New Zealand bird translocations: past,

present & future

Kevin A. Parker

k.parker@parkerconservation.co.nz www.parkerconservation.co.nz

Photo: Martin Sanders

Translocations

• Humans have a long history of

translocations

• Food, fibre, companionship, familiarity

• Began in NZ with human colonisation

Photos: A. Coffey, T. Lovegrove, Forest & Bird

Photo: Hocken Library

Resolution Island 4 August 1900

Photo: Rod Morris

Conservation translocation is the intentional

movement and release of a living organism where

the primary objective is a conservation benefit: this

will usually comprise improving the conservation

status of the focal species locally or globally, and/or

restoring natural ecosystem functions or

processes.

Photos: Tim Lovegrove, Andrew Coffey, Graham Parker

Tremendous successes…

Photo: Kevin Parker

… and heart-breaking losses

Photo: Don Merton

Conservation Translocations

1863-2012

• > 1100 separate releases

• 55 species of NZ birds translocated

• 41 species successfully established

• 7 additional species in progress

• 5 species only exist as translocated

populations

• 10 species increased from a single

population through translocation

Miskelly, C.M., Powlesland, R.G. 2013. Conservation translocations of New Zealand birds, 1883-2012. Notornis 60: 3-28.

Government

conservation

organisations

Government and

community

organisations

Critically endangered

species Suites of species for

ecosystem restoration

Islands

free of

exotic

mammals

Mainland sites

after eradication

of exotic

mammals

Islands after

eradication of

exotic

mammals

SITES

SPECIES

PERSONNEL

1960 PRESENT DAY

The evolutionary history of NZ translocations

Parker, K.A. 2013. Avian translocations to and from Tiritiri Matangi 1974-2013. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 37: 282-287.

Growth in community initiated

translocations

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year

No

. o

f ap

pro

ved

pro

psals

DOC Proposals

Community Group & Joint

Proposals

Data from Pam Cromarty, NZ Department of Conservation

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Islands Fenced mainlandsites

Unfenced mainlandsites

n = 221

n = 37

n = 160

% Successful translocations 1863-2012

Miskelly, C.M., Powlesland, R.G. 2013. Conservation translocations of New Zealand birds, 1883-2012. Notornis 60: 3-28.

Establishment

Medium-term

persistence

Failed

reintroduction

Failed

reintroduction

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Failed

reintroduction

N

START - RELEASE BIRDS

FINISH – LONG-TERM SUCCESS

Post-

release

survival

okay?

Breeding

greater

than

mortality?

Resilient

to

inbreeding

etc.

Parker et al 2013. Post-release monitoring of bird translocations. Notornis 60: 85-92.

Photos: M. Sanders, D. Jefferies, T. Lovegrove

Translocation plans provide

context & logic for your site

Photos: Alistair Jamieson, Kevin Parker

Low

High

Low High Medium

Connectivity

A hierarchical approach

• Protection – Eradication or zero density?

– Low level presence?

– Seasonal pulsing?

• Area protected – Characteristics?

– Expansion?

• Additional management – Supplementary food or nest boxes?

– Supplementary translocations?

• Impact on other species – Predators & competitors?

Photos: T.G Lovegrove, M. Sanders, G. Moon, M. Choromanski

Photo: Andrew Coffey

Photo: ARC

Photo: Martin Sanders

Photo: Simon Fordham

Planning a successful

translocation

• One year lead in

–Funding

–Consultation

–Assembling team

–Equipment

–Site preparation

–Logistics

– Invertebrates Photos: Marc Choromanski, Jo McCarthy

Planning…

• Outcomes from previous translocations?

• Source populations?

• Health screening?

• Post release monitoring?

Photos: A. Coffey, D. Armstrong, T. Lovegrove

Statutory Approval

PERMIT FOR THE CAPTURE, TRANSFER, RELEASE AND POST TRANSLOCATION MONITORING of North Island Tieke (Saddleback)

Authority No AK-32008-FAU

Pursuant to: Sections 53 and 56 of the Wildlife Act 1953 and the Wildlife Regulations 1955

The Permittee: Kevin Parker Institute for Natural Sciences Massey University Private Bag 102 904 North Shore Mail Centre AUCKLAND

Authorised to: Capture, hold, transfer, release North Island Tieke (Saddleback) and carry out post translocation monitoring

For the purpose of: Establishing a new population at Tawharanui Open Sanctuary sourced from Mokoia Island, Lady Alice Island and Red Mercury Island

Subject to the conditions below.

Period of Permit: 1 January 2012 to 30 June 2014

Transfer details 1. Up to 30 tieke/North Island saddleback may be captured and handled from Lady Alice Island

and transferred and released into suitable habitat at Tawharanui Regional Park, in 1 transfer.

2. Up to 30 tieke/North Island saddleback may be captured and handled from Red Mercury Island and transferred and released into suitable habitat at Tawharanui Regional Park, in 1 transfer.

3. Up to 30 tieke/North Island saddleback may be captured and handled from Mokoia Island and

transferred and released into suitable habitat at Tawharanui Regional Park, in 1 transfer.

4. The transfers can take place between 1 March 2012 and 31 May 2012

5. The composition of each transfer must be an approximately even sex ratio of adult birds.

6. The translocation shall not occur during the breeding season.

The translocation process

Our perspective…

• Capture

• Processing & health

screening

• Holding

• Transport

• Release

Birds perspective…

• Attempted predation

• Unwanted

adornment,

bleeding, anal probe

• Crowded jail cell

• Bright lights, noise,

vibrations

• Where the f_*# am I

& how do I get back

home!

Skilled & experienced personnel

are essential

Photos: J. Jamieson, M. Choromanski, S. Morrison, J. McCarthy

Release ceremonies are

important – but the birds needs

are more important

Photo: Mark Seabrook Davison

Post release monitoring

• Successful reintroduction?

• Management sufficient?

• Supplementary translocations?

• Genetic management?

• Refine translocation techniques?

• Refine release site selection?

Photo: Marc Choromanski

The future

• Improved pest control

• Beyond birds

• Predators

• De-extinction Photos: NZWS, Forest & Bird, R. Stamp, K. Parker, S. Fordham, ARC

Final comments…

• It is NOT common for a few birds to die

during translocations

• Putting wild birds in a cage rarely helps

them “adjust” to a new site

• More birds or multiple translocations

does not always equate with success

• A few birds persisting & breeding does

not necessarily indicate a good site

Translocations are not easy…

…but they are the most beautiful thing in

the world when they work

Photo: Gillian Waddams