Sea birds found dead in New Zealand in 1961

Beach Patrols in New Zealand during 1961 covered a total distance of 857 miles and yielded 3138 birds (57 species), a record. Species are tabulated by month of occurrence and by the coastal zones in which they were found; unusual species include Eudyptes pachyrhynchus, Procellaria cinerea, P. westlandica, Pterodroma pycrofti, P. leucoptera, P. longirostris (first record), and Garrodia nereis. Major wrecks of Puffinus griseus in May and of Pachyptila vittata in July are described in detail and were probably associated with food shortage. The numbers of birds and the relative importance of different species varied from one part of the coast to another, probably in relation to wind direction and the distribution of birds at sea.