THE MODERN AVIFAUNA OF THE PITCAIRN ISLANDS

Excluding the gadfly petrels Pterodroma spp. and the resident landbird s, this paper details the present status of bird species seen during a n expedition to the Pitcairn Islands (Ducie, Henderson, Oeno and Pitca irn) in 1991 and early 1992. Ten species were recorded in the Islands for the first time. Several Southern Ocean petrels were recorded, most in the midwinter period of June and July. The populations of Christma s Island shearwaters breeding on Oeno and Ducie laid in synchrony ever y 9-10 months. The species is one of few with such a sub-annual, synch ronized regime. The majority of other seabirds had an annual breeding cycle, laying between May and October. Around one percent of the world population of the bristle-thighed curlew passes the non-breeding seas on in the Pitcairn Islands. (C) 1995 The Linnean Society of London