Spoonbill count will SOCIETY OF the balance between national composite ,be held in June 2000. The coordinator and individual studies. Additional copies will be Peter Schweigman. NEW ZEALAND may be purchased for NZ$20 or US$20 for overseas orders from the Two significant schemes will be Membership Secretary, P 0 Box 316, introduced for the Society, and they will Drury, South Auckland. start later this year. A National Saturday 5 June 1999, Monitoring Scheme will allow Copper Top Room, Canterbury The departure of editor Gabor Lovei continuous monitoring of a set of habitat University, Zlam, Christchurch. was not anticipated. The Society thanks sites selected for each region. Some Paul Sagar for taking over the job and habitats already being monitored can be Commenceded at 8.20 pm with welcomes the new editor Richard included. The scheme will start slowly. 78 members present Holdaway. OSNZ News continues to It is to be done in addition to other grow, but awaits a new name. The Society activities, consolidating existing Apologies: Peter Schweigman, Bill President's offer of a prize for a suitable projects, and the scheme will expand Cash, Kerry Oates, Gwenda Pulham, name from members is still on the table. from 2000 onward. A new Atlas Scheme Kathy Barrow, Geoff Foreman, Tom The September Council meeting will for 5 years commencing Dec 1999 will Teasdale, Lorna Simpkin, Betty Seddon, make a decision on the new name. be implemented, although it will not be Shirley Nieuwland, Ian Reid, Stella and There is a need for more illustrations of of the same level of intensity as the John Rowe, Alison and Stuart Chambers, members' activities - an issue which also previous scheme. Members will be Bryan Woolley, Anthea Goodwin, Russell came up in the review of publications. encouraged to visit each square over a Thomas, Sheila Petch, Pauline Jenkins, Photos of members' activities should be 3 month period to record species Christine McRae, Jim Hamilton, Bell sent to the Editor, OSNZ News. breeding' and habitat but not their family, Colin Ogle. numbers. The National Monitoring (Wright/Crockett) Carried. The Society is to proceed with Scheme will tie to the Atlas Scheme, the development of an internet website by latter showing up the broad distribution Meeting stood for a minute's silence 2000. Members able to assist with ideas of each bird species. The former will in honour of members recently passed or materials should contact the help explain changes. away: Folkert Nieuwland, Frank President. Newcombe, Betty Binning, Pat Crombie, The Atlas Scheme and AGM locations Bob Roach. The junior/adult training course is will be aligned for the next 5 years. now to be called "Training Courses for Venues for 2000: Napier, and proposed Previous minutes Ornithologists": the first is to be held at 2001: BoP/Volcanic Plateau, 2002: Farewell Spit in 2000. Members should Hokitika, 2003: Wanganui/Taranaki, - Confii-mation-oE-minutes as book-now-with-the -Nelson-RR. A 2004: (Central) Otago, 2005:-Gisborne. published in September 1998 OSNZ Southland course will be held in January Assistance will probably be needed from News for 59th AGM. 2001. surrounding regions. The structure of Moved that minutes of 1998 AGM be the AGM weekend will be different - a taken as read A ten year index for Vols 51-60 of Saturday field trip will be run in (CJRobertsonK-JWilson) Carried Notornis will be prepared for association with the Atlas Scheme. The There were no matters arising publication in 2000. AGM will then be held Saturday evening. A Sunday scientific day and annual Council reports The Rare Birds Committee has been dinner follows. Monday will be an active reconstituted and will undertake a field day for more atlasing. President's report was previously revision of their role, while clearing the The President's report was opened circulated. Some additions were made backlog of accumulated material. for discussion: none generated. which covered events in the first 6 Carried months of 1999, especially Council and Paintings which formed the RR meetings of the past 2 days. Peter illustrations in the new field guide will Schweigman has been co-opted for the be offered for sale by auction through balance of a one year term following the Webb Galleries in December 1999. Finance resignation of D. Onley Catalogues and bidding form will be sent M. Nee indicated a probable rise in to members in the September mailout. membership fees for 2001. Membership The President expressed thanks to is currently about 1,000 and slightly retiring RRs on behalf of the Society. Best The Society will offer an annual increasing. All possible sources of wishes were given to new RRs and a student study report writing prize, funding for the major schemes such as thank you for their contributions in advertised in September to a specific the atlas are being actively investigated. advance. These joint meetings have been format for delivery by 10 April. Winners Some data collected by the Society is developed before the AGM and scientific will be announced at the AGM. A already being sold to willing buyers. day, so that all regions can speak directly "Student Corner" in Notornis will to council, and have their views heard, publish these reports. It is hoped that Moved finance report be accepted and so that RR's can have direct input universities will support this initiative. into national decision making. (DeanKhallies) Carried. A national twitchathon will be The Christchurch local committee organised in October by RRs, to coincide were complemented on a successful with the international "bird race" which Awards science day (applauded). The work returns funding from sponsors to displayed represented Society Birdlife International. K-J Wilson presented the AT Edgar programmes past and present, and junior award. Awarded to Jamie previewed future activities. Displays about the Society at Wood.
I OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 New awards this year - Meritorious Saturday was another in a series of at Te Huinga Manu refuge and a locally Service Awards -service in furthering the successful Scientific Days run in banded Black-billed Gull at the Avon- objects of the Society. David Crockett conjunction with AGMs. Starting off with Heathcote Estuary. announced and presented the awards - old birds, and finishing with the use of to Hazel Harty and Dick Veitch (in old bird data, we were taken to 1999 absentia). and back in between, with a varied range of presentations, of which abstracts will The President announced a Falla presently be available. Memorial Award to Hugh Robertson (in absentia) for later presentation at a The AGM itself was notable for "a Wellington regional meeting. little more meat on the bones" of proceedings, particularly in the general The President announced two new business portion. The popular recipients Fellows of the Ornithological Society of of various awards included Hazel Harty NZ, the highest honour of the Society - and Dick Veitch for meritorious service, Presentations made to John Warham and Jamie Wood for the A.T. Edgar Junior Brian Bell. Award, Hugh Robertson for the Falla Memorial Award and two Fellows of the AGM participants at Ashley River General business Society, John Warham and Brian Bell. Mouth Photo: David Medway Congratulations to all - well done! Colin Hill asked about the timing of the annual meeting. The financial year Sunday's field trips involved pre- On Monday one field trip visited ends 31 Dec, accounts need to be dawn departures for some, in freezing Peacock Springs, constructed from a audited and then delivered to members temperatures. One image stays with us series of old gravel pits. It proved to hold before the AGM. The matter remains in particular - that of Lloyd Esler quite an eclectic - should that be under review while school holidays emerging out of the frosty darkness in a Eclectus? - collection of animals and remain variable. large pair of shorts and shirt sleeves. birds, with two of the most successful After five minutes of standing around he breeding birds being Cape Barren Goose Frances Schmechel asked that Tony thought better of it and folded his arms. and Australian Coot! The morning was Crocker be given a vote of thanks for rounded out by a visit to the Ashley work on OSNZ News. Applauded. The trip to Arthurs Pass was initially Estuary, with spoonbills, 20 Black- foggy at Lake Pearson, provoking painful fronted Terns and another banded Black- Graeme Taylor thanked the memories of the Waikato. The difference billed Gull. The birds were brilliant in organising committee for the Annual was that it cleared to a beautiful day. The the morning light. Conference and AGM. Applauded. Ron and Don Show (Ron Nilsson and Don Hadden) was successful in Kaikoura-bound travellers had a treat M. Nee moved thanks to the producing extremely tame NZ Robins, in store for them - 18 species of sea- and President for his running of the AGM. Tomtits and Brown Creepers, while a. shorebirds presented themselves under Applauded. return to Lake Pearson revealed, after ideal conditions - for humans that is - all some expert professional debate, a few seen from the Ocean Wings viewing 60th annual general meeting closed Great Crested Grebes. Snoozing boat. Species included Royal and at 9.40 pm. passengers were jolted back into life by Wandering Albatross, Antarctic Fulmar, a NZ Falcon at Porters Pass. and three mollymawk species. A mixture CHRISTINE REED of local knowledge and Kaikoura's finest Hon. Secretary chum proved ideal for close-ups of the ocean wanderers.
Sunday's activities were capped off with a sumptuous conference dinner 60th and an entertaining speaker (Dave Kelly), who described the relationship between mistletoe and birds. The results Anniversary of the various quizzes which kept many of us guessing throughout the weekend AGM = were announced, along with the outcome of the photographic Christchurch competition and a tantalisingly brief showing of the best slides. One novelty AGM participants at Lake Forsyth was the addition of "blooper" prizes, Photo: David Medway awarded to gaffes and slips of the tongue Southern hospitality beckoned once observed on the weekend. Plenty of more, and so it was with great takers here, particularly from university anticipation that 104 people signed on alumni! for the AGM in Christchurch. The venue The Banks Peninsula trip was chosen was the University of Canterbury, remarkable for its crested grebe per Top marks must go to the Canterbury and the good omens started flowing the kilometre ratio - about one to one. Jamie team for hosting, accommodating, first day of registration - a Little Owl was Wood notes that among other guiding, seeking, finding, consoling and rather blatantly perching on a nearby interesting bits for the day were a White placating a mixed bunch of ruffled tree. The poor bird probably felt that 50 Heron at Kaituna Lagoon, 50+ Great birders fresh from migration - and all in eyes intently gazing at it was a touch too Crested Grebes and three Mute Swans their own time too. Good news for us embarrassing, and it promptly upped at Lake Forsyth, Kereru and Brown more temperate creatures - the next sticks and departed. Thus it set the scene Creepers at Okuti Valley, Spotted Shags AGM is in Hawkes Bay - see you there! for a long weekend of ornithology in the at Whitewash Head (appropriately), region. several shag colonies and 20 spoonbills PAUL CUMING
OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 5 OSNZ awards and its subscription payments, in FELLOWS conjunction with the storage and 1999 delivery of back numbers of the Society's publications. The 60th AGM was the occaasion for the presentation of a full slate for all the possible Society awards. Charles Richard ('Dickn)Veitch An enthusiastic participant and organiser of field projects and wader A T EDGAR JUNIOR counts in the greater Auckland area and offshore islands, Dick was the organiser AWARD of the national beach patrol scheme in the 1970s and has been a regular contributor of results to various publications and journals. Brian and Sue Bell, with Chris Robertson
R. A. FALLA MEMORIAL AWARD Awarded for sustained service to botb the Society and valuable contributions to the study of birds in the Jamie Wood and Kerry-Jayne Wilson New Zealand region.
Jamie is the first person to win the The award was made to a person Junior Award more than once. A 7th who undertook his first beach patrol in John and Pat Warham form student at James Hargest High 1969 - ten kilometres for one bird - a School he has orgnaised a banding pheasant! The Society was joined the programme for Black-billed gulls for two following year. The recipient was the years and is the youngest person to hold winner of the Junior Award in 1974 and Citations for both the Fellowships a banding permit. He is an avid beach is the first member to have received both are to be published in Notornis. patroller and collator of beach wreck of these special awards. The person records for the Southland region. He has fulfills the study requirement over a wide C.J.R. ROBERTSON an interest in fossil birds. spectrum of topics from estuarine birds, President waders, feeding behaviour of harriers, ecology of Chatham Island Warblers, forest passerines .and Kereru-ecology; -- . , -. -. --MERITORIOUS SERVICE - pigeons and doves, vocalisation of AGM Photo AWARDS seabirds, Taiko expeditions and discovery team, movements of Tui, Competition This was the first presentation of a habitat preferences of birds in kahikatea The 1999 AGM and conference drew new award jointly selected by Regional forests, conservation of Kakerori in the a very high standard of entries in the Representatives and Councillors from Cook Islands, and the ecology of kiwi. photographic competition which was nominations recommended by any two held in conjunction with it. The members of the Society. The award is competition was judged by members of for meritorious service in furthering the Hugh Alexander Robertson was the Nature Photographic Society in objects of the Society. born in 1957, graduated BSc (Hons) Massey University in 1978 and DPhil accordance with the rules of (Oxon) 1984. He served as a Councillor professional and serious amateur of the Society for 12 years from 1986 photographic competitions. The results and for much of that time as Field are as follow: Investigations Officer, while continuing to be the convenor of the Nest Records 1st place and overall champion Scheme since 1985. He has contributed slide - New Zealand Falcon food pass - papers widely to Notornis and overseas George Chance. Prize - a Konica camera journals, and to books Birds of the donated by Paul's Camera Shop, Western Palearctic, Readers Digest Christchurch. Complete Book of New Zealand Birds, 2nd prize - Marsh Crake - Brian Encyclopedea of Birds and HANZAB. As Chudleigh. Prize - four rolls of colour co-author with Barrie Heather of The film. Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand he represents a generation of New 3rd prize - NZ Kingfisher with skink Zealand ornithologists who have grown - Brian Chudleigh. Prize - two rolls of up in the Society and, through their colour film. efforts, foster and widen the ornithological horizons of others. Meant The following 14 slides gained to be currently 'resting' from OSNZ acceptance certificates: Hazel Harty administration of birds study to sharing Australasian Little Grebe - George with Lea some active brood rearing of Chance their own, Hugh has still managed to Australasian Little Grebe - George As a councillor and membership cajole others and edit the recently Chance secretary, Hazel has managed and released special Wader Memorial issue Australasian Little Grebe and chick - maintained the records of the Society of Notornis. George Chance
6 OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 Australasian Bittern - George Chance A further 15 entries were not Acceptances: Male Greenfinch feeding chicks - considered by the judges to be of a high Juvenile Black-backed Gull - Geoff Brian Chudleigh enough quality for acceptance. Arnold White Heron - Brian Chudleigh Kereru - Geoff Arnold Blue Duck pair - Brian Chudleigh Landbird prints - four entries Tomtit - Geoff Arnold New Zealand Robin - Simon 1st prize - New Zealand Robin - Paul Saddleback - Amanda Byrne Fordham Cuming. Prize - $100 of Agfa products. Pied Shag - Amanda Byrne Little Spotted Kiwi - Simon Fordham Acceptance - White Heron - Paul New Zealand Pigeon -Amanda Byrne Morepork - Simon Fordham Cuming. New Zealand Robin - Amanda Byrne Morepork - Simon Fordham The judges did not accept the other New Zealand Robin -Amanda Byrne New Zealand Robin - Tiri hat - Simon entries, nor award a 2nd or 3rd prize. Penguin in moult -Wendy Hare Fordham Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper - New Zealand Pipit - Barry Hartley Postcard competition - 30 entries. Colin Hill Glossy Ibis - Colin Hill 1st prize -Australasian Gannet - Geoff Juvenile Banded Dotterel - Colin Hill Two Glossy Ibises - Colin Hill Arnold. Prize - $100 of Agfa products. Snares Crested Penguin and chicks - 2nd prize - Buller's Mollymawk - Wendy Hare A further 15 slides were not Wendy Hare. Prize - four rolls of colour Pukeko walking - Clare Washington considered by the judges to be of a high film. A further 14 postcards were not enough quality for acceptance. 3rd prize - Buller's Mollymawk head accepted. -Wendy Hare. Prize - two rolls of colour Sea- and Shorebird slides - 44 film. DON HADDEN entries 1st prize - Red-tailed Tropicbird - Brian Chudleigh. Prize $100 worth of vouchers from Photo and Video International, Christchurch. 2nd prize - Banded Dotterel and chick - George Chance. Prize - four rolls of colour film. 3rd prize - Terek Sandpiper wing- stretching - Brian Chudleigh. Prize - two rolls of colour film.
The following 26 slides gained acceptance certificates: Sooty Shearwater - Nick Allen Red-billed Gull and chick - George Chance White-capped Mollymawk - George Chance Brown Skuas - George Chance White-fronted Tern - George Chance The winning slide - NZ Falcons Photo: George Chance Royal Albatross - George Chance Juvenile White-fronted Tern - Brian - Chudleigh 0rnitholop;ical Society of New Zealand (Inc.) South Island Pied Oystercatcher - Brian Chudleigh Red Knot in breeding plumage - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Brian Chudleigh These awards will be made to individuals who have demonstrated meritorious service Turnstones landing on beach - Brian in the furtherance of the obiects of the Societv Those obiects are: To encourage. organise Chudleigh andpromote the study of bbds and their hahitdt useparticularly within the%w Zlaland region; To foster and support the wider knowledge and enjoyment of birds generally; To Grey-faced Petrel - Simon Fordham promote the recording and wide circulation of the results of bird studies and observations; Pied Shag chick - Simon Fordham To produce a journal and any other publication containing matters of ornithological Royal Spoonbill - Barry Hartley interest; To efjPect cooperation and exchange of information with other organisations Yellow-eyed Penguin - Barry Hartley having similar aims and objects; To assist the conservation and management of birds by Snares Crested Penguin - Barry providing information from which sound managenzent decisions can be derived; To Hartley maintain a library of ornithological literature for the use of members and to promote a wider knowledge of birds; To promote he archiving of observations, studies and records Australasian Gannet with seaweed of bit-ds particulariy in the New Zealand region; To carry out any other activity which is for nest - Barry Hartley capable of being conveniently carried out in connection with the above objects, or which White-capped Mollymawk - Barry directly or indirectly advances those objects or any of them. Hartley The award is not confined to members or past members and may be awarded to suitable Auckland Island Shag - Barry Hartley non-members both in New Zedand and overseas. Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper An individual can be eligible for more than one award, but each must be for different - services according to the objects of the Society. No individual can receive an award for a Colin Hill particular service more than once. A maximum of five awards can be made annually. Wrybill - Colin Hill Nominations must be signed by two financial members of the Society and be Southern Royal Albatross pair - accompanied by a typed citation of not more than 100 words on one side of an A4 sheet Sandra Morris setting out the achievements of the person nominated. Light-mantled SootyAlbatross - Arnie All nominations should be sent to the Wright Awards Secretary Northern Royal Albatross and chick RO, Box 12397 - Arnie Wright Wellington by 31 December 1999. Wandering Albatross - Arnie Wright C.J.K.Robertson Fiordland Crested Penguin and chick President - Arnie Wright
OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 7 ( Student to enter sball register for tbe Society at the beginning of June 2000, competition by submitting tbeir entry and all entrants will be notified by post Competition form (obtafnablefmm tbe Secretary, to the address on their entry form. Prize P 0 Box 12397, Wellington) and tbeir winners may be invited to present their Short Paper on New Zealand abstract by 30 November 1999. The papers orally at the next annual Bird Study closing date for the final submission conference in Napier. of the full paper is 10 April 2000. The Ornithological Society of New 8. Results will be announced at C.J.R. ROBERTSON Zealand will sponsor an annual short annual Conference and AGM of the President scientific paper-writing competition for full-time students. Students have the opportunity to submit a short note, - - review or summary. This must be on an SALE OF FIELD GUIDE PAINTINGS ornithological technique, topic or study, and can include taxonomy and identifications, avian biology, Enclosed with your OSNZ News you will find a catalogue for the sale of the behavioural studies, field ornithology paintings by Derek Onley that were commissioned by the Society for the (including distribution, status, production of BeField Guide to the Birds of New Zeahnd published in 1996. censusing, migration, population, habitat and breeding ecology), There have been few sets of paintings setting out to cover the complete New equipment techniques, methods and Zealand bird fauna since the first attempt in Buller's Birds over 100 years ago. surveys relating specifically to the birds This is a unique opportunity to own your own painting, and to be a part of the of Australasia, Oceania and Antarctica, history of ornithology in New Zealand. Any revenue from the sale, after the with special reference to the New covering of costs, will be equally divided between the artist and the Projects Zealand region. Assistance Fund of the Society from which the original commissioning was funded.
1. Students are not required to be Webbs are an art auction house of international reputation whose colour members of the Society when entering printed and illustrated catalogues (usually about NZ$25) are distributed all over the competition. Students must be able the world. It has been their decision to restrict the offering to 25 lots, even to demonstrate, with a certificate from though some lots contain a number of paintings. their institution, that they have been registered as full-time students in the The catalogues distributed here are specific to members of the Society and 12 months prior to the closing date of their friends. These catalogues have no illustrations as BeField Guide provides the competition on 10 April 2000. There these. Each lot provides the specific descriptive references to that guide. For is no age limit. those persons who have the newer Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand, (Robertson & Heather, Penguin 1999) for reference, the plate and page numbers 2. All papers for the competition will are the same. be limited to single authors, and a -- - maximum Size of : - 75 word abstract , The paintings are for sale by auction to-the highest-bidder. The-dollar prices 4 keywords, 1,000 words of body text, indicated are what the auctioneers expect to be an indicative starting price 10 principal references and 4 black and when bidding for the lot. For lots which may contain more than one picture, you white drawings or photographs. The will be buying all the paintings in that lot. However, you may find it appropriate style of presentation should follow the to join together as a group to bid for the lot and then distribute the paintings publication specifications for a short amongst the group. Special interest groups may choose to buy a group of paintings note in the journal Notornis. for special display or further sale or prizes within the group. We are sure that Society members and their friends will be appropriately innovative in their bidding 3. Individuals may make more than methods. one entry. Please read the printed Conditions of Sale on the back of the bidding slip 4. A judging panel of three will select carefully. You must set a maximum level for your bid, as Webbs will not accept a a winner and two other placegetters. bid to 'buy' at any price. The prizes to be awarded will be a 3, 2, or 1 year membership of the Should you wish to have a live bid made on your behalf from the floor, rather Ornithological Society of NZ, which than by sending a bid sheet to Webbs you may contact the Treasurer, Mark Nee provides concessional page charges to and make arrangements with him for bidding through members who may be members publishing papers. attending the sale.
