Abstract of John Terrance DARBY, 2023
Item — Box: 19
Identifier: H03240002
Abstract
JOHN TERRANCE DARBY
Interviewer: Chrissy Wickes
Abstracter: Judith Christie
Interview: 10 May 2017
TRACK ONE
01.00 Interview introduction. Self born 28 May 1936.
01.45 Involved in Stewart Island kakapo recovery. Started work at the Otago Museum as Scientific Officer in Zoology in 1969 and curated biological collections. Describes
03.00 Found a kakapo specimen from Richard Henry when curating, which was self dissected. Many other specimens were also from Richard Henry. Also a collection of 27 kakapo skins, some of which had been taxidermied by William Smyth. Self was able to sex kakapo from the material.
05.50 Phoned Don Merton to inform him that would now be able to distinguish between males and females. Don and others visited Otago Museum to talk about this around 1970. This was first involvement self had with kakapo.
07.00 In 1961, self was on Stewart Island with George Knox, Professor of Zoology at Canterbury University. Professor Knox was there to study coastal marine biology, and he and self were camped at Port Pegasus. Self heard what he originally thought was a bittern, booming, but now thinks that it was a kakapo.
08.20 Invited to go to Stewart Island in 1979 by Wildlife Service. Was supporting an American student working on the diet of the kakapo, called Margaret?. Self’s interest in zoology is primarily animal behavior. Arrived at camp on Stewart Island – not permitted to photograph or disturb kakapo. Using night vision gear, observed a metre from the track a dead kakapo. Describes
12.00 Organised an exhibition on Extinction and Survival at Otago Museum. Describes
13.15 Wonderful experience on Stewart Island observing kakapo, but expedition not well organized. Don Merton not there. Most kakapo activity between 1.00 am and 4.00 am.
End of Track One
TRACK TWO
00.00 Spent time in a hide observing kakapo, but had to get out of hide because weather was making it sway describes. Saw a kakapo very close which was a special experience. Hide was blown over soon after self used it.
02.20 Describes discovery of dead kakapo again, killed by predation.
03.20 Self pleased that recovery programme for kakapo is now going well. Lot of uncertainty to start with, including dispersement of kakapo on to offshore islands. Courtship and mating behavior requires more than two or three birds.
04.30 Self spent one week on Stewart Island, once only.
05.10 New Zealand museums trade a lot of material with other museums around the world. Natural History Museum in Paris once requested the return of a skeleton of a giraffe donated to the Otago Museum in the 1890s describes.
06.45 9,000 species of birds in the world – Otago Museum has 3,000 of these species in collections, including a number of extinct and endangered birds.
07.20 Self originally appointed as Scientific Officer in Zoology at the Otago Museum. When applied for the job, was not necessarily well qualified, but had a vision. Mentions the albatross colony and the yellow eyed penguins. At the start of time there, Zoology department underfunded and collections not curated. Commenced children’s programmes with 400 children a week attending, which led to self becoming Assistant Director of the Museum and Head of Sciences, allowing self to drive the museum into different areas, including interactive science areas. Job was to get to know and manage the collections, including handling enquiries. Describes
11.20 Kakapo that self dissected in 1970 will still be at the Otago Museum.
12.00 Received a feather from Stewart Island purporting to be from the South Island kokako from Artie (?) Buckingham. One of the last South Island kokako was shot near the Homer Tunnel. American (?) Steppenheim has described different bird feathers. Self believed that feather was probably kokako, but National Museum was unsure. Sent to specialist in the Netherlands who was using DNA, and he confirmed it was from a kokako. Feather now lost. Mentions recent incident when Australian Customs destroyed plant matter
End of Track Two
TRACK THREE
00.00 Important to check credentials of people who want to borrow items from New Zealand collections. Once lent a specimen of a south Island thrush to a reputable organization, which was not returned.
01.25 Otago Museum has 27 kakapo specimens, many of which are study skins which have marginal value. Seven or eight mounted specimens and some kakapo eggs.
02.30 Self used a line of dead kakapo in exhibition to show vulnerability. While working with yellow eyed penguins, followed a feral cat they called Cynthia which predated on penguin chicks. Describes yellow eyed penguins and their difference to other penguin species.
