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

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.