5. All entries to the competition will C.J.R. ROBERTSON be submitted by the judging panel to the President Society's Editor as short notes to Notornis, be peer reviewed as for short notes, and subsequently published in a known surviving individual from a special section entitled Student Corner. Kakapo mainland New Zealand population. No page charges will be levied on any Update material published in this section. All An unexpected breeding attempt on competitors will be expected to provide Pearl Island in early1999 has proven to any revisions required by the Editor or Sixty-two Kakapo, including six be the most in recent times. referees before publication. juveniles from the 1999 season, are Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) birds known to survive - 26 females and 36 were moved temporarily to Pearl in 1998 6. Prize winners may not enter in males. 15 (9 males, 6 females) are to facilitate rat eradication on Whenua subsequent years. progeny raised since 1991 from Hou. While on Pearl, five females translocated birds. The remainder are produced seven nests (14 eggs). All eggs 7. The Competition is advertised from Stewart Island, with the exception were removed because of the high risk from September. Candidates wisbing of the aged male Richard Henry, the last of predation by rats and Weka, with the 1 OSNZNews - No.92 - Sentemher 1999 exception of one egg from a two egg 180 second clutch which was predated 1 BBred on islands L before it could be collected.
In addition a nest of three eggs was found on Little Barrier Island. Eggs were artificially incubated and chicks hand reared at Burwood Bush Rearing Unit near Te Anau. Altogether eleven eggs were fertile, of which eight hatched. Six juveniles, including four females, survive. This was the third successive Trends in world ~aka~bpopulation: 1977-1990 season when which some breeding has occurred. Little Barrier, was located after Saskia released on the island still survive, giving The first Kakapo egg to be incubated Wood and Mike Imber found classic an average annual survival rate of c. 99%. artificially full term was hatched at mating sign at the summit track and 36 Kakapo are on Whenua Hou. All Burwood Bush during the 1999 season. bowl system, indicating that at least one 30 transmitterised Kakapo were This event has important implications of two "lost" females survived. Allan removed in 1998 to alleviate any risk for future management, and has enabled Munn, Murray Williams and their dogs from rat poisoning during last winter's us finally to confirm c.30 days as the were quickly brought for a search of attempt to eradicate rats. 26 birds were incubation period. likely nesting areas, and in a needle in a transferred to Pearl Island, two males to haystack quest, Allan and his dog found Anchorage Island and one male and one The juveniles from this season were Lisa incubating three eggs. Since she has female to Maud. One non- the first to have been hand raised from not been trained to take artificial food, transmitterised male could not be hatching - an important advance in and as rats are present on Little Barrip, located. but was relocated in October management capability. her eggs were removed to Burwood 1998 aLd appears unaffected by the Bush. Her three female chicks were poisoning operation. 26 birds held on The season also produced released on Whenua Hou in late July. A Pearl and Anchorage Island were confirmation that Kakapo are capable of further female mav still survive on Little returned to Whenua Hou in April, and laying a second clutch of eggs within one Barrier. At least 16 of the original 22 one more in July The last five males from season. After many years of speculation, Little Barrier were released in July. this question has finally been answered. This important discovery may provide a DON MERTON means to boost productivity in the ultra- National slow breeding Kakapo. Heavy females (ie of around 2 kg body weight before Twitchathon Fairy Tern survey = breeding) are not only able to breed, but At the joint Council and RRs' are capable of renesting if recycled early. meeting in Christchurch in June, autumn 99 The two females that laid second :it was decided to conduct-the During' March, April and May 1999 clutches this season weighed between first national New Zealand some twenty OSNZ members and ten 1.8 and 2.4 kg in the months preceding Twitchathon. Birdwatchers from Fairy Tern supporters conducted a series the 1999 season. Previously no heavy throughout the country will have the opportunity to cokpete for of surveys to try to determine the current female is known to have bred, and population of this endemic New Zealand efforts have therefore been made to limit the prestigious Porphyrio mantelli Mantelpiece subs~eciesand to check on the survival the weight of supplementary-fed birds. Monstrosity of chicks fledged during the 1997/98 and Lisa, a female "lost" for 13 years on The point of this pointless 1998/99 breeding seasons. Little Barrier, was last seen when her exercise is that completed entries, as well as being judged Seven pairs attempted to breed this transmitter was removed in 1986. She in order to ascertain who is the was found in March this year, incubating past season - two at Waipu, three at winner, will be collated and a Mangawhai and two at Papakanui, three viable and well advanced eggs. All species list sent to NTT Japan. As three, hatched and raised artificially, are in the past, this communications involving eight banded and six female! Lisa, the last remaining female company will forward a cash unbanded birds. One banded bird was on Little Barrier, is to be removed to donation for each species seen found dead at Mangawhai during the Maud Island in September. world-wide to BirdLife season. Of the remaining seven, six have International, for use in bird been accounted for post-breeding. We Two further females are now known conservation projects, mainly in sighted unbanded birds simultaneously to be capable of producing fertile eggs - third world countries. on 19 March, making a minimum of six thus 13 (65%) of the 20 adult females Entry is free and will run for the in the current population, the same have laid fertile eggs since the entire month of October. RRs number as attempted to breed. rediscovery of females in 1980. have details of rules, team composition and other details. Age is known for the 17 birds The Twitchathon is intended to hatched since 1980. The remainder are be primarily a bit of fun, but it is of unknown age but are greater than 20 also a good excuse to get out to those places perhaps not visited years old. Subadults now comprise as often as they might be. It will c.21% of the population. Only one adult also hone up your bird finding death (in July 1998, as a result of skills in as many habitats as are complications from a harness injury in available to you. So, get out there mid 1995) is known to have occurred in on a beautiful spring day, see lots the last five years. With 12 juveniles in of birds, take part in a light- the last three seasons and just one adult hearted competition and help death in the last five years, the Kakapo raise funds for birds. is at last showing signs of recovery! NICK ALLEN Fairy Tern at Waikiri Creek. 16 April Lisa, the remaining known female on 1999. Photo:David Medway
- OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 9 Two of the three chicks banded in ornithologist from any part of New of building a platform or nest for January 1999 were observed during the Zealand who may be visiting northern copulation, this did not happen. I would survey period, and five of the seven climes in autumn 2000 to join us for one return for several weeks to find that their fledged the previous season were also or all of the surveys next year. The union had not been consummated. sighted. Our surveys would suggest a accommodation is fairly basic and minimum of 19 of New Zealand's rarest inexpensive. Dates will be advertised in I have not seen the weed dance, but and most endearing little birds appear OSNZ News "What's On" just as soon as what I have observed on many occasions to be alive and well. they are available. The Kaipara is at its is a type of weed ceremony, in which an best in March and April with Arctic adult will dive and then present weed Sam Ferreira, Conservancy Advisory waders amassing prior to migration, NZ for visual inspection only. The partner Scientist for DOCAuckland, has designed Dotterels forming post-breeding flocks, will then dive and repeat the process. a population model, using the existing White-fronted Terns in their thousands This is usually an indication that nest database information, which allows him preparing to "cross the ditch" and building is about to take place. to derive a population estimate based there's always the chance of a rare tern on post-breeding sightings. Sam's or two or three.. .. One splendid sight at Lake Hayes was current estimate is c.21 individuals. a group of five grebes near the outlet: GWENDA PULHAM two adults with their well-developed adolescents. A check made in March totalled 29 adults and 15 young. The young included three chicks produced by two pairs during the month of March. Great Grebe I expected to find more young birds and, while there is a loss from predators, it is Year possible that some adolescents had Well known for their extended already departed. breeding season, The Great Crested Grebes on Lake Hayes excelled The scene at Lake Moke is not so Fairy Tern at Waikiri Creek. 16 April themselves last breeding season. I encouraging. A pair arrives each spring, 1999. Photo:David Medway observed the first two chicks, which builds a nest in late December, fails and appeared to be about 3 weeks old, on departs a few weeks later. This has been 15 November 1998, one of which was the pattern for four years. The question In March, April, June and September on the back of its parent. The first nest is, will they return in the spring of 1999? 1998, three separate groups of NGO must therefore have been built in observers encountered unbanded October, and the last nest to be seen was GEORGECHANCE juveniles at two separate sites on the sighted near the showground on 5 Kaipara Harbour on five separate March 1999. It contained three eggs and incubation started at about that time. occasions, indicating that perhaps a pair Albino Whio = of Fairy Terns may have bred somewhere over the previous summer that we were A suivey conducted on 2 Febrbe mistaken identity all unaware of The youngsters had thus 1999 revealed a total of 25 adults, and eluded Ray Pierce's banding pliers. By also that nine breeding pairs had During a survey of Blue Ducks on now (June) they would be in their produced 18 young. The experienced western diversion streams (Tongariro second winter plumage and would birds appear to nest first, and I was able power scheme) in February of this year, therefore be inseparable in the field to photograph an example of a double I discovered an albino male Blue Duck from other, older unbanded birds in brood. A pair that had nested early, and on the Mangatepopo Stream winter plumage. If they had survived had lost one of its two chicks, went on approximately 300m downstream of the until now I would have expected a to have a second clutch and produced intake dam. higher number of unbanded birds two more chicks. during our post-breeding surveys, but The bird is not a total albino. He has this was unfortunately not the case. Fierce territorial disputes took place, normal yellow eyes, slight pale grey which in one instance almost led to an streaks under the wings and on the Two of the above-mentioned intentional drowning. Two adults in crown, and very faint muddy yellow unbanded juvenile/immature birds combat disappeared under a low- streaks on the breast. From a distance sighted in September 1998 at Tapora growing willow and all became quiet. A of ten metres or more however he were accompanied by two unbanded splash of chestnut revealed one bird appears to be all white apart from the birds whose plumage was not consistent holding the other firmly by the neck and eyes. with the norm for the subspecies at that forcing its head under water. By moving time of the year. Could it be that we are the bow of the boat towards them I was As if this sighting wasn't interesting encountering another subspecies out on able to effect a release. enough, he was occupying and the Kaipara Harbour from time to time? defending a territory with another male And are these extra juveniles arriving When the main breeding effort was of normal colour. from somewhere else? over, the young adults moved in to take up and defend territory. It is not unusual I decided to test if this strange Thanks to all the observers who took for young females, two year olds, to have relationship was actually a pair bond, part in the surveys, particularly those white plumage in front of their eyes. I and was fortunate enough to have an who "terned" out in gale force winds in was able to photograph a pair of young American university student, Arin April. To the residents of Waikiri Creek adults. The female had white plumage Doherty, make an in-depth activity time who have loaned us kayaks, ferried us above and in front of the eyes and the budget comparison between a usual to roost sites and allowed us to stay in male had white plumage in front of the male/female pair and this male/male their homes, we express our gratitude eyes only The white plumage tends to pair. for your on-going support and disappear as the birds develop. Two assistance. young pairs held territory foi many Arin and I designed an activity score weeks on either side of the outlet and, sheet which recorded time values for An invitation is extended to any although they showed every indication seven main activities loosely based on
