Transmitter attachment and its effects on Australian brush-turkey hatchlings

Abstract

Behaviour of free-ranging megapode hatchlings is best studied by radio-tracking because these superprecocial birds receive no parental care and therefore cannot be followed by the tracking of their parents. In preparation for a study of the behaviour of free-ranging Australian brush-turkey (Alectura lathami) chicks, we investigated methods of transmitter attachment and assessed possible effects on the behaviour and condition of captive hatchlings. We attached transmitters to 2–10-day-old chicks by gluing the tag to the skin on the back with eyelash-glue. Rapid-setting glues (such as Superglue), often used for gluing transmitters to other birds, were found to damage the skin and were not used. Retention of transmitters was 3–4 weeks. We detected no difference in the time spent preening, feeding, resting and moving between captive radio-tagged chicks and a control group. Flight of tagged chicks was not hindered by the radio-package and tagged chicks gained mass at the same rate as the control group. Free-ranging chicks with radio-tags showed no obvious signs of a negative effect of the transmitters on behaviour: they flew without obvious impediment, walked more than 100 m per day and, except for a single chick, did not become entangled in vegetation. We recommend our attachment method for studies of precocial and superprecocial chicks where transmitter attachment is deemed essential.