Magazine of the - Summer 2020 - World Parrot Trust
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Magazine of the
Summer 2020
Summer 2020
CONTENTS
4 Message from the Operations Director
Steve Milpacher
SPOTLIGHT ON: PUERTO RICO
Glanmor House, Hayle 5 On the Ground:
Hurricane Maria and the Amazons at Río Abajo -
Cornwall TR27 4HB UK Two Biologists’ Stories
info@parrots.org +44 (0)1736 751026
10
www.parrots.org
Survivors of the Storm
ABOUT THE WPT
Capture for the live-bird trade,
habitat loss and other factors
16 A Test of Will:
The effects of Hurricane Maria on the
put wild parrots at risk. One in Puerto Rican Amazon and its research
20
three parrot species are currently
threatened in the wild.
Update from Río Abajo:
16
As an international leader in parrot Puerto Rican Amazons receive much-needed nestboxes
conservation and welfare, the
21
World Parrot Trust works
with researchers, in-country The Sounds and Sights
organisations, communities
and governments to encourage
of Costa Rica
24
21
effective solutions that save parrots.
Since 1989 the WPT has grown to
Cape Parrot:
become a global force that moves A recovery plan is launched
26
quickly to address urgent issues
and support long-term projects.
Over that time WPT has led or
PsittaNews
aided conservation and welfare Parrot News and Updates
projects in 43 countries for more WPT Contacts
than 70 species of parrot.
CHARITY INFORMATION
United Kingdom: # 800944
28 Parrots in the Wild
Blue-headed Parrot
United States: EIN 62-1561595
Canada: BN 89004 1171 RR0001
ON THE COVER
Photo © Tanya Martínez
A Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata) feeds its chick
24
in the wild at Río Abajo.
Learn the remarkable story of these birds with the first
Editor: Desi Milpacher in a series of articles focusing on the Puerto Rican Parrot
Layout, Design & Production: Michelle Kooistra
Fulfillment: Karen Whitley & Charlotte Foxhall Project on Page 5: On the Ground: Hurricane Maria and the
Amazons at Río Abajo - Two Biologists’ Stories.
The World Parrot Trust does not necessarily endorse
any views or statements made by contributors to
PsittaScene, and will consider articles or letters from
any contributors on their merits. Visit parrots.org/
psittascene for Guidelines. Anyone wishing to reprint
PsittaScene articles in full or in part needs permission
from WPT and the author/photographer(s) and must
state that it was copied from PsittaScene.
All contents © World Parrot Trust
Summer 2020 PsittaScene.org 3
| E d i to r i a l spotlight on: puerto rico
leave a
LEGACY
A message from...
Steve’s Desk
“May you live in interesting times.” This nearly 100 for parrots
year-old quote has never seemed more appropriate
than in our present circumstances. For many, 2020
has so far been stressful and uncertain with the
COVID-19 outbreak, but it’s also been a time of
What will be your legacy?
resilience, hope and collaboration. Times like these
can reveal who we are and what we value the most. By including the World Parrot Trust in your
will, trust or beneficiary designation, you
We see it from the countless acts of kindness in our
are creating a personal legacy that will have
daily lives, and through the wonderful support we a lasting impact for parrots and the places
at the Trust witness from our global community of where they live.
friends and colleagues like you.
For more information about including WPT
One thing that does remain certain is our dedication in your planned giving opportunities, visit
to supporting in-country partners and projects, and www.parrots.org/legacy, or contact
that they remain deeply committed to their work of the branch nearest to you (see page 27).
saving endangered parrots worldwide.
And while many of us are waiting for our lives to
return to normal we want to keep you updated on
this work. In this issue we feature the dedicated
Puerto Rican Amazon project team, which against all
odds is helping the wild and captive birds to recover
and thrive. The Vulnerable Cape Parrot is receiving
a lift up thanks to a collaborative effort between the
World Parrot Trust and others with the launch of
the Cape Parrot and Mistbelt Forest Conservation
Action Plan, which is charting a course for the
recovery of the species. Additionally, we feature an
uplifting visit to Costa Rica to see wild parrots and
the Macaw Recovery Network, and other interesting
short articles.
So while you’re navigating your way through these
interesting times, please take the opportunity to enjoy
ON THE GROUND:
this issue and the hope it brings.
All the best,
Steve-
Yellow-crested Cockatoo © Mehd Halaouate
Hurricane Maria and the
Amazons at Río Abajo -
Two Biologists’ Stories
Steve Milpacher
WPT Operations Director
© Tanya Martínez
4 PsittaScene.org Summer 2020 Summer 2020 PsittaScene.org 5
© Tanya Martínez
Hurricane Maria
hit Puerto Rico on
september 20, 2017.
The following are personal accounts of how the Puerto Rican
Amazon project team at the Río Abajo aviary and a rescue party
dispatched to reach them grappled with the aftermath of the
massive storm.
Above: Two breeding cages damaged by the storm.
Alberto Alvarez: Hurricanes have always been an unwelcome but Our aviaries at the Río Abajo State Forest, and El Yunque National
“
inescapable part of life for residents of Caribbean islands. Parrots are Forest, the Maricao State Forest, Forest) remained at each site to care
not immune to the danger. The Critically Endangered Puerto Rican and the El Yunque National Forest for the birds throughout the storm.
