Subantarctic Adams Island and its birdlife

Adams Island, the second-largest island in New Zealand's Auckland Islands group and the largest without established introduced mammals, supports a unique and abundant avifauna due to its predator-free environment. The island's diverse habitats—ranging from forest to shrubland, grassland, fellfield, and herb-fields—foster high densities of bird species, closely resembling pre-human conditions with the notable exception of the Auckland Island merganser. A total of 48 bird species have been recorded on Adams Island, including 22 land birds and 26 seabirds, with 34 species confirmed or likely to breed there. Additionally, eight introduced species, six of which probably breed, add to the island's ecological complexity. This study provides a comprehensive description of the island's ornithological history and current avifauna status, highlighting its significance as a pristine ecosystem in the Subantarctic region.

Elliott, G. P., Walker, K. J., Parker, G. C., Rexer-Huber, K., & Miskelly, C. M. (2020). Subantarctic Adams Island and its birdlife. Notornis, 67(1), 153. https://doi.org/10.63172/476882jljzif