Breeding biology of the critically endangered Malherbe’s parakeet on Maud Island, New Zealand, following the release of captive-bred individuals
Luis Ortiz-Catedral A D , Jonathan C. Kearvell B , Mark E. Hauber C and Dianne H. Brunton AA Ecology and Conservation Group, Institute of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 102-904, Auckland, New Zealand.
B Department of Conservation, Waimakariri Area Office, 15 Albert Street, Rangiora 7400, Canterbury, New Zealand.
C Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, NY 10065, USA.
D Corresponding author. Email: l.ortiz-catedral@massey.ac.nz
Australian Journal of Zoology 57(6) 433-439 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO09098
Submitted: 28 September 2009 Accepted: 14 January 2010 Published: 8 February 2010
Abstract
We studied a population of the critically endangered Malherbe’s parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi), following the release of 62 captive-bred individuals on Maud Island, New Zealand, to identify and characterise nesting sites in a novel island environment. Previous work on Malherbe’s parakeets consisted of limited observations on remnant mainland populations. The age of breeding pairs on Maud Island was 7.2 ± 4.7 months and included both captive-bred individuals of the first release flock and individuals hatched on Maud Island within a year of the first release. Nests were found in hollows of mamaku (Cyathea medullaris), vacant nests of sacred kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus), a hole in the ground and a hollow in a kohekohe (Disoxylum spectabile). Active nests were found in the austral spring, summer and autumn. Clutch size was 5 eggs. The fledging of three Malherbe’s parakeets was confirmed for one nest 43 days after hatching. Observations of newly fledged individuals around the island indicate that at least seven successful nesting attempts occurred. Consistent with other studies in Cyanoramphus parakeets, our results suggest that availability of nesting sites on small islands may not be a limiting factor for the establishment of additional populations of Malherbe’s parakeets via captive breeding and translocation. The formation of breeding pairs at an early age, the use of diverse nesting sites in regenerating vegetation, and the evidence of successful breeding shortly after release on an island represent encouraging prospects for the conservation of New Zealand’s rarest parakeet.
Additional keywords: captive breeding, conservation, parrot, translocation.
Acknowledgements
We thank Andy Grant, Peter Gaze, Mike Aviss, Simon Elkington, Jackie van Hal and Carol Knight from the Department of Conservation for supporting this research and for facilitating the permitting process. We also thank the numerous field volunteers: M. Anderson, B. Baars, S. Bailley, M. Baling, M. Barry, T. Cerhak, M. Delaney, J. and C. de Vries, A. Farr, L. Gunning, A. Gsell, C. Hardy, W. Hendrix, S. Jack, L. Joyce, W. Ji, H. Lindsay, J. Markham, T. Marriot, B. Oldfield, G. Parker, I. Price, T. Price, U. Shanas, R. Thorogood, C. Wedding, L. Whitwell, R. Walle, S. Ward, and D. van Winkel. A special thanks to the rangers on Maud Island who made our fieldtrips enjoyable: Steve Ward, John and Clare de Vries, Richard Walle, Leigh Joyce and their kids Mahina and Liam. This project was funded by the J.S. Watson Conservation Trust of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, Department of Conservation New Zealand and Massey University. All field research was conducted entirely under full ethical and methodological approval (DOC Permit NM 20767-RES). This research is part of a Ph.D. study by the first author and it is financed by the National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACYT) and Massey University Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship.
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