What happens to translocated game birds that ‘disappear’?

Dickens, Molly J.; Delehanty, David J.; Reed, Jon; Romero, Lupe

doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2009.00265.x

Cited by 25 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Sample sizes were small throughout and especially so for longer-term movements, and (as for many other reintroductions and translocations; Dickens et al 2009) we observed considerable differences among individuals in movement parameters and in establishment patterns. Haage et al (2013) sugges ted that captive European mink exhibit different 'personalities' (sensu Gosling 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Post-release movements of captive-born European mink Mustela lutreola

Harrington¹,

Põdra²,

Macdonald³

et al. 2014

Endang. Species. Res.

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N aïve captive-bred animals often make excessive movements when released into the wild, which may increase vulnerability to predation, take animals into unsuitable habitat and/or increase the probability of conflict with humans. We analysed the post-release movements of captive-bred European mink Mustela lutreola reintroduced to Hiiumaa Island, Estonia. We tested the effect of pre-release enclosure type, sex, generations in captivity, pregnancy and age on post-release movements, investigated the settlement process and explored the relationship between post-release movements and survival. We found no effect of enclosures on post-release movements in the first 2 wk following release (except that individuals from large naturalistic enclosures spent less time close to water than did animals from standard zoo enclosures) but some evidence of a slight effect at 1 mo post-release. Males moved further at 3 d (but not 2 wk) postrelease than did females, and juveniles appeared to move further in the first 3 d post-release than did 1 yr olds. We were unable to detect a relationship between post-release movements and survival. The largest known cause of mortality was predation, but it was not clear why mink were vulnerable to predation, and the locational data presented here were unable to shed light on this issue. Individual variation also made it difficult to define patterns. These are common problems in reintroductions, and we suggest that in future releases of captive-bred animals, more detailed post-release behavioural observations and investigation of personality types might be insightful.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Post-release movements of captive-born European mink Mustela lutreola

Harrington¹,

Põdra²,

Macdonald³

et al. 2014

Endang. Species. Res.

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“…For example, relocated individuals are unfamiliar with the risks and resources of their new location, increasing their vulnerability to mortality factors such as predation and exposure, while decreasing the efficiency of selfmaintenance activities such as foraging. To gain familiarity, individuals probably engage in a relatively increased amount of risky exploratory behaviour Dickens et al 2009b). Also, some individuals attempt to return to their former, distant home range (Dickens et al 2009b) and perish in the process.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To gain familiarity, individuals probably engage in a relatively increased amount of risky exploratory behaviour Dickens et al 2009b). Also, some individuals attempt to return to their former, distant home range (Dickens et al 2009b) and perish in the process. Social cohesion within social subsets of the source population is likely lost when disparate individuals are captured and collectively translocated, resulting in grouse individuals at the release site that are unfamiliar with one another.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…150 days post-release for grouse) diminishes initial population size and increases the probability of population failure through stochastic effects, founding effects, and other deleterious aspects of small population size (Armstrong and Seddon 2008). Physiological stress, particularly a condition known as chronic stress, experienced by translocated individuals is hypothesised to be an important factor in the failure to establish populations (Letty et al 2000;Dickens et al 2009a) by diminishing survival probability during the establishment phase and influencing individual movement (Dickens et al 2009b). Birds in a state of chronic stress exhibit an impaired ability to mount adaptive endocrinological stress responses to challenges (Dickens et al 2009a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Survival of translocated sharp-tailed grouse: temporal threshold and age effects

Mathews¹,

Coates²,

Delehanty³

2016

Wildl. Res.

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Context. The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) is a subspecies of conservation concern in the western United States, currently occupying 10% of its historic range. Land and management agencies are employing translocation techniques to restore Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (CSTG) populations. However, establishing self-sustaining populations by translocating grouse often is unsuccessful, owing, in part, to low survivorship of translocated grouse following release.Aims. We measured and modelled patterns of CSTG mortality for 150 days following translocation into historic range, to better understand patterns and causes of success or failure in conservation efforts to re-establish grouse populations.Methods. We conducted two independent multi-year translocations and evaluated individual and temporal factors associated with CSTG survival up to 150 days following their release. Both translocations were reintroduction attempts in Nevada, USA, to establish viable populations of CSTG into their historic range.Key results. We observed a clear temporal threshold in survival probability, with CSTG mortality substantially higher during the first 50 days following release than during the subsequent 100 days. Additionally, translocated yearling grouse exhibited higher overall survival (0.669 AE 0.062) than did adults (0.420 AE 0.052) across the 150-day period and higher survival than adults both before and after the 50-day temporal threshold.Conclusions. Translocated CSTG are especially vulnerable to mortality for 50 days following release, whereas translocated yearling grouse are more resistant to mortality than are adult grouse. On the basis of the likelihood of survival, yearling CSTG are better candidates for population restoration through translocation than are adult grouse.Implications. Management actions that ameliorate mortality factors for 50 days following translocation and translocations that employ yearling grouse will increase the likelihood of population establishment.

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“…This could have significant effects on both the stress levels at the time of release, as animals are allowed time to recover from handling and transport (Molony et al, 2006), and the initial behaviour of the animals, as they might be less likely to disperse to unsuitable areas (e.g. Dickens et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survivorship of Rehabilitated Juvenile Tawny Owls (Strix Aluco) released without Support Food, A Radio Tracking Study

Griffiths

Murn

Clubb

2010

Avian Biology Research

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We investigated the survival of 57 rehabilitated juvenile Tawny Owls (Strix aluco) that were 'hard released' (without the provision of a release aviary or support food) by means of radio tracking. The birds were released in the month of August in three consecutive years: 2005, 2006 and 2007, in the counties of Somerset and Hampshire, United Kingdom. Tracking of the owls was successfully carried out for between three and 160 days. Mortality was recorded for 16 birds (28%). The transmitter was shed by 24 (42%) owls, the signal was lost for 12 (21%) and tracking was ceased for five (9%) owls. Survival of the owls was compared with results from previous studies on wild Tawny Owls and also rehabilitated 'soft released' Tawny Owls (released with provision of food and shelter after release) and found to be similar. This study suggests that employing costly and time-consuming soft release techniques may be unnecessary for juvenile Tawny Owls as their survival is not significantly reduced using hard-release methods. Measuring post-release success of rehabilitated birds of prey is discussed in relation to benchmarks used in previous studies.

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What happens to translocated game birds that ‘disappear’?

Cited by 25 publications

References 29 publications

Post-release movements of captive-born European mink Mustela lutreola

Post-release movements of captive-born European mink Mustela lutreola

Survival of translocated sharp-tailed grouse: temporal threshold and age effects

Survivorship of Rehabilitated Juvenile Tawny Owls (Strix Aluco) released without Support Food, A Radio Tracking Study

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