1 Notornis, 2014, Vol. 61: 1-9 0029-4470 © The Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. Received 9 April 2013; accepted 20 January 2014 *Correspondence: tgreene@doc.govt.nz INTRODUCTION The Kermadec Islands comprise a chain of widely scaered active and extinct volcanic cones (or remnants of them) emerging from the Kermadec sub-oceanic ridge adjacent to the Tonga trench and Le Havre Trough (Veitch et al. 2004; Gaskin 2011). Macauley Island, the largest of the southern group, was visited during the winters of 2002 and 2006 to count and assess the risk to the population of Kermadec red-crowned parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cyanurus) by a proposed Pacific rat (Raus exulans) eradication programme (Greene et al. 2004). During these visits we also had the opportunity and the means (a vessel equipped with a helicopter) to visit other islands briefly within this group and make notes on the status of the flora and fauna. This paper records observations of birds made during 2 winter visits in 2002 and 2006. The publication of these winter observations is intended Additional notes on the birds and vegetation of the southern Kermadec Islands, 2002 and 2006 TERRY C. GREENE* Science and Capability, Department of Conservation, Private Bag 4715, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand R. PAUL SCOFIELD Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand PETER J. DILKS Science and Capability, Department of Conservation, Private Bag 4715, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand RICHARD GRIFFITHS Department of Conservation, PO Box 32026, Devonport, Auckland 0744, New Zealand JOHN W. BARKLA Department of Conservation, PO Box 5244, Dunedin 9058, New Zealand Abstract Twenty five bird species were recorded following 2 brief winter visits to the southern Kermadec Islands during 2002 and 2006. Of these, 15 were seabirds and 10 land or shorebirds. Rapid changes in the dominant vegetation cover occurred between 1988 and 2002. Ferns replaced grass and sedge swards over much of the island, and although this succession was rapid, the distribution of woody species (the presumed historical dominant cover) did not change, most likely due to limited seed sources, Pacific rat (Raus exulans) predation, and competition for space from other species. Possible impacts of these changes on the avifaunal composition of Macauley Island are discussed. Following the presumed eradication of Pacific rats from Macauley Island in 2006, recommendations are made for future vegetation and bird monitoring. Greene, T.C.; Scofield, R.P.; Dilks, P.J.; Griffiths, R.; Barkla, J.W. 2014. Birds of the southern Kermadec Islands, 2002 and 2006. Notornis 61 (1): 1-9. Keywords Kermadec Islands; birds; vegetation; eradication; restoration; succession; distribution