- 1 10 OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 that of Veltman & Williams 1990. These and appeared to be feeding. On Bradley, Ross Kearney, Gerard activities were - stand, preen, feed, fly, examination of this perch it was found Hutchings,James Hart, Stefan Thomson, swim, sleep, other. that seepage had created a small pool Elsie Smith, Trish Whillians, Ngaire in the cliff face, surrounded by shrubs Chamlet, Lynette Hartley, Sally Fraser, In addition to this, other activities and grasses. He was most likely feeding Rachel Keedwell, Diane Kerr, M.A. were recorded which did not have value. in the pool. He then perched on the rock Richards, Amanda Byrne, James Russell, These included: territory defense, ledge and slept for more than two hours. Christine Zeiler, Peter Field, Michael Roy, calling, together or apart, direct pair Elizabeth Saafi, Anne Young, Ed interaction which included calling Direct vertical flight from a stationary Bickerstaff, Sharron Mather, Denis Gibbs laterally at each other, preening of mate, position has never been seen before in and from the UK Alison Crozier. chasing and pecking of mate. 13 years of Blue Duck study by the author, and was more characteristic of HAZEL HARTY The time values were totalled daily Mallard or Paradise Shelduck behaviour Membership Secretary in minutes and the total number of than that of Blue Ducks. minutes over the five week study period were depicted in pie graph form, KERRY OATES Donations to producing the following results: the Society Activity Budget Totals Avery big thank to you the following OSNZ Sales for their donations to OSNZ: Bill Slp Fd Swm Std Prn Fly 0th Albino male 57% 12% 10% 10% 9% 0% 2% Campbell, Frank Bendall, Pasi Hyvonen, Male mate 51% 8% 13% 15% 11% 0% 2% Grant Harper, M.A. Richards,Jan Walker, Normal male 12% 8% 12% 61% 6% 0% 1% Nancy D. Tanner, Peter Field, Denis Nomalfemale 9% 15%40% 20% 16% 0% 0% The following publications are available from Gibbs. OSNZ Sales, P.O. Box 12397, Wellington. No. Times other behaviours occurred Charham Islands Ornithology. 1994. 208 pp. $15.00 HAZEL mm Alb male MalemateNml maleNml fml The Black Robin. 1992.294 pp. $18.00 Membership Secretary Call 3 1 4 1 0 Checklist of the Birds of NZ and the Ross Dependency. Defence 0 0 2 0 1990.247 pp. $10.00 Pair interaction 14 1 0 0 F$Q Years of Bird Study in NZ - an index to Notomis. 1939- 1989. $10.00 New from Broome A Flying Start - 50 years ofOSNZ. 1940- 1990. 217 pp. Arin concluded from these results $10.00 Every year the Broome Bird that the male/male pair was not actually Atla;, <$Bird Distribution in NZ. 1985. 296 pp. with Observatory in north-western Australia defending a territory or maintaining a microfiches $25.00 collects data on the northward pair bond. Most of the albino male's without microfiches $15.00 movement of migratory shorebirds. This Bench patroller:^ Guide to Stom-cast Seabird.7 in NZ. initiated pair interactions were actually $7.00 year David Stewart, wildlife sound aggressive attempts to dispel his male Birds of Nelson region and where tofind them. 1990. recordist, was at the BBO recording the partner. The normal paii had' higher 24 pp. $10.00 sound of flocks in the process of time values for the active activities and Birdwatching in Hawkes Bay - a guide to prime migrating. spent considerably less time sleeping. locations. 1993. 20 pp. $ 6.00 OSNZ Pied Stilt car stickers. $ 3.00 Over the past few years several The albino male showed dominant OSNZ metal lapel badges. $ 5.50 observers have commented on the behaviours over his mate, and other Tick sheets - pocket checklist of NZ birds. $ 1.00 difference in calls of these birds as they OSNZ greeting cards - 10 to a pack with envelopes. anecdotal evidence collected during the flock together and begin their $ 4.00 study suggested that his mate preferred (inscribed Best Wishes - Fantail, Pied Stilt, Bellbird, northward journeys. I had related this to associate with other male Blue Ducks Tomtit. No inscription - Tui, Shining Cuckoo. No anecdotal observation to Dave on a and could not call properly, either due inscription, mixed packs - Red-crowned and previous visit to Broome. Our to physical impediment or a desire to Antipodes Parakeets.) discussions gave him the idea that he display submissive behaviour. would like to be here to witness this Please make cheques payable to Ornithological amazing event. His recordings will Two other very interesting Society. All prices are inclusive of postage, eventually be lodged with the Australian observations were made during the packaging and GST. Overseas orders will be National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO, study. On one occasion seven Whio were charged in the same price in US$, will be Canberra. seen on a pool involved in a strange sort charged for postage and may be paid by Visa. of fracas, where two birds were in the Good sound recordings are very centre of the pool fighting vigorously, DEREK BATCHELER difficult to get, as Dave was constantly while the remaining five ducks slowly reminding us! Despite the fact that circled. Occasionally one of the circling thousands of birds fly over as people ducks would swim into the middle and note flock size and species, it is not as try and break up the fighting pair. The New Members simple as grabbing a microphone and fighting birds were grabbing each pointing it in their general direction. other's necks and pulling each other Cars, motorbikes, boats, aeroplanes and down under the water as if trying to A warm welcome to all our new the constant babble of fascinated drown its opponent. Wing spurs were members: birdwatchers all conspired to make Dave not used in this interaction. Stewart's life quite tricky. Add to this the Stella Say, Sheila Belshaw, Maureen background noise, the squelch of knee- On another occasion the albino male Howard, D.M. York, Ashley & Sue Reed, deep mud as Dave ventured out on to was seen sitting on a pool beside a Frank Bendall, Mark Jarrett, Tony Henry, the Roebuck Bay mudflats to get closer frequently used cave. He reared up and Peter Stemgard, Anita Spencer, Jan to his subject. flew vertically out of the water and flew Walker, Shawn Loewen, Sarah Winter, straight up to a perch on a rock ledge Celia Thompson, Nicola Etheridge, Despite these problems he ended up about 40 metres above stream level, Dawn Palmer, Margaret & David Fraser, with some superb sound. David was where he walked into dense vegetation Kate Chamberlain, Norman & Anna successful in recording the migrating
OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 11 I calls of Black- and Bar-tailed Godwits, Individual recordings are typically Duck Decline? Whimbrel, Eastern Curlew, Common short, of around 5-20 seconds duration. Greenshank, Terek Sandpiper, Grey- Each species though, has 1-5 different There appears to have been a tailed Tattler, Great and Red Knots, Red- recordings of birds in different dramatic decline in Mallard numbers this necked Stint, Grey Plover, Lesser and situations, for which both habitat and past season, and there is genuine Greater Sand Plovers and Gull-billed behaviour are noted in the CD liner. For concern on the part of the Fish and Tern. Ruddy Turnstones and Common example, Whimbrel has: mudflats Game Council as a result of their surveys Sandpipers were also recorded calling (individual flying); mudflats (individual); and anecdotal evidence. persistently, but they were not actually mudflats (individual); migrating (+Bar- There are a number of possible seen to migrate. It is very likely the tailed Godwits); migrating (small flock). reasons for the decline in the Auckland/ "snipe-like" call recorded on the Waikato area. Floods destroyed a large mudflats is Asian Dowitcher. Some of the recordings are likely to number of nests. ECNZ dropped the be world firsts, at least in published level of Lake Taupo on a three weekly The beach in front of the Broome form. The migrating calls of the cycle, so any birds between the lake and Bird Observatory is a sensational spot departing flocks may be the first widely the first Waikato dam were flooded out to watch shorebirds gather into pre- available, and the Asian Dowitcher alone each time they tried to re-establish their migratory flocks. Some species groups would justify buying the CD to many nests, and the effect was felt right down cease feeding, preen and stretch their twitchers! The quality of the recordings the river. wings. Small species hover is extremely good, with minimal When the floods finished, the approximately 50 centimetres above the background noise (the bubbling tides of drought started, which concentrated the mud in warm-up exercises. Larger Roebuck Bay will be an evocative birds where there was some water and species gather in east to west lines and reminder for any fortunate enough to avian botulism resulted. Large areas of begin simultaneous, circular have been to the NW). land were sprayed for crickets which, it "recruitment flights", seeming to is believed, killed a lot of birds. encourage other birds to join the flocks. In addition to many of the common migratory waders occurring in New The Whangamarino has been a When they decide that the time is Zealand (Bar-tailed Godwit, Red Knot, desert all summer, and ten years ago it right, they swirl upwards and the excited Turnstone, Pacific Golden Plover, supported a population of 60,000 calling begins. All the species call. Whimbrel, Eastern Curlew, Sharp-tailed Mallards. Lakes Waikere and Whangape Whimbrels and Grey-tailed Tattlers are sandpiper, Curlew sandpipe;, Red- are both decaying, with little water going the best exponents of frenzied noise- necked Stint) there are plenty of scarcer through them. Everything downstream making. It got to the stage where Dave species or vagrants to bone up on, such has been affected and they are now needed these particular species to shut as Black-tailed Godwit, Little Curlew, supporting only 10% of the waterfowl up! Marsh Sandpiper, Common of five to ten years ago. Greenshank, Grey-tailed Tattler, Terek It is known that more adult birds are After five weeks of hard work, Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Red-capped being harvested than juveniles, which patience and skill, Dave had gathered Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand means the breeding stock is being some quality sound on shorebirds. Plover, Oriental Plover, Broad-billed reduced. These spe,cialsounds, along with a good Sandpiper and Oriental Pratincole as In the Wellington region, including selection of Broome's other great birds, well as some residents such as Black- Wairarapa, Fish and Game noted in their has meant that David Stewart has been fronted Dotterel. pre-rel&se press report that although able to produce a special one-off CD. the 1998 spring was a good breeding Anyone interested can contact Dave at Learning wader calls is a challenging season, the continuing effects of the very
