Translocation of threatened New Zealand falcons to vineyards increases nest attendance, brooding and feeding rates.

ABSTRACT: Anthropogenic landscapes can be rich in resources, and may in some cases provide potential habitat for species whose natural habitat has declined. We used remote videography to assess whether reintroducing individuals of the threatened New Zealand falcon Falco novaeseelandiae into a highly modified agricultural habitat affected the feeding rates of breeding falcons or related breeding behavior such as nest attendance and brooding rates. Over 2,800 recording hours of footage were used to compare the behavior of falcons living in six natural nests (in unmanaged, hilly terrain between 4 km and 20 km from the nearest vineyard), with that of four breeding falcon pairs that had been transported into vineyards and nested within 500 m of the nearest vineyard. Falcons in vineyard nests had higher f

SUBMITTER: Kross SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3375302 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature