Development of a tag-attachment method to enable capture of fine- and landscape-scale movement in black-cockatoos

Abstract

Abstract. This study reports on a successful trial of a double-tag mounting protocol using both satellite and GPS tags on captive black-cockatoos (Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii naso, Baudin's Black-Cockatoo Zanda baudinii and Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo Z. latirostris). The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility and tolerance of a novel back-mount and a double-mount protocol combining a back-and tail-mount in black-cockatoos. We trialled solar 3D Global Positioning Systems (GPS) tags, standard solar and battery-operated GPS and Platform Terminal Transmitter (PTT) tags, and developed an attachment method to fit back-mounted solar-powered UvA-BiTS GPS tags to captive black-cockatoos. We investigated the effect of a variety of different types of tail-mounted satellite tags on the operational ability of the primary UvA-BiTS units and the feasibility of the double-mounted tag system with regard to tolerance by the birds. Our study determined that the combination of a 7.5-g UvA-BiTS GPS tag and 17-g Telonics TAV 2617 satellite tag was best tolerated by the birds and was the optimal tag system for use on birds to be released. This system enables capture of movement data to better understand the ecology of black-cockatoos, and identify critical feeding, roosting and breeding habitats, thereby informing conservation management initiatives to conserve these threatened species.

Assessing integration of black cockatoos using behavioral change point analysis

“…We were restricted in our sample size by the availability of suitable study birds due to the endangered status of the species. We fitted the birds, in accordance with the Murdoch University Animal Ethics (RW2768/15) requirements and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Regulation 17 Licence number SF010448 and Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme banding permit number 1862, with tail‐mounted Telonics ARGOS Satellite platform transmitter terminal (PTT) tags (TAV‐2617) weighing 17 g (tag dimensions: 6.43 × 2.1 × 1 cm 3 ; Telonics, Mesa, AZ, USA) and a 7.5‐g back‐mounted solar GPS tag (Bouten et al ; UvA‐BiTS, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 2CDSe, tag dimensions: 52 × 22 × 9 mm 3 ) following the techniques of Yeap et al (). We attached the satellite tags to the 2 central tail feathers using braided nylon fishing line (Fireline®, Berkley®, Spirit Lake, IA, USA) and attached the GPS tags to a mounting plate attached with cloth tape to approximately 4 feathers just below the shoulder joints.…”

“…We attached the satellite tags to the 2 central tail feathers using braided nylon fishing line (Fireline®, Berkley®, Spirit Lake, IA, USA) and attached the GPS tags to a mounting plate attached with cloth tape to approximately 4 feathers just below the shoulder joints. We then glued the GPS tags (Selleys Ultra Repair Glue; Selleys, Padstow, NSW, Australia) and tied them to the mounting plate using braided nylon fishing line (Fireline®, Berkley®) The combined weight of the tags were 3.38–4.69% of the total body mass for all subjects and within ethical thresholds (Cochran , Kenward , Gursky , Yeap et al ).…”

“…The SCP had been extensively cleared for urban and agricultural development with most of its remnant vegetation consisting of Banksia woodland creating a highly fragmented landscape, the majority of which is at sea level (Gole , Shah ). The 3 species of black cockatoo are endemic to southwest Australia and may be found on the SCP throughout the year (Shah , Yeap et al ). Located on the SCP, all releases for this study took place in the Perth Metropolitan area.…”

Nature-Positive Design and Development: A Case Study on Regenerating Black Cockatoo Habitat in Urban Developments in Perth, Australia

“…The main loss of Black Cockatoo habitat is from rural clearing, though not much is left inside the urban fabric either and introduced plantation pine species from the 1930s which assisted their retention, are now being cleared for urban development. The loss of foraging habitat, the lack of suitable breeding sites, climate change, alterations in the landscape, changing forest structure and the impact of introduced and invasive species (especially feral European honey bees), corellas and galahs has had an impact on all three species of Black Cockatoo in the SPC [47,48]. Perth remains fortunate to have an endangered species in its suburbs; however, significant declines in all three Black Cockatoo species have been observed since the 1980s [48] and there is some urgency to develop management plans for the future [47][48][49] which will need to include urban design and development.…”

Telemetry tails: a practical method for attaching animal-borne devices to small vertebrates in the field

“…Kerr et al 2004;Romijn et al 2014;Riley et al 2017), a semi-aquatic mammal (Rothmeyer et al 2002), and a variety of avian species (e.g. Woolnough et al 2004;Le Souëf et al 2013;Harmata 2016;Yeap et al 2017) due to the behavioural (e.g. chewing and damaging devices), physical (e.g.…”