04.25 As a zoologist, self more interested in live animals than dead ones. Has had a wonderful career.
End of Track Three
Interviewer: Chrissy Wickes
Abstracter: Judith Christie
Interview: 10 May 2017
TRACK ONE
01.00 Interview introduction. Self born 28 May 1936.
01.45 Involved in Stewart Island kakapo recovery. Started work at the Otago Museum as Scientific Officer in Zoology in 1969 and curated biological collections. Describes
03.00 Found a kakapo specimen from Richard Henry when curating, which was self dissected. Many other specimens were also from Richard Henry. Also a collection of 27 kakapo skins, some of which had been taxidermied by William Smyth. Self was able to sex kakapo from the material.
05.50 Phoned Don Merton to inform him that would now be able to distinguish between males and females. Don and others visited Otago Museum to talk about this around 1970. This was first involvement self had with kakapo.
07.00 In 1961, self was on Stewart Island with George Knox, Professor of Zoology at Canterbury University. Professor Knox was there to study coastal marine biology, and he and self were camped at Port Pegasus. Self heard what he originally thought was a bittern, booming, but now thinks that it was a kakapo.
08.20 Invited to go to Stewart Island in 1979 by Wildlife Service. Was supporting an American student working on the diet of the kakapo, called Margaret?. Self’s interest in zoology is primarily animal behavior. Arrived at camp on Stewart Island – not permitted to photograph or disturb kakapo. Using night vision gear, observed a metre from the track a dead kakapo. Describes
12.00 Organised an exhibition on Extinction and Survival at Otago Museum. Describes
13.15 Wonderful experience on Stewart Island observing kakapo, but expedition not well organized. Don Merton not there. Most kakapo activity between 1.00 am and 4.00 am.
End of Track One
TRACK TWO
00.00 Spent time in a hide observing kakapo, but had to get out of hide because weather was making it sway describes. Saw a kakapo very close which was a special experience. Hide was blown over soon after self used it.
02.20 Describes discovery of dead kakapo again, killed by predation.
03.20 Self pleased that recovery programme for kakapo is now going well. Lot of uncertainty to start with, including dispersement of kakapo on to offshore islands. Courtship and mating behavior requires more than two or three birds.
04.30 Self spent one week on Stewart Island, once only.
05.10 New Zealand museums trade a lot of material with other museums around the world. Natural History Museum in Paris once requested the return of a skeleton of a giraffe donated to the Otago Museum in the 1890s describes.
06.45 9,000 species of birds in the world – Otago Museum has 3,000 of these species in collections, including a number of extinct and endangered birds.
07.20 Self originally appointed as Scientific Officer in Zoology at the Otago Museum. When applied for the job, was not necessarily well qualified, but had a vision. Mentions the albatross colony and the yellow eyed penguins. At the start of time there, Zoology department underfunded and collections not curated. Commenced children’s programmes with 400 children a week attending, which led to self becoming Assistant Director of the Museum and Head of Sciences, allowing self to drive the museum into different areas, including interactive science areas. Job was to get to know and manage the collections, including handling enquiries. Describes
11.20 Kakapo that self dissected in 1970 will still be at the Otago Museum.
12.00 Received a feather from Stewart Island purporting to be from the South Island kokako from Artie (?) Buckingham. One of the last South Island kokako was shot near the Homer Tunnel. American (?) Steppenheim has described different bird feathers. Self believed that feather was probably kokako, but National Museum was unsure. Sent to specialist in the Netherlands who was using DNA, and he confirmed it was from a kokako. Feather now lost. Mentions recent incident when Australian Customs destroyed plant matter
End of Track Two
TRACK THREE
00.00 Important to check credentials of people who want to borrow items from New Zealand collections. Once lent a specimen of a south Island thrush to a reputable organization, which was not returned.
01.25 Otago Museum has 27 kakapo specimens, many of which are study skins which have marginal value. Seven or eight mounted specimens and some kakapo eggs.
02.30 Self used a line of dead kakapo in exhibition to show vulnerability. While working with yellow eyed penguins, followed a feral cat they called Cynthia which predated on penguin chicks. Describes yellow eyed penguins and their difference to other penguin species.
04.25 As a zoologist, self more interested in live animals than dead ones. Has had a wonderful career.
End of Track Three
Dates
- 2023
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Extent
From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)
Language of Materials
English
Creator
- From the Record Group: Wickes, Chrissy (Interviewer, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository
