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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 108(3)

Estimates of adult survival rate for three colonies of Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) in New Zealand

Rosemary J. Clucas A C , David J. Fletcher A and Henrik Moller B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.

B Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.

C Corresponding author. Email: rosemary.clucas@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

Emu 108(3) 237-250 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU07069
Submitted: 12 November 2007  Accepted: 4 July 2008   Published: 2 September 2008

Abstract

The Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus), also known in New Zealand as tītī or muttonbird, is an abundant, long-lived, trans-equatorial migrant that breeds in colonies in the southern hemisphere during the austral summer and migrates to and forages in the North Pacific Ocean during the boreal summer. That populations of Sooty Shearwaters have been declining has been indicated by falling oceanic counts, and reduced burrow density and declining rates of chick harvest of Rakiura Māori muttonbirders. Accurate estimation of adult survival rate of Sooty Shearwaters is vital if we wish to use a demographic model to help understand the decline and manage the population. Mark–recapture studies were carried out at three breeding colonies: Taiaroa Head, Whenua Hou and The Snares, all in southern New Zealand. Analysis of the data generally involved the use of models in which both transience and trap-dependence were allowed for. In addition, birds were split into two groups, according to whether they had been caught on the surface or under an inspection hatch that was placed over a breeding chamber. Our estimates of the level of transience suggest that a large portion of the population at each colony is composed of juvenile and pre-breeding birds. Model-averaged estimates of the survival rate for resident birds were 0.917 (95% C.I.: 0.860–0.973) at Taiaroa Head, 0.966 (0.933–0.997) at Whenua Hou, and 0.961 (0.706–0.996) at The Snares. A combined estimate for The Snares and Whenua Hou is 0.952 (0.896–0.979). Our estimates are higher than earlier estimates of survival for Sooty Shearwaters and congeners, presumably because transience has been more adequately accounted for than in earlier mark–recapture models.

Additional keywords: Mark–recapture modelling, Procellariiformes, tītī, transience


Acknowledgements

A large number of primary and voluntary field assistants have contributed to banding of tītī throughout the duration of this study; including Nick Alterio, Corey Bragg, Simon Clearwater, Christine Hunter, Jamie Newman, Detta Russell, Ilka Sohle, Paul Scofield, and Darren Scott. We are grateful to Sandra McGrouther and Perry Reid for ongoing access to the Taiaroa Head colony. This study was funded from a grant from the Foundation of Research and Science and Technology (since 1996), with additional support throughout from the University of Otago. Members of the Rakiura Tītī Islands Administration Body have contributed many hours of voluntary direction and advice over the past 12 years. Bands were obtained through the National Museum of New Zealand, Wellington, and permission to handle birds on The Snares comes under the Department of Conservation bird banding permit (#0284). Two anonymous reviewers provided comments that improved an earlier manuscript.


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