Amazon (Amazona vittata) has had a rough history with hurricanes; had been bracing for a storm for In Río Abajo, this daunting task was
San Ciprian and San Felipe are believed to have wiped out some of some time. This was so because two left to me and my co-worker, Brian The thought that
the ancestral parrot populations in 1900s. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo weeks earlier, Hurricane Irma had Ramos. decades worth
drastically reduced what was then the last remaining wild population passed quite close to the north coast
of parrots from 47 to 23 birds. Since the start of the Puerto Rican of the island. When the National By daybreak on September 20th, the of conservation
Hurricane Center issued a warning wind was already strong and kept
Parrot Recovery program in the 1970s, no storm of Maria’s magnitude
getting stronger until the eye of the
effort could have
had struck the island. for Irma, our hurricane preparedness
protocols went into effect. storm passed over the Río Abajo been undone by a
aviary around 10:30 am. When the
Ricardo Valentin: At 6:15 am on September 20, 2017, Hurricane
The facilities were stocked with food wind died out Brian and I came out
storm that lasted
Maria made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico. Maria became a
Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 280 km/h. This made and water for the parrots as well as of our shelter to see the destruction. a day and half
fuel for our generators. Fortunately, We were stunned when a single
it among the 10 strongest hurricanes in the western hemisphere since
the near miss by hurricane Irma only parrot started calling and flying
was unthinkable.
record keeping began. However, when it hit Puerto Rico, its strength had
decreased to a Category 4, with sustained winds of 250 km/h. It was the caused a modest degree of damage around. It moved to a forest patch But with so much
strongest hurricane to hit the island in 85 years. in all three forests but no birds were near one of the buildings and went
destruction, how
The Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program has spent many years
preparing for severe storms and has taken numerous steps to make
sure we were ready when one hit. In the aftermath of Maria we had to
lost in captivity or the wild. When
the warning for Maria was given, all
captive parrot flocks were moved to
secure concrete hurricane shelters.
silent. After an hour and a half, the
storm resumed with all its violence
but with the winds coming from
the opposite direction. The next
could a single
parrot possibly
“
deal with a lot of issues, mostly due to the enormous damage to the Two members of staff from each day, we didn’t emerge from our have survived?
environment and the island’s infrastructure, but it could have been of the captive parrot facilities (Río shelter because the winds were still
worse had we not taken to heart the Boy Scout’s motto: Be prepared. Abajo State Forest, Maricao State strong and trees were still falling. ~ Alberto Álvarez
6 PsittaScene.org Summer 2020 Summer 2020 PsittaScene.org 7
About the Authors
© Tanya Martínez
© Tanya Martínez
Ricardo Valentín
Ricardo has worked with Puerto
© Tanya Martínez
Rican Parrots since 1990 and is
Left: Parrots being transported to the Aviary’s hurricane shelter.
Right: Staff at Río Abajo salvaging breeding cages after the storm. currently the Aviculturist of the
Jose Vivaldi Aviary at the Río
Abajo State Forest. Ricardo is
On the morning of the 22nd we It took us close to three hours to the road would need to be cleared so responsible for maintaining the
were amazed when, just at daybreak, traverse the meager one mile stretch that water could be brought in by Above: A staff member repairs breeding cages after the storm. health and breeding productivity
we were woken up by the sounds of road that led to the Aviary. Every truck. However, the massive amount of the captive flock. Over the
of wild parrots calling. We came so often one of us would try to of debris on the steep and twisting years, he has helped fledge over
out of the shelter to a landscape of contact Brian and Ricardo by radio montane road could not be removed Now, we could finally turn our deprived all the cages of natural 600 chicks in captivity.
utter desolation. Moving around but we heard only static in response. by hand. To make matters worse, the attention to taking care of the shade and the aluminum sheets
was difficult due to a deep layer of By midday, the two of us had finally island-wide blackout and collapse of captive flock. It was backbreaking that shielded the cages from the sun
shredded, tangled vegetation that arrived at a tangled heap of chain link all communications made requesting work that took eight to ten hours had mostly been ripped away. We
covered everything. Our first task was fence covered in tree limbs that had additional help extremely difficult. each day, mainly due to the need had to gather fallen palm fronds to
to check on the birds in the hurricane once marked the perimeter of the Jose Messages could only be delivered in to carry water by hand to the cover the flight cages and provide
shelter. We were pleased to find that Vivaldi Aviary. person by hiking several hours out birds, to wash dishes and to clean the birds with some shade.
all of them were alive and well. of the forest and driving on debris- everything. Brian spent much of
After trudging our way through storm covered roads to reach the Emergency While the flight cages had suffered
this time cutting branches with a
Alberto Alvarez: Once the winds had debris we finally ran into Brian and Operation Center back in San Juan. little damage, the breeding
chainsaw to allow us to reach the
died down, biologist Gustavo Olivieri Ricardo. They were unharmed and cages were a different tale. In
different parts of the facility.
and I reported to the Emergency pleased to report that all the parrots in Ricardo Valentin: In the days after total almost half of Río Abajo’s
Operation Center in San Juan to begin Río Abajo’s captive flock had survived the hurricane the phones were dead, After the access to the aviaries had breeding cages were damaged
first response operations. We were the storm. We would later learn that we could not find any AM signal, and been restored, we began repairing or destroyed by the storm. In the
assigned the task of finding out what the team members that had stayed although our radios could pick up some cages and moving the birds out months after the hurricane the
had happened to the biologists that behind at the Maricao and El Yunque stray signals, nobody seemed able to of the hurricane shelter. The large staff worked hard with the cages
had stayed behind at the Río Abajo Forests had also weathered the storm, hear us. Most scary of all, the nights flight cages were repaired first. and 90% of them were repaired in
Forest and reaching the facility if along with their feathered charges. were extremely dark and we could They emerged from the storm in time for the 2018 breeding season.