12 OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 RFI: New Caledonia association with local iwi and Winstones a single chick despite removing 16 Pulp International. stoats, a weasel and nine hedgehogs. Have any birders been to New Caledonia and seen migrants which may A female kiwi was handed into staff Last year a chick that was banded at be new to the island? The birds of New at Ohakune recently, after being caught Waiaua turned up at Pollen Island in the Caledonia are poorly known and even in a possum trap on private farm land Waitemata Harbour, Auckland. This is more poorly written up. I'm writing a near Raetihi. She will spend a fewweeks about 260 krn in a straight line from its definitive list of the birds and their recovering from a broken foot at the natal territory. status, together with resident Otorohanga Kiwi House before being Caledonian birders and the recent released back into her home. This is the Southern New Zealand Dotterels expedition which rediscovered the New fourth incident involving kiwi and have had a spectacular season on Caledonia Owlet-Nightjar (one seen in possum traps that we are aware of in Stewart Island. The excellent work on November 1997, soon to be published). this part of the country over the past feral cat control has boosted numbers There are some common waders, three years. by 100% in four years of seasonal such as Lesser Sand Plover, which may control. A project thought by many as not have been recorded, and three Kokako - In August and October unachievable is now delivering the crakes of unknown status. We are also 1998 pre-breeding surveys were carried goods. interested in records of resident birds, out in three areas of Puketi Forest. 16 especially the rarer endemics, away from Kokako were located, one pair and 14 After two seasons of poor results well-known sites. single birds. There was only one known with cat control at Table Hill, the whole We would be very grateful for any breeding pair of Kokako in Puketi Forest programme was reviewed in 1994 and records that might improve our this season, which made four nesting performance targets were set. More knowledge of NC birds. All records used attempts. The first three attempts were resources have been given to the project will be fully referenced and abandoned, while the fourth produced and the number of managed sites acknowledged to their observer. two chicks, one of which fledged. increased. GUY DUTSON Moehau birds - Moehau, at the The population is now at 150 - in BirdLife International northern tip of the Coromandel 1994 it was 65. The target for this year Wellbrook Court Peninsula, is the highest priority had been 109. Cat control will continue, and research into cat habitat use via a Girton Road ecological site for restoration on the radio telemetry study will begin. Cambridge CB3 ONA, UK peninsula. Bait stations are installed over Email
OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 13 ( - really good if you are a Kakapo or a of this was shown again this year, with and Little Mangere Islands. rat. Ulva Island had two Norway rats one chick being returned to its burrow Recent mitochondria1 DNA research trapped in January and March. on two occasions before finally making on parakeets by Victoria University has Subsequent trapping - 7,000 trap nights it out to sea. They finally fledged on the shown that Forbes' Parakeets are very - revealed no further rats. This forced nights of 11 and 13 May. DNA analysis distinct from other parakeet species, and us to cancel a Saddleback introduction, showed that one chickwas male and one not closely related to either Yellow- right at the stage when the catching team female. crowned or Red-crowned Parakeets, was on the source island. Chatham Petrel - Contractor Fiona with which they are currently The Saddleback move to Ulva was Bancroft, with assistance from staff skills hybridising. only part of the operation in which all development participants, has run the The Forbes' Parakeet programme the following happened in a joint DOC/ programme on Rangatira (South East will be boosted considerably in the Ngai Tahu projects: Saddlebacks from Island). Results are very encouraging, coming season, and will focus on the Kundy Island to Pohowaitai Island, with 42 of 54 known breeding burrows breeding biology of the species, Banded Rails from Pohowaitai to Kundy producing fledglings. interactions with Red-crowned (a restoration), and when the Ulva Control of competing Broad-billed Parakeets, and refining the accurate saddleback task was abandoned the Prions has been less intensive this year, identification of hybrids by looking at DoC/iwi team organised a shift of with generally fewer birds returning the link between morphological Stewart Is Robins from Pohowaitai to than in a "typical" year. Despite this, we appearance and microsatellite nuclear Putauhinu (a restoration). had to be ever vigilant to protect the DNA indicators. A research student is investigating petrel chicks from prions. Teams of Shore Plover - The recent telemetric the decline of Stewart Is Robins on workers monitored each petrel burrow monitoring of juvenile Shore Plovers on Stewart Island. nightly from early February. The total Rangatira has not picked up any Taiko - Estimates of Taiko population world population of Chatham Petrels is dispersal of these birds to other islands. range from 50 to 120 birds. Since its estimated at 500-1,000, and is confined Sandy King has been making regular rediscovery in 1978 by David Crockett to Rangatira. checks on the adjacent Pitt Island and the first breeding burrows being Chatham Is Oystercatcher - A coastline, and a sweep or the Eastern located in the Tuku Valley, main census organised by Frances Schmechel Reef and Star Keys in early May picked Chatham Island, in 1987, about 25 in December counted 142 birds, an up no transmitter signals. burrows in two distinct areas have been increase of 20-40 birds over previous The female Shore Plover that has located. Six of them are known breeding estimates. Intensive predator control now been resident on Mangere Island burrows. work by Mike Bell along the Maunganui for a year continues to lead a solitary The 1998/99 season started in a and Wharekauri coasts (northern main existence. Next season will see an promising way, with five of the known Chatham) resulted in 18 chicks fledging attempt to give her some company, with burrows being regularly visited by adult from 16 managed pairs. Most nest the release of young birds from birds during the prospecting period. failures were due to high seas, with only Rangatira. These birds will be held in a Unfortunately only two of these had eggs one nest known to have been lost to a temporary aviary on Mangere to laid in them, but both produced healthy predator (Black-backed Gull). It is not condition them to their new home chicks. This is the third year in a row surprising so little predation occurred - before release. that every Taiko egg laid has produced a Mike rkmoved 47 cats, 654 Weka, 133 Chatham Is Tui - Sandy King has fledgling. This year's effort is due to the possums, 39 hedgehogs and 23 Black- been checking to see whether any of the hard work and dedication of contractors backed Gulls from sites. birds fitted with transmitters on Alison Turner and Rex Williams. Fencing to reduce stock access to key Rangatira this summer have moved To help protect both adult and oystercatcher areas is planned at across to Pitt Island. So far three out of juvenile Taiko from predation, trapping Wharekauri. Research into exact causes ten have been found on Pitt. One bird and poisoning began in September and of nest failure (using video monitoring flies backwards and forwards every few finished in late April, just before the equipment) is planned for the coming days. chicks were due to leave the burrows. season and should run for at least three Erect-crestedPenguin -A University This season 27 cats, 114 Weka, 105 years. Cameras will monitor managed of Otago study on the Antipodes Islands possums and 169 rats were caught in the nests (where there is predator control) has reported a very concerning trend in southern burrows area where breeding and unmanaged nests, to test the Erect-crested Penguins, with the second took place. Many other rats (and effectiveness of management and to successive population crash since 1995. probably Weka and cats) are likely to refine and improve techniques. have been poisoned. Black Robin - It was another good Regional For the first time, Taiko burrows breeding season also for Black Robins, were monitored using infra-red video with an end of season population count Roundup cameras at the burrow entrances. These of 254 birds, 182 on Rangatira and 72 provided valuable information that will on Mangere. 106 chicks fledged this Conzpiled by Helen Donaldson assist future management, including season. confirmation of the times each of the The intensive monitoring Far North adult birds visited the burrow, adult programme for Black Robins is likely to behaviour on entering and leaving be scaled down in coming years. Rather Four Rooks have been seen in (rapid entry and cautious exit), the age than individually marking and following scraggly Eucalyptus trees along Otaha at which chicks first appeared at the the fate of every Black Robin, the new Road, Takou Bay. They were seen for burrow entrance, the chick behaviour - monitoring technique will focus on the several months during 1998 and the they spent long periods of time outside population as a whole, plus sampling the landowner reported that he had started the burrow (and were therefore productivity of a few pairs on each seeing them again recently. They appear vulnerable to predation) in the 2-3 island. to be displacing the resident magpies. weeks before fledging. Forbes' Parakeet - The breeding Just prior to fledging, each chick was success of Forbes' Parakeet on Mangere Three Cattle egrets have been seen banded, had a blood sample taken, and was followed by Raelene Barry and her on numerous occasions on the western a small transmitter attached to its tail team. 54 eggs were laid in 25 nest boxes side of the main road through Totara feathers. The transmitter is to relocate and approximately 13 chicks fledged. North. 37 were seen at Waipapakauri by the chick if it should not reach the sea The total Forbes' Parakeet population Laurie and Alison Howell. However this on its first attempt at flying. The value is about 100 birds, confined to Mangere tally was toppled in July when Sean and
1 14 OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 I observed 111 in a paddock at the Ruawai flats, which is a good number preference for scrub and regenerating Waiharara. They were feeding amongst for this area of the Kaipara. bush areas. River bank concentrations cattle, six Pied Stilts, 18 White-faced Agroup of Northland members went were hardest hit by predators. The diets Herons, numerous Pukeko, Paradise up to the far north to help with their from five of the seven chicks studied Shelducks and Black-backed Gulls. wader census. The first day, which was showed that most preferred beetle 56 Royal Spoonbills were seen at to have been at the Parengarenga larvae. Unahi Bay by Laurie and Alison Howell. Harbour, was cancelled because of very 114 spoonbills were seen in the wet windy weather, but the Rangaunu Field trips in March included the NZ macrocarpa trees at Unahi wharf in July. Harbour and a couple of other areas Dabchick census at Muriwai/South As the tide was falling the birds were around the Karikari Peninsula were Kaipara Heads, when two White-winged flying to land in a paddock to the south. done the following day. BlackTerns were seen at Ototoa and one Surprisingly no bands were identified. To date, the weather has prevented at the Shelley Beach ponds. A Common Tern was seen during a the annual tree planting on beach patrol at East Beach in May. Motukawanui Island (the largest of the The Auckland area flock counts of Banding of Black-backed Gull chicks Cavalli Islands). The Northland and Far New Zealand Dotterels also in March was carried out at the Black Rocks by North regions as well as Forest and Bird were encouraging. Mangawhai Spit in Isobelb Godbert and her dedicated crew members help DOC with this venture. 1998 numbered 114, this year (1999) in early 1999. Access to the islands can Hopefully the second date planned will 131. There has been an increase in the be difficult, as you have to be able to be successful. total for the area from 357 in 1998 to anchor your boat and land on the island 412 in 1999. The Mangawhai total - an easterly swell can make this tricky! (Janet Snell) confirms that this site is the most The birds (16 in total) were banded red- important in the country for dotterels. metal left, green right. A one year old chick banded in Shoal Bay was seen at Auckland Airport this (Leigh Honnor) Auckland autumn. These sightings are very valuable for our on-going study of The past few meetings in Auckland juvenile survival and dispersal. Northland have been varied and interesting. In May, Adrian Riegen gave some The well-attended meetings of the fascinating highlights of his recent trip A trip to Tiritiri Matangi resulted in Northland region reflect the interest and to the Gulf of Carpentaria. At the June a very successful count. A juvenile participation of our members, not to meeting Warwick Sandler gave a Harrier was seen being harassed by a Tui mention the monthly raffles and beautifully illustrated talk about prey - the young hawk died later. interesting speakers organised by our items of the Miranda mudflats, and how RR. At a recent meeting we saw slides each waderhhorebird species utilises A trip to Okoromai Bay resulted in of Kakerori (Rarotongan Flycatcher), them. recording 10 Kakariki, two Brown Teal an endangered species, found only on and two Australasian Shovelers. Other the island of Rarotonga. In July Isobel Castro (who has a OSNZ members had seen 30 Sulphur- The post-breeding count of 183 New number plate which says Dr Hihi) spoke crested Cockatoos at Paremoremo, and Zealand Dotterels in March was carried to the meeting. Isobel is an interesting 10 at the Cascades in the Waitakeres. out in and around the Whangarei area. and impressive speaker. She talked The annual Northland passerine about the Hihi as a threatened bird, and At the end of June 54 Royal banding scheme continues at the same the reasons for its decline in numbers Spoonbills, five NZ Scaup, and seven NZ sites mainly during the kiwifruit season. due to mammalian predators, habitat Dabchicks were seen at the Mangere This year two Silvereyes were caught that destruction and disease. She had Treatment Ponds. The number of had been banded in 1993, which makes studied reasons why translocations had dabchicks is unusually high. At Strakas them at least six years old. not been successful, and came to the Refuge three dabchicks were seen in An interesting sighting on 18 April following conclusions: the procedure June, and early in July five adult at the Ruakaka river mouth was a had not been correct, the food supply dabchicks were seen, with two chicks Hudsonian Godwit amongst ten other was not adequate, they suffered low sitting on the back of one of the adults. godwits. Recently a flock of 100 reproduction rates, and were attacked The chicks were less than a week old. It Yellowhammers was seen close to bJ predators and disease. In August is believed that it is probably about ten Whangarei. Andrew Styche talked about the years since dabchicks were seen at The monthly beach patrols on the distribution of Sulphur-crested Strakas Refuge. Dargaville coast and the east coast Cockatoos in New Zealand. This between Waipu and One Tree Point research is part of his PhD study. Also in June, a report was received continued as usual with an eager band Tristan Chan, at the University of that a Nankeen Kestrel had been seen of helpers. On the June Dargaville patrol Auckland, is writing an MA thesis on on Waiheke Island, with more sightings an interesting variety of birds were Brown Kiwi chicks in Trounson Park in in July. This year there have been huge found all in very good condition. These Northland. The park is an example of a winter flocks (c. 200 birds) of Little Black birds included White-headed Petrels, "mainland island" with mature kauri, Shags, in both the Manukau and Fluttering Shearwaters, Cape Pigeons, and a podocarp forest surrounded by Waitemata Harbours. Shaun Loewen, a Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Thin- farmland. Apopulation of about 200 kiwi recent arrival from America, saw a billed Prions, Common Diving Petrels was in decline until successful control Chestnut Teal in July at the Waiwera and Antarctic Fulmars. of predators, using poison and trapping, Oxidation Ponds. A trip to Pollen Island The national wader census on the was begun in 1995. The success of the to count Fernbirds was successful - 17 Whangarei Harbour and the north control has been gauged by the survival were either seen or heard. Kaipara Harbour was held in June with of kiwi chicks. Tristan's study, which will some interesting results. Observations take a year, is part of a three year project. The South Kaipara census on 12June at Whangarei Harbour were 63 Royal Two other graduates will be looking at recorded (amongst many other species) Spoonbills (a new record number), 5 other aspects for their thesis, each taking 16 Grey Teal at Jordans Farm.Then at White Herons, 10 Cattle Egrets (not seen a year. Tristan is looking at habitat Mangawhai during the wader census on on the harbour for a long time) and 150 preferences of kiwi chicks, and preferred 19 June a pair of Fairy Terns were seen knots (an unusual number for mid- foods. Birds were banded or carried engaged in courtship flight and one bird winter). 60 Cattle Egrets were seen on transmitters. The results indicated a was seen on the ground in almost
OSNZNews - No.92 - September 199F 15 1 pristine breeding plumage. Also seen study grant. This gave us a very good Canterbury, and we all enjoyed the time that day was a Black-billed Gull banded insight into the types of food that the immensely - a recommended activity! at the Papakanui Spit colony in January wading birds at Miranda (and 1999. presumably in other estuarine areas) are July's field trip was another weather- utilising and their preferred feeding affected harbour census of Kawhia/ In August two Black Stilts were seen areas. Aoteamaglan. Kawhia produced an ever- at Hedleys: both birds were banded, one rising number of spoonbills (55 versus believed to date from 1982183, the other During June the normal winter two the same time 10 years ago). Also possibly 1988, so both are quite old census work was completed on the there was a Whimbrel and a Little Egret. birds. Manukau Harbour and Firth of Thames. Aotea had 350 Banded and eight NZ In the usual tradition, the day for the Dotterels. Raglan had 54 Little Black In 1997 Gavin and I moved from our Manukau Harbour census was very wet Shags and a colour-banded SIPO. central Auckland city townhouse to live and windy which made conditions most in a house situated on the upper reaches unpleasant. Unfortunately it was a day Our monthly lake surveys were of the estuary at ~angawhai.We knew when there were two new members, and boosted by the addition of Te Koutu very little about waders and seabirds, but their enthusiasm for counting 5,000 (Cambridge Lake) to the schedule in with them coming right to our door we birds quickly waned as the rain July. This lake has good riparian margins realised we should learn about them, so continued to fall. However, as they have for breeding waterfowl. So far there has we joined OSNZ. It has been a good turned up at following events , the been nothing startlingly rare for this lake move and each day "our" estuary experience was not too ~ff-~utting. or the other lakes surveyed in this presents such interesting things to look quarter. at. As well as the birds at low tide, one The numbers were in line with morning as the tide was filling, gliding previous years in the Manukau Harbour At our July meeting, local member on its wings came a stingray. And but the numbers of SIPOs were Anna Reynolds gave an exciting talk on through the summer Fairy Terns approximately 7,000 birds down on last the weed control stint she and Mike Ogle regularly visit to fish just across from our year in the Firth of Thames. Presumably did on the Kermadec Islands. Based on lawn. Paradise? Yes, we think so. these were missed in the paddocks Raoul Island, she illustrated the talk with somewhere on the Hauraki Plains. great slides, with some supplemented (Rae McGregor) by Hugh Clifford. It was interesting to There have been several sightings of see fruit trees on the weed list! the flock of Galahs at Mangatawhiri. These are normally in that area through On 18 August, we received an South Auckland the winter period but disappear during invigorating sound and light show on the spring and summer. waders, migration and census Attendances at the South Auckland techniques from Dick Veitch. His meetings have been relatively good over The visit to Kidds shellbanks at emphasis on efficient counting skills left the winter period. Visitors are always Karaka on 15August with David Medway us sharpening our pencils and polishing welcome to join in the discussions. showed that he had brought some the mould off our rain-affected Visitors to Auckland should remember Taranaki weather with him. It turned binoculars. Trends (either up or down) that the meetings are only 20 minutes into a wet miserable day huddled behind in wader population numbers in NZ from the centre of Auckland city. So if the bank, but there was a lively were shown in a clear and concise you are ever up this way during the discussion on the welfare of OSNZ. manner - a great motivating talk! second Tuesday in the month, you are There were also sightings of a Far- most welcome to join us. eastern Curlew, a White-winged Black The 5-minute bird counts on Mt Tern in partial breeding plumage, seven Kakepuku, Te Awamutu, demonstrate The June meeting was addressed by Red-necked Stints, a Grey-tailed Tattler, the success of the North Island Robin Martin Bell, one of the curators at the a Little Tern and six flagged Knots (two transfer from Pureora in June. Our 25 Auckland Zoo. He gave an interesting yellow, two orange and two white). So July count revealed plenty of beautiful talk on the breeding work for rare and it turned out to be a reasonable day after singing and, curiously, lots more Tomtit endangered birds carried out at the zoo. all. sightings than usual - are they being This was based around the recent chased by the robins? A NZ Falcon experiences with the two Fairy Tern We are now waiting for the return of gliding by below eye-level close-up was chicks which had involved Tony the Arctic migrants in the middle of also unusual. Habraken in several hours of catching September. live fish for their food. Beach patrols have resulted in more (David Lawrie) than 200 birds being identified from The RR was away on a well-earned most of our beaches - a great effort. Finds are mainly Fairy and Thin-billed holiday during the July meeting. It Waikato would appear that the meeting Prions, Kerguelen and Blue Petrels, continued with an empty chair at the Our May evening meeting Fluttering Shearwaters and Antarctic front which is possibly one of the introduced us to the ins and outs of the Fulmars. One stand-out rarity has turned - reasons the region has not made a Fish & Game Council via Phil Teal. The up Hugh Clifford picked up a Grey nomination for RR for the coming year. talk concentrated on the management Petrel. I can find no mention of these in They decided that the empty chair was of the game bird species in New Zealand. the local records since the start of them just as efficient as the RR! However the The June evening meeting saw the in the 1970s. guest speaker was Simon Fordham who return of Kerry Oates, this time outlining Other sightings include a dabchick showed an interesting series of slides the in-depth study of the Blue Ducks of in July and September at the Raglan relating to a visit to the Daintree Forest the Volcanic Plateau. It was illustrated sewage ponds, 51 Cattle Egrets on 4 July in Queensland. with some excellent slides of the birds at Lake Ngaroto and 270 at Rangiriri on in their natural habitat, which is swiftly 28 July. Several were also seen recently In August Warrick Sandler gave us a being degraded. North of Huntly township. very interesting illustrated talk on the life in the Miranda mud. This was based Three members from Waikato on a year's work under a Royal Society attended the National AGM in (Paul Cuming)
1 16 OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 Volcanic Plateau The monthly trip in June was to the Early in June members travelled to Surrey Hill Road track on the Kaitake Manawatu Estuary and observed 53 The topic of our June meeting in ranges. All the common bush birds were Royal Spoonbills, Grey Teal, Wrybills, Rotorua was kiwi survival in Tongariro seen in good numbers. Again it was Bar-tailed Godwits, New Zealand Forest. Ross Martin is completing his evident that the native trees and shrubs Shovelers, SIPOs, and Pectoral Masters thesis while working part-time have had an excellent fruiting season; Sandpipers. On 27 June we counted for DOC Whakapapa. He is studying, in particular the pepper tree Australian Coots - there were 65 on through radio telemetry, the time/activity Pseudowintera axillaris was laden with Virginia Lake and 47 on Westmere Lake. budgets of stoats both in captivity and red berries. At Grassmere Lake on 18 July two in the wild, trying to analyse when stoats members observed four Black Swans, are most likely to predate and when Our RR gave a report on the AGM at four NZ Scaup, four Shovelers and two predator control would be most the July meeting and informed members White-faced Herons. On the same day effective. that 2003 may be a busy year for us! at Pauri Lake 56 Black Swans, three Black Shags fishing, three Shovelers, two We were treated to a wonderful The bands on a Black Stilt observed domestic geese and a Canada Goose visual display of kiwi ecology and the earlier in the year do not tally with Doc's were seen. entire Operation Nest Egg process; from Twizel records, so this remains a mystery capture -of wild adults for fitting of bird. We are still observing large There have been a number of transmitters to nest location, egg numbers of Banded Dotterels in coastal sightings of New Zealand Falcon in our removal, incubation and chick-raising at areas, including New Plymouth airport. region, singly and in pairs. We hope to Rainbow Springs, to re-release of sub An unusually dark coloured New pinpoint a nest site. Other birds seen in adults into the wild. Ross was assisted Zealand Falcon was observed at Mokau the area include two Little Egrets, a in his talk by Deidre Vercoe of Rainbow and one other was seen in the city area White Heron, shags nesting at Virginia Springs, who took us through the of the Te Henui Walkway. Other sightings Lake, Yellowhammers chasing incubation and chick-raising roles that around the coast include Black-fronted Blackbirds and Tui bathing in the trees Rainbow Springs plays in the Nest Egg Dotterels, Reef Herons, Royal after a heavy rain shower. process. It was an excellent opportunity Spoonbills, Variable Oystercatchers and for our members to learn about a local one White-winged Black Tern. (Tom Teasdale) project of such national significance. The July outing was to the Pukeiti Our region completed its winter Rhododendron Trust garden next to wetland surveys over the ten day period Egrnont National Park. Pleasing numbers Manawatu 12-22 June. Most sites recorded fewer of native birds were seen, especially Tui. Mallards than usual ,with higher Our evening meetings continue on numbers of scaup, shovelers and A kiwi tape was played on a a regular basis, and have been dabchicks. Of particular interest were combined Forest and BirdDoC trip to reasonably well supported. Recently we eight dabchicks and a Grey Teal at the the North Egmont area in July. Three were given a very interesting talk and Raetihi oxidation ponds on 14 June. male kiwi answered from a distance and slide show by Ralph Powlesland. The one female called very close to the track effects 'of 1080 poison drops on the Eastern Rosellas have been seen in and the listeners. North Island Robin population in the the southern beech forests of Mt Pureora forest and photographs Ruapehu near Ohakune during May, Interesting records from our August showing the differences in robins on the which may cause competition problems meeting were: two Rooks in the city area, three islands of New Zealand was very for Kakariki in the area. Fantails in great numbers and an informative. Antarctic Fulmar flying just off the coast. New Zealand Falcons have been seen Coincidentally, an Antarctic Fulmar was Beach patrols on Hokio, Waikawa in town in both Ohakune and Turangi included in a beach wreck report, also and Ohau beaches have not produced a in June and appear to be regular winter two Kerguelen Petrels, a Shy single wreck in recent months. On visitors to urban areas. Mollymawk, some prions and Fluttering checking out a report of an albatross on Shearwaters. The meeting concluded Okaki Beach earlier this month, I picked Our region will resume its Banded with an illustrated talk on Red-billed and up a recently wrecked Antarctic Fulmar Dotterel survey from November to Black-billed Gulls. Our thanks to Bill van and an Australasian Gannet. March, and we hope to start colour Gorkom for his research and banding dotterels on the Rangipo Desert presentation, which generated much At the Manawatu Estuary there have in November, so watch OSNZ News for discussion. been some very unusual wintering birds: requests of band sightings in your region a single Pacific Golden Plover in perfect in late summer as birds disperse from (Rosemary Messenger) breeding plumage stayed behind their breeding grounds. through until early August at least and is the first ever to have done so. A Little (Keny Oates) Tern has also overwintered for the first Wanganui time and a Red-necked Stint has remained (there were two last winter). The Wanganui evening meetings Taranaki The other highlight was a Little Egret for continue on a regular basis. In April Tim a week or so from the end of June - the An excellent number of bird species Holmes, head of DOC Wanganui, gave first for Manawatu since 1992. Duck were reported at the June meeting. This an interesting talk on his work in numbers were well down on recent included 67 Banded Dotterels at the Namibia. Vonnie Cave talked in May years, but a flock of nine Black-fronted Waiongana River estuary, three New about her trip to the subantarctic islands. Dotterels through June and July was a Zealand Dotterels at the Pungareere This was fascinating and gave an insight record number for this species, which stream and three Black-fronted to the harsh conditions that birds and is rarely reported at the estuary. Dotterels at a lake in south Taranaki. In plant life contend with there. In June Egmont National Park several combined Ralph Powlesland shared his study of the flocks of Silvereyes and Whiteheads were shags in the Wellington area, and inJuly In Feilding, presumably the same observed feeding and moving through Jim Campbell talked about the birds of New Zealand Falcon was seen twice, in the bush. Raoul Island and Chatham Island. June and July. No Cattle Egrets have
OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 17 1 been seen in the region, although a flock the Mongolian Dotterels. Other waders Wairarapa of up to 40 has been just to the north, seen are 100+ Variable Oystercatchers, at the Wangaehu River, near Wanganui. two South Island Pied Oystercatchers, What a marvellous AGM! The five Turnstones, numerous Pied Stilts, Wairarapa contingent travelled by minibus and returned via Karamea. A (Brian Tyler) Bar-tailed Godwits and Spur-winged Plovers and a Whimbrel further around week in this region is not enough. An near White Rock. area steeped in history and bird species including New Zealand Falcons, Blue The count of 66 Wrybills at Muriwai Ducks, South Island Robins, Kea, and An excellent wader spot has been was about double the usual winter Australasian Bitterns. The historic located by Dave and Marg Fraser at count, but Oystercatcher numbers were highlight would have to be the Mahia, between the Cactus and White well down. Denniston settlement and coalmine, Rock. A small bay on the platform reef which is a cold, bleak, desolate area, offers good low tide feeding where there On 19 June there were many flocks of Yellowhammers and House Sparrows where the former residents would have is shallowwater over a mix of mud, sand, had to be extremely hardy to survive the rock and eel grass. Eleven species of on the Poverty Bay flats. One flock of sparrows, numbering over 2,000, was environment and the back-breaking waders have been seen there in July - an existence. extraordinary number for this area in feeding on corn stubble at Muriwai. midwinter. Topping the list are two The following is the summary of the The Cattle Egrets are back in the Mongolian Dotterels in breeding winter wader survey 19-20 June 1999. Wairarapa and with them a couple of plumage, two tattlers, a New Zealand unanswered questions. One of our Dotterel and 30-40 Banded Dotterels members has been studying a flock near which seem to have a loose liaison with (Geoff Foreman) Carterton, trying to discover what they are feeding on and why they seem to Muriwai Mahia Whakaki- Wairoa Total prefer the company of one herd of cows and not other herds nearby. Waioaoa Korito Pied Ovstercatcher 16 2 18 Andrew Nelson and Helen Gummer, Variable Oystercatcher 8 58 2 68 both staff members at the Mt Bruce Wildlife Centre, each gave us Pied Stilt 124 85 506 26 74 1 presentations. Andrew spoke of his Banded Dotterel 13 4 6 23 work on Chatham Island and Helen spoke on the release of Campbell Island Wrybill 66 66 Teal on Codfish Island. Both of these Spur-winged Plover 35 2 79 2 118 talks and slide shows were appreciated Bar-tailed Godwit 48 9 3 60 by our group and created a lot of discussion. Our third guest speaker was Roy Farman, a Mastertonvet, who talked about treating birds in his surgery and how to handle injured birds. We are all Hawkes Bay Black-fronted Terns arrived for the very appreciative of our speakers, who winter as usual, but in lower numbers, give their time and a lot of effort. In recent weeks the most interesting and seemingly restricting themselves to birds have been the various "white the Clive Wetlands and the Tukituki (Miles King) birds". The Royal Spoonbills at the Estuary. They don't appear to favour the Ahuriri Estuary have reduced to c.50 Napier South foreshore this year. Three (July) from their high of c.73 in April. White-winged Black Terns were noted Whereas in most years they can often at Waitangi in May The Spotted Shags be easily seen between the bridges are building up again, with c.80 seen on Wellington during the shooting season and the Clive Outfall on 14 July. upstream at other times, this year they On this year's second sortie across have been below the Embankment Cook Strait, on 21 March, seven Bridge most times. Even though they A most interesting record for the members took the fast ferry from Mana are easily seen, it doesn't necessarily Ahuriri area is for an unknown number to Queen Charlotte Sound, for a day's make counting any easier! of Marsh Crakes seen and heard by Hans viewing of dolphins, King Shags (at Rook of DOC in one of the wetlands White Rocks), and Bellbirds, A single bird has been observed at beyond the airport. He attracted them Saddlebacks and New Zealand Robins, different locations between Clive and with a quail caller! especially, on Motuara Island. Haumoana Lagoon. Two White Herons After the branch AGM, Colin du and one Little Egret have been present The Porangahau winter census at Clive during the winter. 16 Cattle Plessis showed slides of some of the two turned up 16 SIPOs, 18 Variable million King Penguins on Marion Island, Egrets have been seen in the Ferry Road Oystercatchers, 93 Banded Dotterels, 84 area of Clive, but later disappeared, then which is situated south of Capetown at Wrybills, 128 Bar-tailed Godwits and latitude 45 degrees south. Cats have ten were seen in early July at Swamp three Red-necked Stints. Road near Puketapu. recently been eradicated there, leading to an extension of the breeding season, During the shooting season there The mild winter weather has had possibly to 14 months. were c.60 Grey Teal and c.1,000 birds confused. Kath Todd reports a Shovelers on Westshore Lagoon, the Song Thrush building a nest at Frimley What Makes a Bird? was the question Grey Teal numbers down considerably in Hastings on 8 June, and another asked of Ben Bell in April. This took us from most years. 26 NZ Dabchicks were thrush feeding young at Tomoana on 10 back to the palaeontological evidence of also present on 11July. Perhaps with the July. the development of birds, including reduction in weed we may even return recent Chinese discoveries, and to the days when a handful of Scaup consideration of the relationship lived there! (Wayne Twydle) between birds and dinosaurs.
