Nesting sites and nesting success of reintroduced red‐crowned parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) on Tiritiri Matangi Island, New Zealand

Abstract

We studied red‐crowned parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) reintroduced onto Tiritiri Matangi Island, New Zealand from 2004 to 2006, in order to provide baseline information regarding nesting sites and nesting success of this population. We found 48 nests both in natural nesting sites and in nest boxes, in all three major habitat types on the island. Clutch size declined as the breeding season progressed, but laying date did not affect nesting success. This means that a breeding pair could fledge at least one young even from a small clutch laid late in the breeding season. Overall nesting success was 60%. Nesting success varied between breeding‐seasons. Most of the 17 nesting attempts that failed did so during incubation. Red‐crowned parakeets made use of a wide diversity of nesting sites and few sites were re‐used, which suggests that suitable nest sites were not limiting. Overall, our results indicate that red‐crowned parakeets are good candidates for reintroductions to areas lacking introduced predators, even during the early stages of revegetation.

Keywords:

• Cyanoramphus
• kakariki
• nesting success
• nest sites
• New Zealand
• parakeets
• reintroduction
• Tiritiri Matangi
• translocation