Alberto Álvarez
possible. not see the lights of the nearby cities, good condition, except for a few It was a monumental effort, but Alberto worked with the Puerto
The situation in Río Abajo became evidence that the electrical system of places where a heavy branch or we were able to get the Aviary in Rican Parrot Recovery project
The first sight of the forest was dismal more urgent once we learned that a island had collapsed completely. a tree had hit them. The loss of working shape for our captive birds from 2009 to 2020. During this
and depressing. The landscape was tree limb had caused a pipe to rupture,
the canopy during the storm had to begin breeding. time, he worked actively with
unrecognizable and what remained and most of the 10,000 gallons of Although our connection to the power
the management and monitoring
could barely be called a forest water that had been stockpiled in grid had been lost during Hurricane
of wild nests. He was also the
anymore. Skeletal trees raked the sky preparation for the storm had leaked Irma, the electrical system within Río
primary source of technical
with denuded branches or lay on the away into the earth. Brian and Ricardo Abajo’s aviary is mostly underground
expertise for much of the field
ground as heaps of green and brown had been collecting rainwater for and was still in working order. We
debris. The Aviary was inaccessible the past few days as an emergency freed some wires from the fallen Although the team faced serious challenges, their hard efforts equipment. Prior to this he worked
by vehicle, as the road was now an measure. With the drastic water branches and in short order turned on would allow the birds to settle down and begin breeding again. in the conservation of endangered
sea turtles and iguanas.
obstacle course of limbs, leaves, and situation, re-establishing access to the generator and had electricity. Find out how in the next article,
landslides. Río Abajo became a race against time: ‘Survivors of the Storm’.
8 PsittaScene.org Summer 2020
spotlight on: puerto rico
Hurricane Maria left behind
a ruin of a forest.
The leaves, vines, and branches that once tangled together into a lush green canopy
were gone. Barely a leaf remained on any tree, and the emerald-colored feathers of
the parrots stood out in marked contrast to the naked branches. In a forest without
vegetation, the parrots had nowhere to hide and almost nothing to eat.
Before hurricane Maria, the Río Abajo Forest Puerto Rican Amazons are primarily fruit
was home to more than 130 wild Puerto eaters, and few trees had managed to hold
Rican Amazons. Unlike their captive cousins on to their precious fruits. The exception to
inside the Río Abajo breeding facility, the this was the Royal palm (Roystonea borinquena),
wild parrots had to face the full fury of the a native palm tree species that has been well
storm without the security of a concrete documented to hold its ground and retain its
hurricane shelter. They clung to trees, were fruits even during intense storms. However,
buffeted by 150 mile per hour winds, and the parrots weren’t the only birds seeking
were drenched by more than 10 inches of sustenance from the resilient royal palms.
rain. Falling branches and flailing tree limbs
Other species of fruit-eating birds began
likely claimed the lives of many. Despite
competing with the parrots for the remaining
this, we documented at least 110 survivors
food supply. It soon became clear that steps
of the storm. needed to be taken to keep the parrots from
starving. Fortunately, the wild parrots of Río
Unfortunately, the parrots faced even Abajo are trained to approach feeding stations.
bigger problems after the winds and Feeders are suspended from tall branches and
rains had ceased. filled with commercial bird pellets and seeds.
Article and photos: Tanya Martínez
survivors
of the storm
In the forest of Río Abajo on Puerto Rico, dawn breaks
to a cacophony of “caw-caw-caw” sounds that render
any alarm clocks obsolete.
© Tanya Martínez
The owners of these discordant voices, endangered Puerto Rican Amazons,
endured the worst natural disaster to strike the island in almost 100 years.
Against all odds, the wild parrots of Río Abajo survived the onslaught of
hurricane Maria as it ripped through the island on September 20, 2017.
Left: A parrot eating Royal Palm after the hurricane, one of few natural food sources to survive the storm.
But surviving the storm was just the beginning of their struggle. Top: Puerto Rican Amazons making good use of the supplemental feeding stations in the weeks following Maria.
10 PsittaScene.org Summer 2020 Summer 2020 PsittaScene.org 11
© Tanya Martínez
Opposite page, far left: A female Puerto Rican
Amazon peeks out of her nest cavity.
Opposite page, near left: Biologist Alberto Alvarez
installs a new artificial nest cavity after the hurricane.
Current page, top: A snapshot from a camera nest
monitor shows a parrot’s nest being invaded by bees.
Current page, top right: Two newly hatched chicks and
two eggs inside one of the artificial nest boxes at Río Abajo.
© Tanya Martínez
© Tanya Martínez
Current page, middle right: Two four-week old chicks
inside an artificial nest box at Río Abajo.
Current page, lower right: A biologist examines a
chick during a routine nest check.
Since the start of the release program trees. Once the vegetation crept back Once the trails were cleared, our team The month of February came and went, then
in 2006, these feeding stations have into the canopy, the parrots could be set to work installing new artificial nest
© Tanya Martínez
so did March. Each of our weekly nest checks
served as reliable food sources for newly spotted munching on the tender buds cavities and hacking dead branches ended in disappointment. By mid-April our
released parrots. After the storm, the of the emerging forest growth. We now away from the tops of nest trees. We hopes had almost vanished. Finally, on April
feeders became a crucial lifeline for the turned our attention to preparing for also designed and installed a type of 23rd we got the news we had all been hoping
entire wild parrot flock. The ravenous the oncoming parrot breeding season sun-shade around the nests to provide for. One of our wild breeding pairs had laid an
birds would descend on the feeders that hurricane Maria had done its best to them with cover in the absence of the egg! More pairs laid eggs that same week and
in groups of 60 or more, sometimes disrupt. Three artificial nest cavities had forest canopy. a total of 12 pairs nested during this unlikely
fighting amongst themselves for access been destroyed during the storm and year. It was the latest start to a breeding season
to the food. During the first few weeks most of the remaining nest trees had Once the preparations were in Río Abajo’s history.
