Campbell Snipe

Campbell Snipe
New Zealand snipe (left) and Bar-tailed Godwit
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Scolopacidae
Genus:	Coenocorypha
Species:	C. aucklandica
Subspecies:	C. a. perseverance
Trinomial name
Coenocorypha aucklandica perseverance Miskelly, 2009[1]
Synonyms
Coenocorypha "Campbell" Coenocorypha perseverance

The Campbell Snipe or Campbell Island Snipe (Coenocorypha aucklandica perseverance) is a rare subspecies of the Subantarctic Snipe, endemic to Campbell Island, a subantarctic island south of New Zealand in the Southern Ocean. It was not formally described until 2009.^[1] The subspecific name alludes to the name of the sealing brig Perseverance, captained by Frederick Hasselborough, that discovered Campbell Island in 1810, and which probably inadvertently introduced rats to the island when it was wrecked there in 1828.^[2]

History

The existence of the Campbell Snipe was unknown until 1997 when, during a search for the Campbell Teal, there was the chance discovery of a small population on an almost inaccessible rock, Jacquemart Island. Thus there is not much information about it and it remains one of the least known birds in the world.^[3]

Snipe are extinct on the mainland of New Zealand but continue to survive on several subantarctic islands. A naturalist landed on Campbell island in 1840 and whilst there found no birds to be present: all endemic land birds had been destroyed by rats from shipwrecks in the area (in the mid-19th century). By 2001 the rats on Campbell Island had been eradicated (the largest eradication of rats as a conservation effort in the world) and it was hoped that the snipe would naturally return to their original home.^[3]

In 2006 BDG Synthesis funded a search effort on Campbell Island. Snipe expert Dr Colin Miskelly, and James Fraser with a snipe dog, surveyed the island for snipe to see if they had re-established on the main island. They also intended to acquire DNA for analysis and comparison with the extinct mainland species. The snipe had already re-established with a population of about 30 individuals. This news was greeted with relief as it was thought that the species would have to be re-introduced from Jacquemart Island through human intervention. However, no intervention has been necessary as the snipe are naturally repopulating the 11,000-hectare pest-free island.^[3]

References

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Miskelly (2009).
2. ^ DOC media release (2010).
3. ^ ^{a b c} Miskelly & Fraser (2006).

Sources

• Miskelly, Colin M. (2009). "Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand". Notornis 56: 113–123. 
• "Campbell Island snipe (Coenocorypha undescribed species) recovery following rat eradication (DOC Science Poster no.92)". Miskelly, Colin; & Fraser, James. NZ Department of Conservation. 2006-07-01. http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/SciencePoster92.pdf. Retrieved 2010-10-05. 
• "New Zealand’s newest bird named after vessel that nearly destroyed it". DOC media release. NZ Department of Conservation. 2010-02-16. http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/news/media-releases/new-zealands-newest-bird-named-after-vessel-that-nearly-destroyed-it/. Retrieved 2010-10-05. 

External links

• Photo of Campbell Island Snipe