
%0 Journal Article
%A Saunders, DA 
%T Patagial Tags - Do Benefits Outweigh Risks to the Animal
%J Wildlife Research
%D 1988/09/01
%V 15
%N 5
%P 565-569
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/WR9880565
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/WR9880565 
%X The use of patagial tags to individually mark animals, particularly birds, is a recent method of identification. Disadvantages to the animal may outweigh any benefits to the researcher. I compare the rate of return to the breeding area of leg-banded and patagial tagged Carnaby's cockatoos, Calyptorhynchus funereus latirostris. Adult females which were patagial tagged had a first year rate of return of 59% (N= 172) compared with 100% (N= 12) for females with leg bands. Immature females which were patagial tagged before fledging had a return rate to breed in the study area (4 years later) of 1.3% (N= 150) compared with 12.7% (N=71) for leg-banded individuals. The data used in these comparisons were not collected in the same years but they suggest that patagial tags may increase mortality; in the case of Carnaby's cockatoo predation is the most likely cause. This possible increased mortality indicates that data gathered from resighting of patagial-tagged individuals should not be used in life tables and calculations of 'normal' survival rates until such effects can be discounted. A strong case for the use of patagial tags should be made before they are used on rare, vulnerable or endangered species. 