after the storm, our team of biologists suffered damage and major defoliation. complete, it was time to wait for
had to increase the number of feeding the parrots to breed…or not? The delay in egg-laying was only the first
stations and fill them multiple times a For humans, getting around in the of the breeding season’s challenges. Parrots
day just to meet the parrots’ demands. forest was almost impossible. Virtually In Río Abajo, the Puerto Rican Amazon weren’t the only cavity dwelling species to
every trail was blocked by the enormous breeding season usually lasts from struggle after the storm. A few weeks after the
Of the 110 original survivors of tree limbs that were now piled all over January to July. Wild parrots start birds started nesting, they found themselves
the storm, only around 70 could the forest floor. Creeping vines began claiming their nests at the beginning of plagued by swarms of bees. The invasion of
be accounted for by the end of to thrive in the understory, making it the year and lay their first eggs by the honey bees into parrot nests can have deadly
February 2018. impossible to walk anywhere without end of February or the start of March. consequences. Swarming bees can cause a
tripping. Before we could even think But with the drastically altered habitat mother parrot to abandon or break her eggs
It is unclear whether the missing flock about repairing our broken nests, we and the lack of food, nobody was sure in distress. Bees can also kill chicks still inside
members succumbed to starvation and had to start cutting our way to them. what to expect. their nests. Our biologists had to closely
© Tanya Martínez
predators, or just moved to new areas in Trails had to be cleared by hand using monitor the nests and intervene whenever bees
search of more food. By this point, the mainly machetes and chainsaws. All the Many of our breeding pairs were among invaded a cavity, sometimes climbing the nest
Río Abajo forest was showing tentative work took place in the blistering heat the documented survivors and we were tree in the middle of a swarm! Bee attacks in
signs of recovery as new leaves and of a forest that no longer provided any all hopeful that at least some of these one parrot’s nest were so severe that the eggs
buds sprouted on the surviving forest type of shade. birds would attempt to breed. had to be removed and artificially incubated.
12 PsittaScene.org Summer 2020 Summer 2020 PsittaScene.org 13
Thank you!
One of the chicks from the
2018 breeding season being
fed by its parent.
© Tanya Martínez
Still more challenges arose once the Two years after the storm, the wild
chicks started to hatch. During a parrots of Río Abajo have made an About the Author
year when many of the parrots were impressive comeback.
having trouble finding enough food
for themselves, feeding their young Twenty-three parrots were released
was also a struggle. It soon became from captivity in the summer of 2019
clear that not all the parrot chicks were and 37 chicks fledged from wild nests
thriving. Three chicks died of hunger during the 2019 breeding season.
inside their nests. We had to remove During our last wild parrot count
I
two other chicks from their nest and we estimated that the wild flock had
raise them in captivity after their again risen to pre-Maria numbers, n September 2017, the Puerto Rican Parrot these terrible events. Since this time, the World Parrot
mother disappeared (we believe she a tremendous feat considering the Recovery Program was reeling from the impact of Trust has supported the Puerto Rico Department of
was taken by a predator). We closely terrible habitat conditions endured by Hurricane Maria. The forests where the birds lived Natural and Environmental Resources in initiatives
monitored the development of the all the parrots for most of 2018. had been ravaged by the storm, many wild parrots related to the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Project.
the remaining chicks and occasionally had been killed, crucial infrastructure had been This has included everything from an emergency
damaged or destroyed, and the captive breeding power and water delivery system which were crucial
climbed the nest trees to provide some The resilience of the parrots following
facility at the Río Abajo State Forest had no power to stabilizing operations in the early days after the
supplemental hand feeding to chicks this natural disaster is a testament to or running water. Amidst all this chaos, I received hurricane, to advanced training in tree climbing and
that were struggling to gain weight. the amazing conservation program Tanya Martínez an email from the World Parrot Trust informing me nest box installation.
and all the people, partners, and Tanya is the current project leader that the organization wanted to start a fundraising
Despite the harsh habitat conditions, government agencies that labor every campaign to help the project in Río Abajo recover WPT has also facilitated the exchange of scientific
for the DNER’s Puerto Rican Parrot
18 chicks managed to fledge from day to bring this species back from from the storm. knowledge between biologists from our project and
Recover Project. She developed those from parrot conservation projects in other parts
wild nests. These fledglings were the brink of extinction. It is a story a passion for parrots from a young By December of that same year, the campaign had of the world. We are extremely grateful to the WPT
a welcome addition to the wild of despair and devastation but also raised over $30,000 for the benefit of our recovery and all its collaborators and donors for their generous
© Tanya Martínez
age. She has worked in fields
population, which had declined so of hope and new life. Despite the related to parrot rescue, research, efforts. We were thrilled by the outpouring of support contributions. With your continued support, we will
drastically since the storm. They setbacks suffered by the species during or conservation for the past 15 from the public and amazed that so many people had endeavor to fill the skies above Puerto Rico with even
were also the only boost to the wild this difficult time, we have faith that years. She enjoys documenting come together to help our beloved parrots during more squawking green parrots! ~ Tanya Martínez
parrot population in 2018. The the parrots will continue to recover the lives of the wild parrots of Río
badly degraded habitat and damaged and thrive in the future. Much as we Abajo through photography.
infrastructure resulted in a halt to all have faith that the people of Puerto
parrot release efforts that year. Rico will follow their example.
14 PsittaScene.org Summer 2020
spotlight on: puerto rico
It was close to 11:00 am on Sept 21
— the day after Maria — when we
came out of the hurricane shelter
to overwhelming devastation.
A TEST OF WILL:
THE EFFECTS OF HURRICANE
MARIA ON THE PUERTO RICAN
w e immediately went to check on the
parrots at their hurricane shelter and
were very relieved to see that all captive
birds were alive and well. These feelings were short
lived, however, because we were still worried about
I managed to get in contact with my mentor at New
Mexico State University. Besides being worried
about my health and safety, he saw the hurricane
as a unique opportunity to compare the parrots’
reproductive success before and after such a
AMAZON AND ITS RESEARCH the wild birds. Close to noon, we saw a flock of
about 16 wild parrots flying around the aviary. But
catastrophic and stressful environmental event. I
was exhausted by the months of hard work in the
by Brian Ramos Guivas these were only 16 of the estimated 134 parrots aftermath of Maria, but my curiosity as a scientist
in our wild population before Hurricane Maria to know more about the breeding behavior and
hit. As the birds flew south, I thought this was the reproductive success of the parrots was stronger.
end of my 18 years working to save this species.
