Le a r ’s Some history, the current situation,and

A Repor t by MICHAEL REYNOLDS Editor proposals for its preservation Rosemary Low, P.O. Box 100, Mansfield, Notts., Background United Kingdom The World Par rot Trust (WPT) has taken a special NG20 9NZ interest in this for the last eight years, working with Dr. Charles A. Munn III and his Brazilian associates, notably Dr. Carlos Yamashita CONTENTS and Dr. Pedr o Lima. After attending the important ‘Blue ’ meeting in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in Lear’s Macaw...... 2-7 1992, WPT pursued the long-term objective of Inspirational Speakers in gr owing and transplanting Licuri palm trees to boost Tenerife ...... 8-9 the food supply for Lear ’s Macaws at their Rasa da Caterina location. A mor e immediate and ur gent The Conservation of requirement was, and remains, to provide adequate African ...... 10-12 protection at this first known site to pr event the illegal capture of Lear’s Macaws for collectors within The ‘Pet Report’ Brazil, and also in other countries. Dr. Charles Munn Convention ...... 13 A degree of protection has been No.4 November 1995 ‘Lear’s species cur rently under Visit to the Pantanal Area in place for several years, with Macaw: a second population pressure fr om international of Western Brazil ....14-15 guards ar ranged by IBAMA (the confirmed’, and Vol. 9 no.2 May trading activities. official Brazilian conservation 1997 ‘Lear’ s Macaw - next in line Book Review ...... 16 The confiscation of two young agency), and Biodiversitas, a for extinction?’). Lear’s Macaws at the Paris Orly An Ultramarine Lory Nest conservation non-governmental airport last July was repor ted in the Marquesas Islands organisation (NGO). It is WPT Proposal globally, and we believe it is difficult to know how constant, generally agreed that at least 19 & Big Lory Book In our May 1997 article we Competition...... 17 reliable and ef fective these were stolen from the wild guards may be, faced as they are included an extract from a letter sent to IBAMA in March 1997, population in 1996. With an Psitta News ...... 18-19 by a difficult task in a lar ge and estimate of ar ound 120 birds in challenging terrain, but it is and it is relevant to re-print this here: the wild, it is obvious that, Parr ots in the Wild...... 20 generally accepted that macaws without a solution being found, are still being removed from the “In our opinion this is the most this species could follow the wild population at a rate of as prominent and thr eatened of all pattern of Spix’s Macaw and be many as twenty birds each year. Obviously this loss is totally unacceptable, since it could lead to the extinction of Lear’s Macaw in the wild within six years or so. WPT has highlighted this appalling prospect in previous issues of PsittaScene (see Vol.7

COVER PICTURE We are most grateful to Roland and Julia Seitre for providing us with a set of The World Parrot Trust does photographs of Lear’s not necessarily endorse any Macaw. This striking head views or statements made by shot of Lear’s has captured contributors to PsittaScene. the slight green tinge that It will of course consider is sometimes seen in the articles or letters from any plumage of this bird, and contributors on their merits. clearly distinguishes if from the . Lear’s Macaw Photo: Roland Seitr e

