The Fiordland Crested Penguin survey, stage II: Dusky and Breaksea sounds | Notornis and Birds New Zealand

[摘要] From 10 to 16 August 1991, we surveyed the complex of sounds making up Breaksea and Dusky Sounds, the Acheron Passage and Wet Jacket Arm, Fiordland, for Fiordland Crested Penguins. Two islands in Doubtful Sound were also checked. Minimum total estimates were 24 nests and 62 penguins in Doubtful Sound and 47 nests and-106 penguins in the Breaksea/Dusky complex. Penguins known to be on Breaksea I. and adjacent islands were not surveyed. Relatively more penguins were found nesting in caves or under rock overhangs and fewer were found in dugouts under trees than were found in the more northern sounds in 1990. No penguins were found on the many islands in Dusky Sound formed from steep-sided granite domes. The results support our suggestion made in 1990 that there are fewer than 1000 nests for the species annually.

[学科分类] 动物科学

[关键词] beach patrol;New Zealand;recoveries;seabirds;Sterna