One of the questions I’ve thought about for years is
But then, as I was standing close to the entrance why wild Puerto Rican parrots produce more chicks
of the facilities around 4 pm, still stunned by the per nest than their captive counterparts, which
devastated forest around me, 25 birds came flying have unlimited access to food and other resources,
from the southwest. I made a noise to communicate not to mention protection from environmental
my presence that I use occasionally with the captive catastrophes. Imagine most of the of the wild food
birds, and all 25 birds landed on the top of the few source for the parrots having been removed. Even
remaining trees around me. It was a very emotional though we provide pellets to wild birds, these last
moment, first taking in the wreckage of the forest only a short time in the morning; it is like breakfast
and subsequently realizing that some birds had been for them. After they have eaten the pellets provided,
able to survive. they must fly long distances to forage for wild food.
Out of devastation, a new opportunity Captive birds have food available all day, meaning
they do not have to fly long distances to forage and
Parenting is tough for a lot of
During my 18 years working with the Puerto Rican be worried about predators and competitors. But
species. But imagine being a parrot program, I have never faced such difficult captive conditions can modify behaviors in various
parent on an island recently hit conditions as those we experienced during the species of animals, including mammals, fish and
by a hurricane, which passed over Category 5 hurricane and its aftermath. A biologist in birds. It has been found that wild-caught animals
your home and decimated most of the program, Ricardo Valentin, and I had spent both reproduce better in captive conditions than captive-
Hurricanes Irma and Maria at the facilities. Irma did reared animals. In the Puerto Rican parrot program
the habitat you depend upon on not wreak much havoc in the forest, but Maria was a all captive breeders are captive-reared birds.
for food. This is what happened different monster.
to the Puerto Rican parrots when The natural questions to ask are: how different will
Hurricane Maria rampaged Afterward, our team spent almost four-and-a-half the nest successes before and after a catastrophic
months preparing the facilities for the breeding Category 5 hurricane be for the wild and captive
through Puerto Rico.
season, every day working with chainsaws and birds, and will there be any difference in nest success
machetes, and fixing cages. During the preparation, between captive and wild birds?
© Tanya Martínez
16 PsittaScene.org Summer 2020 Summer 2020 PsittaScene.org 17
© Tanya Martínez
© Tanya Martínez
© Tanya Martínez
Above: Wild breeding birds defend their nest cavity.
As a complementary study, I am also Challenges the battery-driven system I had set
asking how stress is related to nest Left: A temperature sensor attached to the wall of a captive breeding nest box.
up for the wild population would not Right: A fledgling parrot sports a radio collar.
success in captivity. In the captive We lost power after Hurricane Irma be enough. The surveillance system
breeding population, some pairs can and, unfortunately, the power could included one DVR recorder, a 24-inch
raise more than one chick every year not be restored before Maria touched monitor and 13 cameras. I was able About the Author
while some pairs raise a single chick, land. Hurricane Maria damaged all the to jury-rig some small solar panels 6:30pm, placing the plank under the cages and picking it up next
and others are not successful. It is power systems across Puerto Rico. Due together with an inverter, which gave day before 6:00am. Once the breeding season started and egg
possible that some captive individuals to the remote location of our facilities, me about 2.5 hours more power on laying began, I repeated the same procedure but now with the
might be more stressed than others, restoring power here remains a major a sunny day in addition to the power birds in their breeding cages. During the breeding season I focused
which may lead to the wide variation in challenge. Without power, I relied on a plant schedule, for the full breeding only on the males, as only females incubate, which means that the
reproductive success that we observe battery or a power plant as a source of season that started in late February male is the only one outside the cage at night. Therefore, it is easier
in the captive population. Stress electricity. We had a strict schedule to until late June. to identify which individual has produced the sample.
may play a large role in parental care save energy. We had to limit electricity
behavior. Puerto Rican parrot females to 6:00 – 8:30am, 11:30am - 1:30pm, To measure the stress levels on the
rely on the male for food during and 6:00pm - 10:00pm. Luckily, we birds, I collected faecal samples to Final remarks
incubation and while chicks are young avoided this electricity shortage for my test for corticosteroids before and
and being reared. A stressed male may study with the wild population. during the breeding season. Before the It was a long, long, season. Since we were without power for a year
provide less food to his mate, in which breeding season I collected samples and five days after Maria, it was a challenge to maintain the normal
case their nesting attempt could fail. In the previous years, I came up with from the males and the females, but routine; even resting was difficult, since without electricity, there
a battery-driven system to power one during the breeding season only for are no fans to provide some reprieve from the hot, humid weather.
Our preparation for the hurricane infrared camera and one portable DVR, the males. To collect the samples, I But one thing that I have taken away from this experience is that my Brian Ramos Guivas
conditions in 2018 may have induced which can record up to 5 days in a row used a PVC plank that was 4 feet long drive to use science to continue helping the Puerto Rican parrot is Brian began working for the
high levels of stress in the captive with a 32gb memory card. For research and 6 inches wide. I placed these stronger than the hurricane’s devastation. By the end of the 2018 Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery
population. We had to capture birds with the wild population, I only had planks under the cage where the birds breeding season, I did manage to finish collecting the data for my Project in December 1999. He
and place them in a hurricane shelter to set up the system once or twice a perched during the night. PhD. It seems that the parrots’ corticosteroid levels were higher is captivated by reproductive
during Hurricane Maria, and the birds week. On the other hand, it was still a right after the hurricane during the pre-breeding period than the behavior. He is playfully known
had to stay in this shelter for weeks. challenge to find the right batteries at After every breeding season all pairs breeding season of 2018. as the parrot “sex therapist”
Prior to Maria, we had to move the an affordable price. are removed from their breeding cages because of his ability to identify
captive birds into the shelter during and placed in smaller cages until the What causes these levels to be high during the pre-breeding than successful breeding pairs.
