Control mammalian predators on islands for parrots

Overall effectiveness category Awaiting assessment
Number of studies: 2
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Effectiveness

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Background information and definitions

The kakapo Strigops habroptila is a large, flightless parrot, once common across New Zealand but almost wiped out by the late 20^th century due to predation of adults by feral cats Felis catus, dogs Canis familiaris and mustelids and the loss of eggs and chicks to rats Rattus spp. Starting in the 1970s, the remaining birds were translocated to islands free from cats and populations were very intensively managed (see ‘General responses to small and declining populations’).

The Kermadec red-crowned parakeet Cyanoramphus movazelandiae, also from New Zealand was the first parrot to recolonise an island after predator removal.

The effectiveness assessment of the control of mammalian predators on islands was carried out across all bird species groups.

Study locations

Key messages

Two before-and-after studies in New Zealand found reduced nest predation and successful recolonisation of an island following invasive mammal eradication or control.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A small before-and-after study on Codfish Island (1,500 ha), New Zealand (Jansen 2005) found that none of six kakapo Strigops habroptilus nests were lost to rats Rattus spp. in 1997, when there was intensive trapping and poisoning of rats close to nests (in conjunction with remotely operated detonators to scare rats, see ‘Guard nests to prevent predation’). In contrast, there were potentially unsustainable predation rates before 1997. The study does not adequately describe the impact of predator control on the species – the translocations and subsequent population stabilisation would only have been possible with prior control.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Jansen W.P. (2005) Rat Rattus control at nests of the endangered kakapo Strigops habroptilus on Codfish Island, New Zealand. Conservation Evidence, 2, 1-2.
A before-and-after study on Raoul Island (2,938 ha), Kermadec Islands, New Zealand (Ortiz-Catedral et al. 2009) found that the island was recolonised by Kermadec red-crowned parakeets Cyanoramphus movazelandiae in 2008, following the eradication of goats Capra hircus by hunting (in 1986) and cats Felis cattus, brown rats Rattus norvegicus and black rats R. rattus by poisoning and hunting (between 2002 and 2004). In 2008 the parakeet population was at least 100 individuals, of which 44 were born in 2008. Before this, parakeets had been absent for 172 years.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Ortiz-Catedral L., Ismar S.M.H. & Baird K. (2009) Recolonization of Raoul Island by Kermadec red-crowned parakeets Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cyanurus after eradication of invasive predators, Kermadec Islands archipelago, New Zealand. Conservation Evidence, 6, 26-30.

Please cite as:

Williams, D.R., Child, M.F., Dicks, L.V., Ockendon, N., Pople, R.G., Showler, D.A., Walsh, J.C., zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Bird Conservation. Pages 137-281 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bird Conservation

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Control predators not on islands for parrots Action Link	Awaiting assessment	1	Synopsis Link
Control predators not on islands for songbirds Action Link	Awaiting assessment	10	Synopsis Link
Control mammalian predators on islands for waders Action Link	Awaiting assessment	2	Synopsis Link