摘要:

SUMMARYLOYN, R.H., LANE, B.A., CHANDLER, C. and CARR, G.W. 1986. Ecology of Orange-bellied ParrotsNeophema chrysogasterat their main remnant wintering site. Emu86: 195–206.Orange-bellied Parrots were studied near Point Wilson from 1978 to 1980. About half of the world's known population, from 50 to 70, wintered there each year. Numbers were highest in July. The Parrots roosted in tall shrubs ofSclerostegia arbusculaand probably drank once per day. They ate seeds, mainly of Chenopodiaceae, from plants in saltmarsh and sewage filtration paddocks. Food appeared to be scarce in July and August 1978 and 1979, when they fed mostly in filtration paddocks. In 1980 they used saltmarsh more, partly because some food plants had regenerated well after sheep had been removed. Other species of native and introduced birds used the same food, but mainly when it was abundant.The Orange-bellied Parrot has probably become rare because its specialized coastal habitats have been reduced by clearing, grazing, and construction of salt-works. The Point Wilson area is important as it offers habitats that provide food throughout the winter period, in natural dry saltmarsh and artificial sewage filtration paddocks.

ISSN:0158-4197    

DOI:10.1071/MU9860195

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SUMMARYMONTAGUE, T.L., CULLEN, J.M. and FITZHERBERT, K. 1986. The diet of the Short-tailed ShearwaterPuffinus tenuirostrisduring its breeding season. Emu 86: 207–213.The diet of the Short-tailed ShearwaterPuffinus tenuirostriswas studied over two breeding seasons. Of 307 food samples collected, 74% contained fish, 56% crustaceans, and 13% cephalopods. Birds ate at least seven species of euphausiids, seven species of fish and two species of cephalopods. Most commonly encountered prey wereNyctiphanes australis, a euphausiid; andParaprone clausi, a pelagic amphipod. In both years the diet changed from a crustacean diet before egg-laying to a fish and crustacean diet after hatching. The change was attributed to a reduction in the surface swarming ofN. australisand an increase in the availability of post-larval fish, e.g. anchovy, after December. The mean weight of food that birds brought ashore increased from 19 g before egg-laying to 72 g during feeding of chicks. The mean weight of chick meals increased more than two-fold during January, then remained constant throughout the remainder of the season. Information of the distribution of one of the common prey species,N. australis, suggests that birds breeding at Phillip Island feed in Bass Strait and along the continental shelf.

ISSN:0158-4197    

DOI:10.1071/MU9860207

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SUMMARYTARBURTON, M.K. 1986. Breeding of the White-rumped Swiftlet in Fiji. Emu 86: 214–227.The majority of Fijian White-rumped SwiftletsCollocalia spodiopygius assimilisnest in totally dark caves. Local habitat determines which vegetable materials are cemented into their nests. Colonies examined contained 34 to 7370 nests and eggs were found in these nests only between September and March. The clutch, which was almost invariably two eggs laid three to five days apart, was incubated for 22–24 days. Fifty-eight percent of eggs hatched successfully, and, if the total clutch or brood was lost, it was usually replaced within 14 days. The fledgling success of 92% gave a breeding success of 53% or 1.1 young fledged per breeding pair. Most chick mortality resulted from chicks falling from their nests. There is no sexual dimorphism and both sexes share in incubation and feeding nestlings. New data are compared with those for other Apodidae and Hirundinidae. They show a positive correlation between feeding frequency and the fledging period. Each chick was fed on average only 1.65 times each day, making them one of the least frequently fed of the Apodines. The only ectoparasites observed on the birds or their nests were the tick-like fliesMyophthiria fijiarum.

ISSN:0158-4197    

DOI:10.1071/MU9860214

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SUMMARYBROWN, R.S., NORMAN, F.I. and EADES, D.W. 1986. Notes on Blue and Kerguelen Petrels found beach-washed in Victoria, 1984. Emu 86: 228–238.Weights and measurements from Blue and Kerguelen PetrelsHalobaena caeruleaandPterodroma brevirostrisfound beach-washed in Victoria between 23 June and 8 September 1984 are given, and details of reproductive condition, items found in gizzards and aspects of feather wear and moult are also presented. Some data from birds held in the Western Australian Museum, and the Museum of Victoria, are also discussed. Whilst body measurements of the 1984 birds were similar to those presented by other authors for birds caught on breeding islands, body weights were reduced by about a third.The gizzards of both species contained cephalopod remains (from eight families), but Blue Petrels had ingested a variety of food items (including freshwater and terrestrial insects), and debris (including plastic pellets, foil and fragments, aluminium foil and pumice), apparently from the sea surface. The probable difference, and consequences, in feeding strategies in relation to diet, bill structure and wing loading are discussed.From feather wear and reproductive parameters we conclude that the wrecked Kerguelen Petrels were of a mixed age, but the Blue Petrels were mostly birds of the year. Assuming an origin to the west and or south of Australia, weather systems preceding their occurrence are discussed. The strong winds which finally drove them onshore may have been the proximate cause of death but it is likely that such birds were already weakened by starvation and depletion of food resources.

ISSN:0158-4197    

DOI:10.1071/MU9860228

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

SUMMARYBLABER, S.J.M. 1986. The distribution and abundance of seabirds south-east of Tasmania and over the Soela Sea- mount during April 1985. Emu 86: 239–244.The distribution and abundance of seabirds over and around the‘Soela Seamount’(43°50‘S, 150°25'E) and on a transect (120 nautical miles [nm]) from S.E. Tasmania to the seamount are documented and compared. During the study, the surface temperature/salinity front marking the eastern edge of the extension of the East Australian Current was located 70 nm east of Tasmania and cool water extended northwards over the seamount. Twelve species occurred only on the warm side of the front and over the seamount, seven solely on the cold side of the front or over the seamount, while only five occurred both sides of the front. Although the frontal zone appeared to have marked effects on distribution patterns, there were significant differences between the abundances of four species over and adjacent to the seamount. The significance of the presence of species such as Shy AlbatrossDiomedea cauta, over the warm side of the front close to Tasmania and over the seamount, is discussed.

ISSN:0158-4197    

DOI:10.1071/MU9860239

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

ISSN:0158-4197    

DOI:10.1071/MU9860245

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

ISSN:0158-4197    

DOI:10.1071/MU9860249a

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor

ISSN:0158-4197    

DOI:10.1071/MU9860254

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1986

数据来源: Taylor