A trial translocation of Little Penguin Eudyptula minor fledglings

Published source details Carlile N., Priddel D., O'Neill L, Wheeler R. & Walraven E. (2015) A trial translocation of Little Penguin Eudyptula minor fledglings. Marine Ornithology, 43, 223-229.
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Summary

A controlled, before-and-after study in 2004–2014 in North Harbour, Sydney, Australia (Carlile et al. 2015) reported that only 5% of translocated little penguin Eudyptula minor fledglings returned to the release site to breed, and that the translocations did not clearly boost the recipient population. Statistical significance was not assessed. Over three summers, a total of 63 fledglings (44 wild-bred; 19 captive-bred) were translocated to a beach within North Harbour. Three wild-bred translocated fledglings were recorded within North Habour as adults. All three attempted to breed. No captive-bred translocated fledglings were detected after release. For comparison, 12 of 113 (11%) microchipped wild-bred fledglings from North Habour were relocated in the Harbour as adults. Eight of these attempted to breed. Despite the translocations, the North Harbour population remained around 60 pairs between 2004 and 2014 (precise data not reported). All translocated fledglings were >800g, healthy, and within two days of expected departure from their nesting area. They were trapped in a nest box on Store Beach overnight. The blockage was removed before sunset the following day. Wild-bred fledglings were taken from Lion Island, 28 km away from North Harbour. Captive-bred fledglings came from Sydney Aquarium or Taronga Zoo.