Irma, although they stayed less than The story was different for the captive next breeding season. After the storm the breeding seasons? We do not know the answer yet; it could
have been related to the amount of human activity during that time He is currently studying parrot
a week. These handling events and population. We depended on the we had fixed these small cages (called
or due to natural fluctuations for the species. I am still working on reproductive behavior for his PhD
time spent in an unfamiliar place powerplant to supply energy to the retention cages), and placed the birds in
the videos and hopefully soon to have all the information analyzed. at New Mexico State University.
may have stressed the captive birds facilities, but I could not record when them. Each bird had its own cage next
more than the captive conditions they the power plant was off. I was using to its mate. Before the breeding season I think it is going to be really exciting information of how parental
experienced in previous years. a regular surveillance system, and started I went almost every day at about care is for normal conditions and after a Category 5 hurricane.
18 PsittaScene.org Summer 2020 Summer 2020 PsittaScene.org 19spotlight on: puerto rico
THE SOUNDS AND SIGHTS OF
From left: Tomás Medina, Brian Ramos Guivas, and Mauricio Cuevas building and installing nest boxes.
Photos © Tanya Martínez
Update from Río Abajo:
Puerto Rican Amazons receive much-needed nestboxes
by Tanya Martínez
”Bird watching
A
Photos and article © Cheryl Rutherford
depends a lot on
s part of the ongoing plentiful natural cavities.
conservation efforts Fortunately, the parrots take well
bird listening”,
for the Puerto Rican to artificial structures. These nest I thought to myself
I craned my neck upwards, searching
Parrot, biologists from Puerto boxes are built from PVC pipe and as I stood on the dappled leaves and trying to
Rico Department of Natural and 5-gallon buckets. Parrots prefer to the side of a dirt pinpoint the indistinct rustling.
Environmental Resources install nest up high, so biologists have to
nest boxes in the canopy of the climb 40-50 feet into the canopy to road in the Costa Finally my perseverance was rewarded
Río Abajo State Forest. install the artificial nests. The nest Rican province and I spotted two Orange-fronted
boxes are painted so that they can parakeets (Eupsittula canicularis) a few
of Guanacaste, feet away from me, serenely gnawing
This forest is home to the largest blend in with the tree. The long
surviving population of Puerto structure simulates the depth of
peering up into on the small, spiky nuts.
Rican Parrots, with a population in a natural cavity and provides the a rather scraggly I watched the parakeets for ten
Río Abajo estimated at more than parrots with a safe and dry place to looking tree with minutes, and the whole time they
120 wild parrots. The parrots are lay their eggs. A small door at the ate, they made little satisfied sounds
little black prickly that could only be parrot for “Yum!” I
obligate secondary cavity nesters, bottom of the nest allows biologists Earlier in the week, my ears had led
which means that they don’t build to access the eggs and chicks. fruits poking out later learned this was a guácimo tree me to a golden fig tree situated on the
their own nest structures and instead from between the (Guazuma ulmifolia), a member of side of yet another dirt road. Reaching
depend on natural cavities inside The World Parrot Trust donated the the same family to which the Cacao the point of the ruckus, I was rewarded
leaves. I could hear tree belongs. (Yes, the chocolate with the sight of some twenty Orange-
trees to be able to lay eggs and rear materials used to build these nest
their young. Natural cavities are boxes. WPT also flew in Biologist a quiet, very satisfied one!) Apparently the nuts are used in chinned Parakeets (Brotogeris jugularis)
grunting coming indigenous Mayan chocolate drinks feasting on blueberry-sized fruits high
usually only found in very old trees. Mauricio Cuevas, to assist with
because of their sweet flavour and in the sun-streaked branches of a
Because Puerto Rico suffered so the installation of the artificial from somewhere pleasant, spicy scent. Learning this, Higuerón tree (Ficus sp). The loquacious
much deforestation in the first half cavities. Between 2019 and 2020
in the middle of I completely understood the sounds birds held the fruit up to their beaks
of the 20th century, many of the we installed 10 new nest boxes in the birds were making as they enjoyed like wee yellow apples and munched
forests don’t have mature trees with the Río Abajo Forest. the foliage.
their tasty breakfast! contentedly on the food.
20 PsittaScene.org Summer 2020 Summer 2020 PsittaScene.org 21Top left and right: Wild Scarlet Macaws.
Inset: An Orange-chinned Parakeet dines on wild fruit.
Top left: A Scarlet Macaw peeks out of a natural nest cavity. Top right: A macaw perches
high in the canopy. Lower right: A pair inspects an artificial nest box.
While spotting any wild parrot will While dead palms are attractive to While we didn’t see the male macaw As we talked, avian squawking and out of my face!” “You’re kinda cute!”
always be a thrill, a visit to Costa Rica macaws (barring natural tree cavity this particular morning, we did chattering – and a bit of friendly “So, what’s everyone doing today?”
without seeing the macaws would be options in an area), they are dangerous finally observe the female poking bickering – filled my ears. Scarlet
remiss, and this was why we found and can flood in the rains and drown her head out of the cavity looking Macaws were arriving, flying over After I satisfied my appetite for
ourselves in Samara Beach. After driving the occupants: the dead trees have no for her breakfast delivery. The male the trees and perching on branches watching the birds (though really, is
the 4.5 hours from San Jose, we were canopy of leaves for protection. Our luck was the one who tidied up the cavity in anticipation of the feast. Preening that ever possible?), we went back
within a short drive to Punta Islita. was with us and we quickly spotted the for her last year and he is in charge between pairs could be observed, into the Visitor Centre to take a look
This is where WPT Partner Project bonded pair of house-hunting Scarlet of foraging during egg incubation. catching-up amongst birds was at the macaw-related art in the Gift
Macaw Recovery Network is located, Macaws flying between the palms and Interestingly, he occupied a nest box ongoing and the photo opportunities Shop. The art was created by well-
run by Dr. Sam and Sarah Williams. the nest box. that was installed in the tree about kept appearing one after the other. known artists and locals; providing
ten feet above the natural cavity There was even a pair practically right this venue for the artists helps build
MRN works with its partners to boost They were clearly interested in all three, where the female resided. above our heads! Their red feathers and reinforce pride in having wild
wild populations of the Scarlet and the although a nesting Kiskadee pair drove contrasted vibrantly against the macaws flying about and the sales
Great Green Macaw through breeding them off rather loudly from one of the Our second excursion was the green leaves, and flashes of primary benefit both MRN and the artisans.
