Objectives 1 & 2:  To determine survival rates of released birds and cause of death

Priority

Essential

Performance measure

Annual and seasonal survivorship determined for 80% of released birds and cause of death estimated for 50% of carcasses retrieved.

Field methods

·        Radio-tag with mortality transmitters and individually colour-band all released birds as per 5.2.

·        Intensive one month post-release monitoring involving daily roll calls to ascertain whether birds are alive and to determine their approximate location. If mortality is low (<20% of birds die) after four weeks and mortality was clustered near release time, reduce frequency of monitoring to twice weekly. However, if mortality continues at a steady rate during the four weeks, continue with monitoring every 1-2 days until mortality rate declines.

·        Monitoring could be on the ground or from an aircraft depending on the site characteristics and dispersal patterns of released birds.

·        If mortality mode is activated, locate transmitter and bird and examine scene and process carcass as per 5.5.

Priority

Essential

Performance measure

Average breeding success (fledglings produced per radio-tagged female), and juvenile survival (n = 20 in two years) determined following two years of release per site. Flock counts might also provide an effective measure of success.

Field methods

·        Monitor location of radio-tagged adults/released birds.

·        Radio-tag 2-3 juveniles per brood.

·        Monitor adults and juveniles twice weekly as per 5.2 – 5.6.

Objective 5:  To determine the dispersal patterns of any birds that leave the target area

Priority

High – essential

Performance measure

75% of dispersed birds relocated and further monitored.

Field methods

·        Monitor twice weekly as per 5.4 and 5.6.

Annual Reporting

Report on individual objectives as guided by relevant reporting protocol in objectives 5.1-5.6 (project leader).

Priority

High

Objective 7.1

To provide relevant information to the predator controller on what species of mammalian predator (cats, dogs, mustelids) are present within management areas and need to be removed.

Objective 7.2

To measure the relative abundance of mustelids, rats, harriers and pukeko (all potential predators of pateke and other species) seasonally and annually.

Objective 7.3

To measure relative abundance of rabbits at Okiwi.

Performance measure

Mammalian predators detected and information conveyed to trapper immediately. Mustelids (Mimiwhangata), rats (Okiwi) and pukeko (both sites) monitored at least quarterly (pukeko monthly during peak breeding period, June-October), harriers weekly during June-October at both sites.  Mimiwhangata mustelids and Okiwi rats indexed according to DoC indexing protocols, and rabbits by weekly road transects during winter-spring at Okiwi.

Field methods

·        Report mammalian predator sightings (and mustelid index results) to trapper immediately and maintain database of predator sightings (Appendix 6).

·        Carry out frequent predator-dog searches of management areas, focussing on times of year when risks have historically been greatest (September-December and mid March-June) and following mortality events. 

·        Identify and record rats caught as by-catch in Mimiwhangata fenn traps, calculate monthly and seasonal totals, compare inter-year capture rates for four seasons for each species and total rats.

·        Carry out rat indexing at representative sites at Okiwi at three month intervals following standard protocols.

·        If non-treatment reference sites (no predator control) exist in region/island, take the opportunity to compare results, 

·        Count pukeko in prescribed paddocks (Okiwi) and from prescribed hilltops and other vantage points at Mimiwhangata weekly in June-October.

·        Count harriers weekly along discrete transect lines (Okiwi) and from prescribed vantage points (Mimiwhangata) during June – October.

·        If resources allow, set up a series of tracking tunnels to detect mustelids in the core of Mimiwhangata as per recommendations of Ian McFadden and following Craig Gillies draft protocol. Operate monthly during high risk periods (Dec-March mustelid dispersal period and at times when pateke are perceived to be at increased risk).

Annual Reporting

·          Describe objectives, methods.

·          Graph indices of abundance of rats, harriers and pukeko, predator-dog results and sightings of cats/dogs, and compare with previous years.

·          Identify subsequent action taken and results, e.g. whether predators subsequently removed from area, or any links with pateke mortality.

(All project leader.)

Priority

Essential.

Objective 9.1

To evaluate and refine overall pateke monitoring on an annual basis.

Objective 9.2

To advise on the effectiveness of management of pateke and recommend changes in management approach as appropriate.

Objective 9.3

To identify gaps in knowledge and recommend means of filling them.

Performance Measures

Annual assessment of monitoring and management programmes provided to recovery group.

Methods

Project leaders and technical staff to evaluate effectiveness of monitoring programmes, identify problems and develop and implement appropriate refinements (SCO).

From monitoring results, interpret the responses of pateke to specific management changes accordingly (SCO).

With project leaders and technical staff, identify key gaps in our knowledge of pateke and their management (SCO).

Research opportunities

There are clear needs for further research which are provisionally prioritised below, but which could change when recent research findings are available. Some of these needs provide clear opportunities for students or other researchers to focus on specific questions, but integrate with the existing monitoring programmes.

·        Change in composition of flock sites related to seasonal weather, breeding status/juveniles, bird condition, etc (Priority 1).

·        Dispersal and habitat use of juveniles (Priority 1).

·        Breeding dispersion in relation to flock sites, pest management areas, habitat quality, grazing regimes, etc. (Priority 1).

·        Who are the predators of ducklings?  Can we develop a faster way of identifying key duckling predators than the research by management approach (Priority 1 or 2).

·        Population modelling (Priority 1 in helping to determine management targets).

·        Genetics and hybridisation (Priority 2).

·        Ecology and movements of predators (Priority 2 or 3).

·        Alternative means of collecting demographic data, e.g. plumage observations and photography at flock sites (Priority 1 or 2).

·        Weak-links for harnesses – is there a problem with pateke and what can be done about it including other options e.g. tail mounts?  (Priority 3).