Effects of harness-attached satellite transmitters on captive whitefaced ducks Dendrocygna viduata : short communication

The effects of teflon harness-attached 30-g satellite transmitters on the activity patterns, and body mass of captive whitefaced ducks Dendrocygna viduata were investigated. The diurnal activities of transmitter affixed birds (TAB)(140 h) and control birds (CB)(140 h) were monitored in captivity over a period of 14 weeks. There were no within-week differences in the behavioural patterns between TAB and CB (p > 0.05). However, TAB spent a larger portion of the day preening (10.6%) than CB (7.1%), (p 0.05). Increases in body mass were higher for TAB (56.92 g) than CB (12.80 g) (p = 0.006). Teflon harness-attached 30-g satellite PTTs have a minor effect on activity patterns and do not adversely influence the body mass, skin or feathers of captive whitefaced ducks.