
%0 Journal Article
%A Judge, Seth 
%A Lippert, Jill S 
%A Misajon, Kathleen 
%A Hu, Darcy 
%A Hess, Steven C 
%T Videographic evidence of endangered species depredation by feral cat.
%J Pacific Conservation Biology
%D 2012/12/10
%V 18
%N 4
%P 293-296
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/PC120293
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/PC120293 
%X Feral cats (Felis catus) have long been implicated as nest predators of endangered &#x2018;Ua&#x2018;u (Hawaiian Petrel; Pterodroma sandwichensis) on Hawai&#x2018;i Island, but until recently, visual confirmation has been limited by available technology. &#x2018;Ua&#x2018;u nest out of view, deep inside small cavities, on alpine lava flows. During the breeding seasons of 2007 and 2008, we monitored known burrows within Hawai&#x2018;i Volcanoes National Park. Digital infrared video cameras assisted in determining the breeding behaviour and nesting success at the most isolated of burrows. With 7 cameras, we collected a total of 819 videos and 89 still photographs of adult and nestling &#x2018;Ua&#x2018;u at 14 burrows. Videos also confirmed the presence of rats (Rattus spp.) at 2 burrows, &#x2018;&#xd4;ma&#x2018;o (Myadestes obscurus) at 8 burrows, and feral cats at 6 burrows. A sequence of videos showed a feral cat taking a downy &#x2018;Ua&#x2018;u chick from its burrow, representing the first direct evidence of &#x2018;Ua&#x2018;u depredation by feral cat in Hawai&#x2018;i. This technique provides greater understanding of feral cat behaviour in &#x2018;Ua&#x2019;u colonies, which may assist in the development of more targeted management strategies to reduce nest predation on endangered insular bird species. 
