IMPACT OF FOOD ABUNDANCE, DIET AND FOOD QUALITY ON THE BREEDING OF THE FRUIT PIGEON, PAREA HEMIPHAGA-NOVAESEELANDIAE-CHATHAMENSIS, ON CHATHAM ISLAND, NEW-ZEALAND

Breeding and diet of Parea Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae chathamensis were studied in relation to food abundance and quality on Chatham Island f rom 1991 to 1994. Although pairs were found breeding in all months, th ey nested predominantly during winter and spring (June-November). The timing of the nesting season, the proportion of pairs that bred and th e number of chicks reared per pair varied between nesting seasons. Dur ing the 1992-1993 and 1994-1995 nesting seasons, all pairs nested, and many pairs reared two chicks, often involving clutch overlap (58% of 12 cases in 1992-1993, 37% of eight cases in 1994-1995). In 1993-1994, when fruit was scarce, nesting began 2 months later, only 44% of pair s nested and no pairs attempted to rear a second chick. Prior to and d uring the productive nesting seasons (1992-1993, 1994-1995), the diet of Parea consisted mainly of fruit, particularly that of Matipo Myrsin e chathamica in autumn (March-May) and Hoho Pseudopanax chathamicus in winter and spring. Nutrient analyses of the main Parea foods showed t hat the pulp of these fruit were rich in lipids and available carbohyd rates compared with those in foliage foods. Heavy fruiting of Matipo a nd Hoho promoted early nesting and prolonged nesting for 6 months, inc luding nesting during winter.