Nest Record Scheme, 1954

The survival rate of a colour-ringed Common Sandpiper population followed from 1977 to 1989 averaged 0.79 per year, but fluctuated in response to April weather. Late April snowstorms in 1981 and 1989 reduced the apparent survival rates, from the previous years, to 0.39 and 0.50, respectively, and the breeding populations fell from 21 to 14 and from 20 to 12 pairs. Recovery from the reduced population size in 1981 proceeded slowly, at increments of only 1 or 2 pairs per year. There appears to be a low rate of recruitment in this population, sufficient to balance the low mortality rate in average years but inadequate to compensate for the extreme mortality produced by extreme weather.     

Albert Demolon 1881–1954

Sans résumé

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Albert Demolon 1881–1954

     

CHAIRMAN'S REPOST, 1954–55

Brown, C. R. 1986. Feather growth, mass loss and duration of moult in Macaroni and Rockhopper Penguins. Ostrich 57:180-184.

The development of new feathers, loss of body mass and the duration of moult were investigated in Macaroni Penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus and Rockhopper Penguins E. chrysocome at Marion Island, southern Indian Ocean. New feathers began developing under the skin before the birds returned ashore to moult, and only began protruding through the skin about five days later when they were already over half their final length. Feather synthesis was complete by 21 days after the birds returned ashore. Loss of body mass was similar to previous observations for the species, but previous reports on the duration of moult do not take into account that moult begins while the birds are still at sea.