TY - JOUR
T1 - Satellite telemetry and seasonal movements of Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata) in tropical northern Australia
AU - Traill, Lochran
AU - Bradshaw, Corey J.A.
AU - Brook, Barry
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Knowledge of the patterns of movement of tropical waterfowl should assist in long-term conservation of these birds and their wetlands. Data that indicate or suggest the extent of connectivity between populations help us to make decisions, particularly when those populations are threatened by loss and fragmentation of habitat. To date, there has been little research on tropical waterfowl, with most work on this group of birds done in temperate regions. We tracked the seasonal movements of 10 Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata) in tropical northern Australia, predominantly within Kakadu National Park, using satellite telemetry. Movements were multi-directional and the maximum linear distance travelled by an individual was 114km from the site of release, over 38 weeks of tracking. Movements did appear to be related to seasonal environmental fluctuations, with some birds moving to favoured breeding and foraging sites, but most monitored birds were resident within the national park. No accurate data were obtained beyond 12 months, with most birds apparently losing their telemeters within 6 months. Just 62% of point-location data were accurate to within 1000m. Our work provides further ecological data on a species threatened by sea-level rise and important to Aboriginal and recreational hunters.
AB - Knowledge of the patterns of movement of tropical waterfowl should assist in long-term conservation of these birds and their wetlands. Data that indicate or suggest the extent of connectivity between populations help us to make decisions, particularly when those populations are threatened by loss and fragmentation of habitat. To date, there has been little research on tropical waterfowl, with most work on this group of birds done in temperate regions. We tracked the seasonal movements of 10 Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata) in tropical northern Australia, predominantly within Kakadu National Park, using satellite telemetry. Movements were multi-directional and the maximum linear distance travelled by an individual was 114km from the site of release, over 38 weeks of tracking. Movements did appear to be related to seasonal environmental fluctuations, with some birds moving to favoured breeding and foraging sites, but most monitored birds were resident within the national park. No accurate data were obtained beyond 12 months, with most birds apparently losing their telemeters within 6 months. Just 62% of point-location data were accurate to within 1000m. Our work provides further ecological data on a species threatened by sea-level rise and important to Aboriginal and recreational hunters.
KW - Argos system
KW - avian movements
KW - capture
KW - Kakadu
KW - tropical waterbirds
KW - Tropical waterbirds
KW - Avian movements
KW - Capture
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/DP0558350
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77952923930&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1071/MU09098
DO - 10.1071/MU09098
M3 - Article
VL - 110
SP - 160
EP - 164
JO - Emu
JF - Emu
SN - 0158-4197
IS - 2
ER -