and reintroduction programs, in dead palms. The macaws spent a good “Breakfast with the Macaws yellow and blue flickered throughout
addition to spearheading education and deal of time checking out the nest box – Photography Tour” hosted by the trees. I nabbed a few treasures I had to
reforestation projects. and us! – while the three conservationists Visitation Manager Abi at MRN’s bring home, then we said goodbye.
discussed further refinements (such as Punta Islita Wild Macaw Reserve. Finally, Abi went to draw up the Walking out to the parking lot, avian
In planning our visit, Sam helped adding more perching options) to make 50+ Scarlet Macaws have been natural-looking feeding station and conversation ringing in my ears, I had
facilitate an excursion into the field, as it even more attractive to the birds. successfully released into the wild at breakfast was served, with great some colourful photos in my camera
well as a photography tour. For the first this site (the Great Green Macaws are gusto. There was upwards of a dozen and wonderful memories in my heart.
excursion, I joined MRN Assistant Bird The team decided to return that released further north, in the province birds all taking turns at the buffet, ‘Til next time, Costa Rica! I can’t wait
Manager Carey and volunteers Kylie afternoon to tear down the unoccupied of Heredia). While we waited for the some politely, some with a bit more to see – and hear – you again!
and Lauren during their early morning dead palm, leaving the Kiskadees in the macaws to arrive for their breakfast, feistiness or shyness (depending on
field observation rounds. The team in the other as a natural deterrent and Abi enthusiastically discussed with their place in the social hierarchy).
picked me up before dawn when the the nest box as the only local option for us the work that MRN is doing, as Croaks, rattles, sudden squawks and
Howler Monkeys were still ominously the macaw pair. well as future plans: in addition growls made it quite apparent the
calling through the forest. Kylie expertly to the macaws, the Endangered macaws were having a full-fledged Learn how you can help support the
managed the 4x4 as we drove the The next field destination was right in Yellow-naped Amazon (Amazona conversation: “Hey! That nut is mine!” conservation efforts of the Macaw Recovery
bumpy, potholed roads towards Punta the middle of the little town of Punta auropalliata) may soon be added to “Wow, the oranges are sweet this Network by visiting their website:
Islita. Our first destination was a nest Islita. The natural nest cavity was in a the breeding and release program. morning!” “Get your tail feathers www.macawrecoverynetwork.org
box that had been installed in a forested tree located between the edge of the
area where there were two dead palm main road and the side of a children’s
trees the birds were inspecting. soccer field.
22 PsittaScene.org Summer 2020 Summer 2020 PsittaScene.org 23CAPE PARROT
A plan for recovery is launched
by Rowan Martin PhD, WPT-Africa Programme Director
T
he conservation of one of Africa’s
most threatened parrots has received
Intense discussions for Cape Parrot conservation. Photos © Rowan Martin
a boost with the launch of the
“Cape Parrot and Mistbelt Forest Conservation
Action Plan”. The plan is the result of many
hours of collaborative effort and charts a
course for the recovery of the species.
A thriving population of Cape Parrots acting as a flagship
Acknowledgements:
Cape Parrots (Poicephalus robustus) are found for the protection and recovery of indigenous forests in
only in South Africa, with populations scattered
across fragments of mistbelt forest. Until South Africa, for the shared benefit of people and nature. The World Parrot Trust’s Africa
Programme Director, Rowan
recently, their status as a distinct species was Martin, worked with a small
team from the Cape Parrot
E
hotly debated. But in 2017, following a re- Project, Cape Parrot Working
evaluation of the evidence, these charismatic ffective and impactful address multiple additional threats Group, BirdLife South Africa, the
‘green and gold’ parrots were recognised Endangered Wildlife Trust and
conservation is often best were included. Among these are the IUCN Conservation Planning
as separate from the Brown-necked Parrot achieved through careful impacts of Beak and Feather Disease Specialist Group to coordinate
Poicephalus fuscicollis, which is widely distributed in and inclusive planning and in Virus, the risk of disease ‘spillover’ the workshop and produce the
Africa and found as far away as the Gambia. action plan. We are grateful for
recognition of this, in September last from expanding populations of
donations from several generous
year, 48 people gathered together invasive Ringneck Parakeets (Psittacula supporters who made this
Although surveys conducted in recent years in Hogsback, South Africa. These krameri) and the threats to native workshop possible.
suggest Cape Parrot numbers are fairly stable, included representatives of provincial forests posed by a recently established
their small and fragmented population leaves and national government, landowners, ‘borer’ beetle.
them exposed to a diversity of threats. Following forestry companies, conservation
recognition as a distinct species, Cape Parrots organisations, community groups, Looking forward, implementation
were categorised by the IUCN as globally bird guides, students, academics and of the plan will be coordinated
‘Vulnerable’ to extinction. other stakeholders. by a committee made up from
representatives of different regions
Among the greatest threats is the loss and The workshop involved two days of and areas of expertise. This
degradation of the mistbelt forest habitat on intense discussion, which ran late coordination will be led by Dr. Jess
which they depend. Cape Parrots, like many into the evenings. There was a huge Leaver in a position generously funded
parrots, feed on a diversity of foods, but are amount of ground to cover but by by the Wild Bird Trust.
particularly reliant on the fruits of Podocarpus sp. the end of the workshop a draft plan
Male Cape Parrot © Anton Kruger
trees, which are characteristic of the mistbelt was in hand with the finer details One of the first activities is to see the
forest. They also need cavities in large, mature ironed out over subsequent months plan gazetted by the South African
trees, or dead snags in which to nest. These through collaboration with those government as a national ‘Biodiversity
resources continue to shrink as growing human unable to attend. The plan had a Management Plan’, a vital step to
populations and the pressures of development strong emphasis on habitat protection secure long term commitments at the Cape Parrot and Mistbelt Forest
encroach on remaining forested areas. Conservation Action Plan, online:
and restoration, which is reflected in highest level to protect one of Africa’s tinyurl.com/cpsg-cpap
its title, but actions to monitor and most remarkable birds.
