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Flipper Bands Modify the Short‐Term Diving Behavior of Little Penguins
Author(s) -
FALLOW PAMELA M.,
CHIARADIA ANDRÉ,
ROPERTCOUDERT YAN,
KATO AKIKO,
REINA RICHARD D.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.2193/2008-146
Subject(s) - term (time) , zoology , ecology , biology , geography , physics , quantum mechanics
Flipper banding has long been the primary method to identify individual penguins, despite studies indicating that it may be detrimental to breeding success and survival. Our objectives were to measure the effects that flipper bands may have on diving performance of little penguins to determine whether the bands may be detrimental. We studied short‐ and long‐term direct effects of flipper banding on diving behavior of free‐ranging little penguins ( Eudyptula minor ) by comparing diving behavior before and after banding and by comparing diving performance of unbanded birds to those that had carried flipper bands for several years, respectively. Recently banded birds displayed increases in multiple variables following banding. Long‐term banded penguins did not exhibit differences to their unbanded counterparts in most variables examined. Our findings are useful to those considering or reviewing the use of bands in penguin study and management.