Francesca Cunninghame - rearing mangrove finches

Francesca Cunninghame and GNPD ranger Wilson Villafuerte watch anxiously while Graeme Loh collects a mangrove finch nest. Photo: Beate Wedelin

Graeme Loh, tree climbing expert from dunedin collects a mangrove finch nest suspended from an M-rig. Photo: Sue Maturin

Francesca Cunninghame gets mangrove finch nest. Photo: Sue Maturin

GNPD ranger Wilson Villafuerte lowers a mangrove finch nest. Photo: Sue Maturin

Mangrove finch eggs placed in heated thermos upon arrival to ground. Photo: Sue Maturin

Eggs were transported from the field to the hand-rearing facility in Puerto Ayora by helicopter or boat. Photo: Beate Wedelin

A wild adult mangrove finch interacts with a captive-reared fledgling at the pre-release aviaries at PTN. Photo: Francesca Cunninghame

A captive-reared mangrove finch sets off into the wild following opening the pre-release aviaries. Photo: Francesca Cunninghame

Mangrove finch fledglings feed at the food tray inside the aviaries following their release. The aviaries were left open for 3 weeks so that the birds could return for food if they wished. Photo: Francesca Cunninghame

Francesca Cunninghame feeds a mangrove finch nestling in the captive rearing room. Photo: Tui De Roy

Mangrove finch fledglings in the captive rearing room upon weaning and nearly ready for transfer to pre-release aviaries in their natural habitat. Photo: Francesca Cunninghame

Mangrove finch fledgling in captive rearing room prior to being transported to the pre-release aviaries at PTN. Photo: Tui De Roy

A released mangrove finch fledging showing its radio transmitter aerial. Photo: Francesca Cunninghame

Captive-reared mangrove finch fledgling following its release into the wild. Photo: Francesca Cunninghame

Captive-reared mangrove finch feeds on wild casela fruits following its release. Photo: Francesca Cunninghame

Current mangrove finch habitat at PTN and CB on northwest Isabela, Galapagos. Photo: Francesca Cunninghame

Mangrove finch eggs in incubator, Beau Parks, San Diego Zoo Global

Mangrove finch nestling on the day it hatched. Beau Parks, San Diego Zoo Global

Mangrove finch nestling in its individual nest cup in the captive rearing room. Photo: Juan Carlos Avila

Mangrove finch nestlings 13 days after hatching in the captive rearing facility. Photo: Ana Carrión