Study

Successful island reintroductions of New Zealand robins and saddlebacks with small numbers of founders

  • Published source details Taylor S.S, Jamieson I.G. & Armstrong D.P (2005) Successful island reintroductions of New Zealand robins and saddlebacks with small numbers of founders. Animal Conservation, 8, 415-420.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Translocate songbirds

Action Link
Bird Conservation
  1. Translocate songbirds

    A replicated study (Taylor et al. 2005) covering a range of time periods assessed the success or failure of 31 translocation attempts of saddlebacks Philesturnus carunculatus (24 attempted translocations) and New Zealand robins Petroica australis (six attempted) into separate offshore islands around New Zealand, found that both species established successful populations from small founder populations. The average founder population size of robins and saddlebacks was 31 and 34 respectively (ranging from 5-188 individuals). Only five of 24 saddleback populations went extinct or quasi-extinct (population decreased by > 50% after 3 years), while none of the 6 robin populations failed. Predation caused 80% of translocation failure. In total, five populations established from fewer than 15 individuals survived and grew. Populations were categorised as extinct if surveys subsequent to translocation failed to record any birds.

     

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