111 Received 17 Jun 2006; accepted 31 Aug 2006 *Corresponding author: m.baling@gmail.com Notornis, 2008, Vol. 55: 111-113 0029-4470 © The Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Inc. The Southern Lagoon (22°18’S to 23°S) is situated off the southern part of Grande Terre, New Caledonia. The lagoon contains >70 islands, which vary from unvegetated, flat islets of white sand, to raised, rocky, and forested islands (Bretagnolle & Benoit 1997; Benoit & Bretagnolle 2002). The islands support many bird species, including several endemic subspecies (Delacour 1966; Hannecart 1988) and are also used for fishing and recreation by people (Robinet et al. 1997). Most marine bird surveys of New Caledonia have been conducted during the southern summer (Dec-Mar) breeding season (Bretagnolle & Benoit 1997; Robinet et al. 1997; Benoit & Bretagnolle 2002). Here, we present information on species present in the Southern Lagoon in Sep 2004. The survey was conducted during a search for breeding fairy terns (Sterna nereis) and covered c.25% of the lagoon’s area. We visited 15 islands and 8 coral banks within 8 days; census times on each island varied between 5 min and 4 h. We landed on 5 islands and 1 coral bank; the remainder were surveyed from a boat. Most islands were visited once, but 2 islands were visited twice and 4×, respectively. All bird species sighted and identified were recorded at every visit. A total of 13 bird species was identified during our survey, including 4 seabirds, 7 waterbirds, and 2 other species (Table 1). The most common species was the silver gull (Larus novaehollandiae), followed by crested tern (Sterna bergii), and black-naped tern (S. sumatrana). All marine species listed here have been recorded before in New Caledonia (Rancurel 1976; de Naurois & Rancurel 1978; Hannecart 1988; Benoit & Bretagnolle 2002; Barré & Bachy 2003). We did not record 10 other seabird species recorded in the vicinity of our survey sites by de Naurois & Rancurel (1978), Benoit & Bretagnolle (2002), and Barré & Bachy (2003). These 10 species included the more common wedge-tailed shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) and the black noddy (Anous minutus). Although we could have missed these species as a result of our survey method, which focused on terns along the coast and coral banks during the day, some terns, including bridled tern (Sterna anaethetus), roseate tern (S. dougalli), and lile tern (S. albifrons) were generally absent in Sep, probably because of the paerns of their migrations. They have not been recorded in the area of this survey before Sep (Bretagnolle & Benoit 1997; Barré & Bachy 2003). Additionally, some species, such as red-footed booby (Sula sula) and Tahiti petrel (Pseudobulweria rostrata), have been listed as rare or declining in numbers within the Lagoon (Benoit & Bretagnolle 2002), and so were less likely to be sighted. In Sep 2004, silver gulls and fairy terns were observed breeding on some of the islands visited, but the crested and black-naped terns were not (Table 1). Both crested and black-naped terns breed between Dec and Feb (Benoit & Bretagnolle 2002). Silver gulls in New Caledonia have been recorded to breed between Jul and Oct (Hannecart & Letocart 1980) and fairy terns nesting from Sep to Dec (de Naurois & Rancurel 1978; Hannecart & Letocart 1983). The subspecies S. n. exsul of fairy tern is considered endemic to New Caledonia (Hannecart 1988) and its population is listed as being of national concern because of its low numbers (Benoit & Bretagnolle 2002). However, its numbers are slowly SHORT NOTE Marine and coastal bird survey of islands in the Southern Lagoon, New Caledonia MARLEEN BALING* DIANNE H BRUNTON Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University (Albany Campus), Private Bag 102-904, North Shore Mail Centre, Auckland, New Zealand DARRYL JEFFRIES School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand