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Evaluating the success of reintroduction of Pāteke (Brown Teal) to lake and forest habitats in a predator‐controlled preserve in New Zealand
Author(s) -
Sheridan Katie,
Waldman John
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
ecological management and restoration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.472
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1442-8903
pISSN - 1442-7001
DOI - 10.1111/emr.12432
Subject(s) - predator , foraging , habitat , predation , ecology , range (aeronautics) , home range , population , flock , biology , geography , materials science , demography , sociology , composite material
Summary Many of New Zealand’s native bird species have declined due to introduction of exotic mammalian predators and habitat loss. Captive breeding and reintroduction of birds to predator‐controlled environments offer a promising means for species recovery. However, these actions pose challenges to a founder population’s ability to become established. This study evaluates home range attributes and roosting and foraging patterns within Zealandia Ecosanctuary (Wellington) of Pāteke (Brown Teal) with the goal of assessing suitability of forested, predator‐controlled sanctuaries as future Pāteke release sites, a habitat type currently considered as unsuitable to the species or of marginal quality. VHF telemetry and motion‐sensing cameras were used to track seven forest‐dwelling Pāteke (‘bush Pāteke’) and three lake‐dwelling Pāteke (‘lake Pāteke’). Lake Pāteke home range size (mean = 3.52 ha) was significantly smaller than for bush Pāteke (mean = 24.71 ha). Mean roost distance to the nearest lake was significantly shorter for lake Pāteke (mean = 3 m) than that of bush Pāteke (mean = 643 m). Two estimates of the percentage of lake edge to forest stream foraging distance percentage were significantly greater for lake Pāteke (mean = 56.1% or 59.0%) than that of bush Pāteke (mean = 5.3% or 5.7%). Forested habitats provide suitable release sites for Pāteke provided that several conditions are met: predator control must be ongoing; a flock site must be available; supplemental feeders should be available temporarily upon release; and the site must be large enough to accommodate at least 50 pairs of Pāteke.