18 OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 In May Graeme Taylor showed a processing and other harbour-side were of a very noisy island, filled with a video of his recent trip to British plants has reduced the variety of species variety of birds, including millions of Colombia. This provided extensive also. peterls and thousands of penguins and coverage of birds as well as being of mollymawks. Walking sounded more general interest. Beach patrols continue, regularly at challenging at times, with seals and sea- Petone and 13 km from Paraparaumu lions well distributed around the island, From Ben Bell's fossils we moved to along to Te Horo stream, and as well as vegetation to duck and dive Mike Dickison's Ecology of Extinct Birds. sporadically elsewhere. Recoveries through, and burrows to negotiate. In June Mike asked members What is the March through until June were scanty "real" New Zealand environment? The in species and numbers, but July saw an June saw the annual winter wader pre-human ecology? In the light of the upsurge with 13 species including the count. Not many birds were seen, and extinction of ducks, Adzebills, wrens, rarely-seen Antarctic Fulmar and ranging only a few brave hardy souls ventured birds of prey etc., can our efforts in from giant petrel to Common Diving out. Rain on the original Sunday meant conservation benefit from a knowledge Petrel. The "big prize" was a banded it was spread over two weekends. No of "palaeoecology "? Common Diving Petrel, one of the rarities were found. Unusual birds pioneer fledglings in DOC'Sprogramme, included overwintering Wrybills - one at The importance of human initiated in 1997, to establish this species Ashley and eight on the Avon-Heathcote. intervention in those efforts is apparent on Mana Island. 73 Variable Oysercatchers on the Avon- in the present enthusiasm for "mainland Heathcote was a very good count, and islands". In July, Alan Saunders, Live sightings of special interest in the hybrid oystercatcher at the Ashley technical coordinator of mainland July were a New Zealand Falcon at was interesting. Itswas a good efffort islands for DOC,discussed the two main Melling and 100+ Cape Pigeons at the from those who helped, as usual, and tools of this intervention: translocation sewerage outfall near Pencarrow. all help was very much appreciated of endangered species, and eradication (Nick is hoping someone else will of pests to restore a damaged ecosystem. Some members are helping to organise the next one!). The best bird organise a survey of birds in a forested for him was not a wader, but a Spotless From a more positive point of view, block @art of the East Harbour Regional Crake at Hart's Creek. listening to Chris Robertson at the Park) which neighbours are proposing August meeting we felt invited to fly free for development as a "mainland island". In July the annual Ashburton Lakes with the albatross. Here scientific trip took place. The weather was not as intervention consists of attaching radio Planning has commenced for a week- good as recent years, with cloud and monitors and mini-computers, and what long field trip to Pureora and Whirinaki drizzle but thankfully no wind. An eight marvellous information is now Forest Parks, where members hope to inch dump of snow previously had becoming available! After two years of see, and hear, the difference between almost melted away. There was more ice tracking, the Chatham Island Mollymawk an area where predators are controlled cover than last year and so birds were has been shown to have limited by DOC and one where there is no concentrated into smaller areas. One distribution during the breeding season. control. group (the four who,went to Lake Emily "Civil service" birds, feeding daily from and the Maori Lakes) were lucky enough nine to five, said Chris, in contrast to (Rod Orange) to see a New Zealand Falcon down to the great Diomedeidae?,the Wandering, ten metres as it flew past them and the Northern Royal, and the Antipodean landed on the ground, almost too close Albatrosses, whose non-breeding range Canterbury to focus on. They did not see many especially, and incredible flight speed, wildfowl or grebes, which were more are being revealed for the first time. The evening talks have taken the numerous on the other lakes. Some Royals have been estimated to fly branch members to some interesting down-wind at speeds up to 90 to 100 islands this last couple of months. In In August, 13 members and friends kph "for days and days". June Ron Nilsson shared some slides and went up to Kaikoura for the weekend. stories about Codfish Island. The start Top of the agenda were seabirds, and After two quarterly counts by of Codfish as a conservation concern notable were superb views of two members in the first survey of Kapiti began with a young Ron Nilsson Southern Royal Albatrosses battling to Island since the elimination of rats, Colin persuading DOC that the island had keep the squabbling Cape Pigeons and Miskelly reported significant increases in promise as somewhere to preserve assorted other mollymawks at bay from numbers of Bellbirds, Kakariki, NZ species. the food put out for them at only an Robins and Saddlebacks, and significant arm's length from the stern of the boat. decreases in Silvereyes, Tomtits and Tui. Eradication of Weka and possums Other highlights were excellent views of involved cutting a network of tracks on Fairy Prions in flight and on the surface Robins on Mana Island were banded some pretty uneven terrain including close to the vessel, Antarctic Fulmars by a team led by Geoff de Lisle on cliff faces. Successful eradication of both and, at the outset, very confiding Queen's Birthday weekend. pests has meant a comeback for nesting Hutton's Shearwaters resting on the seabirds and a regrowth of forest and water. On Sunday Kowhai Bush didn't The monthly survey of Wellington scrub from a pretty degraded state. The disappoint, with all of the resident bush Harbour is now into its second year, lack of these pests meant there was a birds being located, including Riflemen thanks to the commitment of about 25 refuge island for Kakapo when cats were and New Zealand Robins. members. Compared with earlier decimating them on Stewart Island. Due surveys, evidence indicates greater to strong tidal currents, pests are Wading birds are thin on the ground numbers of Variable Oystercatchers and unlikely to reinvade by swimming the at the moment. One Wrybill at the Ashley Little Shags, a decrease in Black Shags channel between Codfish and Stewart mid-July, three Turnstones at Lake and no significant change of White- Island. Ellesmere (Embankment Road). The fronted Terns or Fluttering Shearwaters. lake was very high. The boardwalk at There are possibly fewer Reef Herons. In July Jonathan Banks showed some Hart's Creek was under a minimum of Red-billed Gulls have experienced a big wonderful slides from a recent trip to four inches and a maximum of ten decline, as have Black-backed Gulls over the Snarcs Islands with Paul Sagar and inches of water, making getting to the the decades covered by the three Don Badden, to continue Paul's study hide a little more interesting than usual. surveys. The closing of the meat- of the mollymawks. The impressions At least one White-winged Black Tern
OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999 19 was at Coopers Lagoon (with up to six 31 October beach patrol, Rob 17 October field trip to Homewood there in August). Wheeler ph (09) 299-7069 Station to see cliff-nesting seabirds, 9 November evening meeting, skinks Colin Scadden (06) 378-6423 Nick Allen counted 98 Australasian and geckos 17 November evening meeting, Crested Grebes on Lake Forsyth on 14 November Firth of Thames plumage and recognition of Scaup, Saturday, and four from Drain Road on Census, Tony Habraken (09) 238-5284 Barbara Lovatt Lake Ellesmere on Sunday. Of the latter, 21 November beach patrol, Rob 20 November field trip to eastern three flew off, not something that you Wheeler ph (09) 299-7069 shore, Lake Wairarapa, Brian Boeson ph often see grebes do. Scott Butcher's 28 November Manukau Harbour (06) 304-9074 count of 112 about a fortnight earlier Census, Tony Habraken (09) 238-5284 4 December pot luck tea, Barbara was even better. The count on Lake 5 December summer BBQ, Bill and Lovatt Forsyth the day after the Ashburton Barbara Ormonds ph (09) 238-6438 count was 76, so who knows how many Wellin~ton were hiding unseen on Lake Ellesmere! November field trip to Manawatu Estuary Colin Hill had about 50 New Zealand Beach patrols, Jean Luke ph (04) Scaup on Lake Ellesmere near his place 293-5601 Evening meetings occur on the 3'* the other day - most unusual, and Harbour survey, 2nd Sunday of the Wednesday of each month, bar January. possibly a continuation of the regional month, 1-3pm, Ros Batchelor ph (04) increase. Held at 3'"oor, Department of Conservation, London Street, Hamilton 479-4095 (Nick Allen & Frances Schmeshel) at 7.30PM sharp. Any enquiries, call Hugh Clifford 07 8553751 Canterbu~ 15 Sep - evening meeting, Coastal 23-25 October long weekend at Ki- WHAT'S ON! environment threats & solutions Wainono Lagoon and South Canterbury, 18-10 Sep - Rangitoto Range trip Sheila Petch ph (03) 348-1889 17 Oct - Spring migration day - 1 November evening meeting, Miranda Shorebird Centre Science Alive, Moorehouse Ave. Kiwi at 20 Oct - evening meeting, topic TBA Willowbank, Nick Allen ph (03) 312- 7 Nov - Tiritiri Matangi island trip 7183 visit &ka study site, Mike Graham ph 17 Nov - evening meeting - Blue 20 November Hinewai Reserve (near (09) 817-5537 Penguin studies Akaroa), Sheila Petch ph (03) 348-1889 5 October evening meeting, 27 Nov - harbours census 29 November evening meeting, encounters with Kiwi. Auckland College 8 Dec - pot-luck Xmas dinner 6 pm predator control in the Waitaki Basin, of Education (first building on left, Gate at DOC Nick Allen ph (03) 312-7183 1). Gwenda Pulham. 10 Oct/ 14 Nov/ 12 Dec - Hamilton 11-12 December summer wader 9 October Muriwai Beach Patrol, Lakes Census count at Lake Ellesmere, Ron Nilsson ph John Simmons ph (09) 828-8642 16 Oct/ 21 Nov/ 19 Dec - Cambridge (03) 338-8936 22-25 October Lzbour Weekend, Idke Census. Tawharanui survey, George Schischka ph Hamilton lakes monthly counts - Otaeo (09) 827-3728 Rotoroa/Hamilton Barry Friend (07) 3 October Heywood Point Bush, 2 November evening meeting, 8436729, Rotokaeo/Forest Brian Louise Foord ph (03) 467 5041 Morepork diet Challinor (07) 8552561 22-25 October long weekend at Ki- 6 Novemeber Muriwai Beach Patrol, Te Koutu/Cambridge Hugh Clifford Wainono Lagoon and South Canterbury, John Simmons ph (09) 828-8642 (07) 8553751 Louise Foord ph (03) 467 5041 13 November Mangawhai Wader Waikato beach patrols, 5-minute bird 27 October evening meeting, Otago Census, Mary McKenzie ph (09) 423- counts and mist-netting, Paul Cuming Art Society building, 8.00 pm.. Birds of 7016 (07) 8298215 Namibia. 19-21 November "ri Survey, Mike 21 November summer wader count, Graham ph (09) 817-5537 Ken Gager ph (03) 487 6670 27 November Kaipara Wader Census, Adrian Reigen ph (09) 814-9741 28 November Manukau Wader Western Australia Census, Connie Schischka ph (09) 827- 27 November Banded Dotterel 3728 Survey at Sulphur Bay, Lake Rotokawa, Tour 7 December evening meeting, re- Scoria Flat, and Tukino Road I I am hoping to organise a small group 4-5 December Banded Dotterel establishing seabird colonies and (10-12) to go to south-western Australia introducing the new bird mapping banding at Tukino Road and Lake in Sept. 2000. The theme will be birds scheme Rotokawa and botany and the planned dates are 11 January summer picnic at Tahuna 6 December evening meeting in Sept. 9th-29th, 2000. Torea Nature Reserve 6.30pm, Michael Rotorua, Kerry Oates ph (06) 385-9505 The tour will be professionally or- Taylor ph (09) 524-9234 Hawkes Bay ganised and approximate cost is expecterd to be around $2,500 (ex Perth). 1 February evening meeting, Labour Weekend Lake If you are interested in joining us, please sketches in the Sub-antarctic Waikaremoana contact: 5 February Muriwai Beach Patrol, 6 November Census II John Simmons ph (09) 828-8642 7 November Porangahau Census BETTY SEDDON 12 December meetingiBBQ 11 Grey Street Wairarapa Cambridge 13 October evening meeting, habitat Phone South Aucklan and distribution of Scaup, Janet (07) 827 7761 12 October evening meeting, travels Dennison ' to India and Nepal 17 October wader watching with the Miranda Naturalists Trust DEADLINE FOR THE DECEMBER ISSUE ISe10NOVEMBER
( 20 OSNZNews - No.92 - September 1999