
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Göth, Ann 
A1  - Jones, Darryl N. 
T1  - Transmitter attachment and its effects on Australian brush-turkey hatchlings
JF  - Wildlife Research
JO  - Wildl. Res.
Y1  - 2001
VL  - 28
IS  - 1
SP  - 73
EP  - 78
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/WR99111 
N2  - 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&#8211;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&#8211;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. 
ER  -

