Bird research

Bird research at Te Papa is under taken by the Curator Terrestrial Vertebrates, Colin Miskelly, and the Curator Fossil Vertebrates, Alan Tennyson.

Colin Miskelly joined the Te Papa team in 2010 after a 19-year career with the Department of Conservation. His current research interests include: phylogeny, ecology and conservation of New Zealand snipes; translocation and restoration of burrow-nesting seabirds; conservation status of New Zealand birds; vagrant birds in New Zealand; and effects of management changes on forest bird communities. Colin is also researching a biography of the New Zealand naturalist and bird collector Edgar Stead.

Recent publications

Baker, A.J.; Miskelly, C.M.; Haddrath, O. 2010. Species limits and population differentiation in New Zealand snipes (Scolopacidae: Coenocorypha). Conservation genetics 11: 1363-1374.

Miskelly, C.M.; Baker, A.J. 2009. Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand . Notornis 56: 113-123.

Miskelly, C.M.; Taylor, G.A.; Gummer, H.; Williams, R. 2009. Translocations of eight species of burrow-nesting seabirds (genera Pterodroma, Pelecanoides, Pachyptila and Puffinus: Family Procellariidae. Biological Conservation 142: 1965-1980.

Miskelly, C.M.; Dowding, J.E.; Elliott, G.P.; Powlesland, R.G.; Robertson, H.A.; Sagar, P.M.; Scofield, R.P.; Taylor, G.A. 2008. Conservation status of New Zealand birds, 2008. Notornis 55: 117-135.