Activity budgets and habitat use of the Green Pygmy-goose (Nettapus pulchellus) on dry-season refuges in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
2005
Nye, Errol R. | Dickman, C. R. (Chris R.)
We studied behavioural activity budgets and habitat use of Green Pygmy-geese (Nettapus pulchellus) in Kakadu National Park during the dry season in 2000, in order to assess the resource requirements and conservation needs of the species. Observations were made in three wetlands, using focal-interval sampling on an instantaneous basis. No differences were found in behaviour or habitat use between the sexes among the three wetland sites. Green Pygmy-geese were largely restricted to floating vegetation. Individuals spent most of each day feeding, with shorter periods spent preening or swimming. During the dry season, wetlands contract to some 5% of the area covered during the wet, probably increasing competition among the birds for food and habitat and leaving them vulnerable to threatening processes such as wetland draining. We suggest that a program of survey and monitoring be implemented at selected sites, and that the impacts of introduced herbivores be assessed and appropriately managed.
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