Nesting sites and nesting success of reintroduced red‐crowned parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) on Tiritiri Matangi Island, New Zealand

Abstract

We studied red-crowned parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) reintroduced onto Tiritiri Matangi Island, New Zealand from 2004 to 2006, in order to provide baseline information regarding nesting sites and nesting success of this population. We found 48 nests both in natural nesting sites and in nest boxes, in all three major habitat types on the island. Clutch size declined as the breeding season progressed, but laying date did not affect nesting success. This means that a breeding pair could fledge at least one young even from a small clutch laid late in the breeding season. Overall nesting success was 60%. Nesting success varied between breeding-seasons. Most of the 17 nesting attempts that failed did so during incubation. Redcrowned parakeets made use of a wide diversity of nesting sites and few sites were re-used, which suggests that suitable nest sites were not limiting. Overall, our results indicate that red-crowned parakeets are good candidates for reintroductions to areas lacking introduced predators, even during the early stages of revegetation.

Nest sites as limiting resources for cavity-nesting birds in mature forest ecosystems: a review of the evidence

“…How widespread is cavity limitation and how strong are the data that purport to show it? On evolutionary time scales, individuals should be selected to overcome factors that chronically limit their reproduction, e.g., by becoming less selective of nest locations (see Cornelius 2008, Ortiz‐Catedral and Brunton 2009). If so, nest‐site limitation may be an uncommon, transitory phase in the evolutionary history of a species, and current life‐history traits such as clutch sizes (Wiebe et al 2006) or intensity of nest defense (Wiebe 2004) may not be driven by nest‐site limitation.…”

“…Such studies will help us understand how bird behavior, including the selection and defense of nest sites, has evolved. Providing artificial nest sites may be an emergency measure to rescue endangered species in habitats degraded by intensive human activities, but such programs can have detrimental side effects, such as creating sink habitats (Czeszczewik et al 1999), may be unsustainable in the long term (see Bradbury et al 2001), or may simply be unnecessary if nest sites are not a limiting factor (e.g., Ortiz‐Catedral and Brunton 2009). Studies of the structure and function of nest‐webs in old‐growth forests, and experimental manipulations of nest densities in such habitats, therefore, provide valuable benchmark information on the “natural” abundance of nest sites that can be compared to that in habitats greatly altered by human activity.…”

Can the intake of antiparasitic secondary metabolites explain the low prevalence of hemoparasites among wild Psittaciformes?

“…We excluded samples of parrots and cockatoos that could have been in contact with (i) poultry; (ii) pets; (iii) zoos; (iv) aviculture facilities; (v) wildlife hospitals; (vi) rehabilitation facilities; (vii) reintroduction program facilities; or (viii) the staff of any of the previously mentioned facilities. One exception were the parakeets sampled at Tiritiri Matangi Island (New Zealand), which were descendants from birds translocated from captivity to the island c. 30 years ago [ 111 ]. Co-workers who are veterinary practitioners and also work with captive birds, strictly refrained from contact with the above-mentioned facilities in the weeks before sampling.…”

Restoring islands and identifying source populations for introductions

“…Given the success of vertebrate pest eradication on Macquarie Island, management discussions are focusing on further restoration projects, including bringing one of the extant parakeet species to Macquarie Island. There have been at least 10 successful reintroductions and several introductions of Red‐crowned Parakeets in New Zealand (Ortiz‐Catedral & Brunton , ; Miskelly & Powlesland ). Natural recolonization is unlikely to happen on Macquarie Island in the foreseeable future given its extreme isolation and that there have been no records of vagrant parakeets since the extinction of the Macquarie birds (Copson & Brothers ).…”