24 PsittaScene.org Summer 2020 Summer 2020 PsittaScene.org 25P s i t ta | N e w s
W P T C O N TAC T S
News
ONLINE
New Timneh Parrot research in Guinea Bissau Parrots of the Kiwa Centre and the COVID-19 pandemic parrots.org
shows isolation can protect populations facebook.com/WorldParrotTrust
The parrots living at the Kiwa Centre in the UK need twitter.com/parrottrust
New research on Timneh Parrots finds that the isolation of two islands your help in the midst of this pandemic. It can cost instagram.com/world_parrot_trust
in Guinea Bissau has been an important factor in their protection upwards of £1,000 per month for food and enrichment
from threats. By combining local knowledge and field surveys, supplies to meet the needs of the more than 200
researchers working with the World Parrot Trust have assessed the rescued parrots residing there. To help get them
through this difficult period, Kiwa Centre staff have MAIN BRANCHES
status and threats to Timneh Parrots in Guinea-Bissau, highlighting the
importance of two islands in the João Vieira Poilão Marine National created an Amazon Wish List where people can buy
items to donate directly to the birds. UNITED KINGDOM (Main Office)
Park in their conservation. The data suggest that the isolation of these
Karen Whitley, Administrator
islands has largely protected the birds from threats, namely habitat loss Glanmor House, Hayle,
and trapping, that have impacted Timneh populations elsewhere. Please help! View the wish list on Amazon: Cornwall, TR27 4HB
tinyurl.com/kiwalist Tel: (44) 01736 751026
To work with its partners on this effort the WPT received a IUCN Save uk@parrots.org
Our Species grant. Information generated from this project will help Read the story of the Kiwa Centre:
UNITED STATES
guide the management of protected areas in Guinea-Bissau and Red tinyurl.com/kiwacovid
Lauren Schmaltz, Administrator
List assessments for the species. P.O. Box 985, Travelers Rest, SC 29690
Tel: (1) 864 610 2129
usa@parrots.org
Read more about WPT’s work:
parrots.org/projects/timneh-parrot © Rowan Martin Tribute to Lee McGuire: CANADA
ABA Trainer, Parrot Advocate and WPT Friend Michelle Kooistra, Administrator
4377 Gordon Dr., Kelowna, BC, V1W1S7
Lee McGuire aspired to understand and communicate Tel: (1) 250 766 7828
canada@parrots.org
with parrots throughout her life. She was dedicated
WPT and others call for action to end to encouraging the practice of applied behaviour
harmful trade in wildlife analysis (ABA), a respectful, humane way to modify
behaviours and enrich the lives of parrots. Her
Experts have been warning for decades of the risks posed by the global ADDITIONAL BRANCHES
teaching partner for many years, Susan G. Friedman,
wildlife trade. Now this practice is facing increased scrutiny as COVID-19 had this to say:
has brought the issue to the forefront: it now appears likely that the virus Africa Rowan Martin
originated in an animal market in China. africa@parrots.org
“Sadly, our dearest colleague and friend passed away
The World Parrot Trust has been working to end the harmful trade in wild on February 21, 2020. Lee was deeply loved and Australia Nicholas Bishop
parrots for more than 30 years, supporting communities to protect their admired by everyone she touched — many, many australia@parrots.org
fortunate individuals of all species. I know we will
parrots, investigating trade to understand its drivers and impacts, and Benelux Ruud Vonk
all miss her. Through her unfailing commitment to
advocating for effective well-informed policy. Despite the challenges of the improving the quality of life for all learners, Lee has left benelux@parrots.org
COVID-19 pandemic, the Trust will continue the fight. us an invaluable legacy. She will be with us always.” Belgium Ronald Coens
Read more: belgium@parrots.org
tinyurl.com/endtrade We at the World Parrot Trust will miss her down-to-earth, frequently humorous and
extremely valuable contributions to our knowledge of parrots as a whole. Brazil André Saidenberg
brazil@parrots.org
India Avin Deen
india@parrots.org
Aid conservation efforts by reporting Orange-bellied Parrot sightings
Indonesia Oka Dwi Prihatmoko
The Orange-bellied Parrot recovery team is asking for a unique kind of Magazine of the
indonesia@parrots.org
help during the COVID-19 pandemic, as their organised surveys have
been affected by the outbreak. Italy Cristiana Senni
csenni@parrots.org
They’re asking the public to keep an eye out for these dainty parrots, Japan TSUBASA
especially near a parrot-friendly Victorian or South Australian coast or japan@parrots.org
saltmarsh. They’ve also noted that an autumn release will be taking
Netherlands Ria Vonk
place at two sites, which should help increase the public’s chances of Wi n te r 2 0 1 7/1 8
netherlands@parrots.org
spotting a few.
Latin America Rosa Elena Zegarra
centralamerica@parrots.org
Email your reports or photos to:
© Chris Tzaros
obp.release@delwp.vic.gov.au Access Past Issues at: Psittascene.org Sweden Maria Rogstadius
English, Dutch, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish sweden@parrots.org
26 PsittaScene.org Summer 2020PARROTS IN THE WILD: Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus) A fledgling Blue-headed Parrot peeks out of a nest cavity in its native Colombia. Found in South America, this small parrot lives at altitudes up to 1100m (3608 ft) in lowland tropical forest, including rainforest, deciduous and savanna; subtropical formations, cultivated areas, plantations, clearings with trees, secondary growth forest, and seasonally in dry caatinga forest. Photo © Corey Raffel
You can also read
