Success of translocations of red-fronted parakeets Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae novaezelandiae from Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) to Motuihe Island, Auckland, New Zealand

Published source details Ortiz-Catedral L. & Brunton D.H. (2010) Success of translocations of red-fronted parakeets Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae novaezelandiae from Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) to Motuihe Island, Auckland, New Zealand. Conservation Evidence, 7, 21-26.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Translocate parrots Action Link

Translocate parrots

A before-and-after study of a 2008-9 translocation programme for red-fronted parakeet Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae in North Island, New Zealand (Ortiz-Catedral & Brunton 2010), found that at least 41% of 32 parakeets translocated to Motuihe Island from Little Barrier Island in 2008 survived at least 60 days after release, with at least two family groups and four juveniles being identified eight months after release. In addition, birds have dispersed to other nearby islands and have bred on them. A further 18 birds were released in 2009, but were not monitored. One bird translocated in 2008 died before release due to trauma and disease, and one female caught in 2009 was very weak and was therefore returned to Little Barrier Island without being released. It is not clear how the other birds died (or if they were just not seen during surveys). Parakeets were caught using mist nets and held in aviaries on Little Barrier Island for up to six days before transport to Motuihe Island by helicopter. Birds were supplied with fruit, water and grains in excess and released immediately upon arrival at a forest fragment on Motuihe.