Mean integrated CORT concentrations±s.e. during the following protocol in which animals were restrained in an opaque bag: (a) 15 min post restraint (stress-induced CORT), and (b) 30 min post-injection of DEX (negative feedback, CORT suppression). The pre-capture control (pre-cap, n=34 for (a); n=18 for (b)) represents responses of naïve birds upon initial capture. Sampling of individuals in the trap–release (T–R, n=20), captivity–return (C–R, n=25) and captivity–translocate (C–T, n=12) treatments occurred upon recapture. The asterisk indicates statistical significance for (a) between the pre-cap and other groups and for (b) between the C–R and C–T as compared to the pre-cap. There were no significant changes for ACTH stimulated CORT concentrations.