| Title: |
Effects of implanted radio transmitters with percutaneous antennas on behaviors of Canada Geese |
| Author(s): |
Hupp, J. W., G. A. Ruhl, J. M. Pearce, D. M. Mulcahy, and M. A. Tomeo |
| Citation: |
Journal of Field Ornithology 74(3):250-256 |
| Year: |
2003 |
| Abstract: |
We examined whether surgically-implanted radio transmitters with percutaneous antennas affected behavior of Lesser Canada Geese (Branta canadensis parvipes) in Anchorage, Alaska. We implanted either a 26 g VHF radio transmitter or a larger VHF radio that was the same mass (35g) and shape as a satellite transmitter in the coelom of adult females captured during molt (n = 36 females/ treatment) in 2000. A control group of females was marked with leg bands. We simultaneously observed behaviors of radiomarked and control females from 4—62 d following capture. We observed no differences in the proportion of time birds in different treatments allocated among grazing, resting, comfort, walking, and alert behaviors during 173 pairs of 10—30 min observations from 18 July—15 September. Females in different treatments spent similar proportions of time in water. Implantation of radio transmitters did not affect frequency of agonistic interactions. We conclude that coelomic radio transmitters with percutaneous antennas had minimal effects on behavior of Canada Geese. |
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