restoration of the Hawaiian Goose Branta sandvicensis(Black and Banko 1994),
Whooping Crane (Ellis et al. 1996), and Pink Pigeon (Jones et al. 1992).
However, captive breeding is not essential if the free-living populations can be
closely managed, as in the Kakapo and Black Robin (Bell and Merton 2002). In
the Kakapo, harvested and rescued eggs and young were brought into captivity
for artificial incubation and hand-rearing, with subsequent reintroduction to the
wild. Avian pediatric medicine and care are proving to be important for most
intensively managed bird populations.
Captive-breeding facilities have a role in the development of techniques, and
training personnel for use in future bird restoration projects. Some of the intensive
management techniques can best be learnt on captive birds. We need to know
which clutch and brood manipulations work for which species, and what are the
costs and benefits of each technique in terms of lifetime reproductive output.
12.6.2Model or surrogate species
Closely related surrogate species, with similar ecology to the target species may
serve a number of functions.
- Development of techniques before being applied to the rarer species. These
may include captive breeding, artificial incubation, hand-rearing, and
release techniques. For example, on Mauritius, Ring-necked Parakeets
Psittacula krameri were released to develop techniques for the Echo
Parakeet releases, and in California, Andean Condors Vultur gryphuswere
released (and later recaptured) to test release techniques for Californian
Condors (Wallace and Temple 1987). - Staff training. Staff can learn handling and management techniques on
a commoner species before they are applied to the focal species. - Foster parents for cross-fostering in captivity (e.g. Ring-necked Parakeets
for Echo Parakeets and Barbary Doves Streptopelia risoriafor Pink Pigeons).
The use of surrogate species, both in the wild and captivity, has been extensive in
North America. For example, the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center worked first
on Sandhill Cranes in order to develop captive breeding and management tech-
niques applicable to the rarer Whooping Crane (Kepler 1978). Similarly Prairie
Falcons were experimentally manipulated in the wild and kept in captivity by both
The Peregrine Fund and the Canadian Wildlife Service to train personnel and to
develop management techniques for application to the rarer Peregrine (Fyfe 1976).
12.6.3Artificial incubation and hand-rearing
Avian pediatrics has primarily been developed in captive-breeding facilities and
is most advanced in groups of birds of greatest commercial value: ratites, raptors,
292 |Conservation management of endangered birds