Citation. McKinney, F.; Bruggers, D. J. 1983. Status and breeding behavior of the Bahama pintail and the New Zealand blue duck. Proceedings Jean Delacour/IFCB Symposium on breeding birds in captivity. Hollywood, California. Pp. 211-221.   [1416  CC]

Introduction. Most populations of waterfowl that have become adapted for life on islands have adopted a sedentary life-style, or at least their seasonal movements cover short distances. As Weller (1980) has pointed out, this characteristic has endangered many of the world's island waterfowl and has made them of special concern to conservationists. The role that captive propagation and releases might play in helping to preserve endangered waterfowl has long been recognized (Kear, 1975, 1978) and is especially well known in the case of the Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis) and Koloa (Anas platyrhynchos wyvilliana) (Kear and Berger, 1980; Sedberg, 1967). There is room for argument about the economics and the usefulness of this approach, however, and the high cost of raising waterfowl for release may inhibit some agencies from embarking on propagation programs for other island forms. Private aviculturists may be able to play important roles in certain circumstances, as illustrated by the promising "Operation Pateke" in New Zealand, involving captive propagation and release of brown teal (Anas aucklandica chlorotis) (Mills and Williams, 1978; Williams, 1978; Hayes, 1981).

Keywords. Bahama Pintail, New Zealand Blue Duck, waterfowl