The Chathams — bird update

Forest and Bird, Volume 22, Issue 2, 1 May 1991, Page 3

The Chathams — bird update

Wa A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER of rare and endangered bird species on the Chatham Islands, it is heartening to report on some recent conservation success stories in the region. Black robins, once reduced to five birds, now number 138. A lack of funding means that they may not be fully monitored this coming breeding season. Extensive surveying of kuku, the Chatham Island pigeon, has shown that the population of the bird is closer to 100, up from the previous estimate of 40. Some detailed work is now being carried out on the bird’s diet to understand the relationship between breeding and food supply. The kuku has never been intensively studied before. A further Chatham Island taiko burrow was found in January, bringing the total known active breeding burrows this season to four.

Subfossil deposits indicate that millions of this nocturnal seabird once bred on the Chathams. An intensive predator trapping and poisoning programme is being carried out around the burrows to halt any further decline. More nests of another rare seabird, the Chatham Island petrel — previously known only from 10 burrows — have also been found. Thirteen new burrows were discovered in January, six of these using "war whoops" (see Forest & Bird February 1991). An attempt to captive-rear shore plover at Mt Bruce has failed with most eggs not hatching. Only about 100 of this confiding and striking plover survive, being confined to rodent-free Rangatira (South-East) Island. Source: Rare Bits (Department of Conservation Threatened Species Unit newsletter).