2 trade in Lear’s Macaw at the destruction. According to this forthcoming CITES Confer ence of IBAMA Press law, it is considered illegal to the Parties in Harare, Zimbabwe Release keep Lear’s Macaws in in June 1997. Your gover nment captivity. It is important to could ask for stronger Brazil repor ts that the note that since the legislation enforcement measur es from all endangered Lear’s Macaw is came into effect, Brazil has CITES signatories, especially threatened by illegal bir d never issued any permits for those that may have been - no collectors the export of this species. 14 July 1998. doubt without their knowledge - In 1992, the Brazilian involved in illegal movements of Brasilia - The Lear’ s Macaw Government created a Working this macaw. ( leari) is one of Group today called Committee If Brazil were to ask its fellow the world’s most endangered for the Preser vation of Lear’s CITES members at the COP to species. Occurring only in the Macaw. This Committee is pay especial attention to traf fic semi-arid northeastern r egion responsible for the in this species, we think it would of Bahia in Brazil, its ar ea of development and improve vigilance by all occupation was only located in implementation of the Dr. Carlos Yamashita checking countries and agencies. It might 1978 by a team led by Dr conservation management plan Hyacinth Macaw Chicks. also have the effect of Helmut Sick (who was one of for this species, which Brazil’s best known includes habitat protection, effectively extinct in the wild generating funds from major or nithologists). Due to habitat international conser vation anti-poaching efforts, field within a very few years. alteration, hunting and capture conservation, resear ch and foundations for the in-country for the illegal trade, the We have a copy of an excellent proposals made in your Action educational programs. ‘Action Plan for Conservation of species is facing a ver y critical Plan. At the same time, you situation - the populations of Legal protection and the Lear’s Macaw’ compiled by the might want to make it clear that involvement of a number of Special Working Gr oup in 1994. Lear’s Macaw have been there is no possibility of an reduced to less than 130 institutions have contributed The Action Plan states on page amnesty being declared for to the conservation of the 10: ‘Capturing wild is individuals in the wild. The illegal holders of Lear’s Macaw, illegal capture of these bir ds Lear’s Macaw in Brazil. also quite common in the region; but that all diplomatic and legal for trade has been recognised Contributing organizations they are smuggled to zoos, means would be used to secure as one of the most important have included the Brazilian collectors and aviculturists all the r eturn to Brazil of illegally factors in the species’ decline. Institute for Environment and over the world. A. leari is held birds. Natural Renewable Resources certainly one of the most coveted The rarity and precarious (IBAMA), National Fund for the species, since it is ver y rare This proposal aimed at choking status of the Lear’s Macaw in Environment - FNMA, Sao Paulo today. It is believed that with the off international demand for the wild has accorded it the Zoological Foundation, sharp decline in the natural Lear’s Macaw is given extra highest level of protection Biodiversitas Foundation, population of Cyanopsitta spixii, significance by a repor t from provided under the Busch Gardens (USA), Houston hunters will turn to A. leari, today’s pr ess which quotes your Convention on International Zoological Gar dens (USA). which will require an increased President Fer nando Henrique Trade in Endanger ed Species of Other groups that have inspection effort in its area of Cardoso as saying at the ‘Rio Wild Fauna and Flora - CITES. supported conservation efforts occurrence on the part of the Plus Five’ Conference: ‘We don’ t Brazil has been a par ty of the include the World Parrot Trust appropriate agencies’. have the means to stop CITES Treaty since 1975. (UK), the Wildlife Conservation deforestation. In those r egions, In addition to being a par ty of Society - WCS (USA) , CETREL There are no proposals in the there’s hardly any presence of S.A. and PETROBRAS - the Action Plan on how to deal with CITES, Brazil has strict Brazilian Oil Company. government capable of imposing domestic legislation the root cause of this loss of the law’. birds from the wild populations, prohibiting the export of The Brazilian wildlife which as we all know, is the With these difficulties to contend wildlife species. The Brazilian authorities of IBAMA, in continuing demand by with inside Brazil, would it not Wildlife Protection Act of 1967 collaboration with state and unprincipled collectors, both be a good idea to make every prohibits the commerce of local municipal agencies have outside Brazil and within. effort to attack the ‘demand’ side wildlife and products or been conducting a major of the equation as well as the objects that implicate their campaign against the poaching We realise that our organisation ‘supply’ side? We hope you may capture, pursuit or in the region. Successes has no official mandate to make find our comments of some proposals relating to what is interest. clearly primarily a national concern for Brazil, but Please be assured that our desire nevertheless, our eight years of to help par rot conser vation is involvement in global parrot closely followed by our wish to conservation, and our work with the appropriate substantial financial authorities in all countries.” commitments to work with We received no reply to that Brazilian experts to help six letter, but in July this year an par rot species, encourage us to international press r elease was offer what we think could be a issued by IBAMA. It seems likely suggestion to assist the survival that our 1997 proposal may of Lear’s Macaw. have helped stimulate this That is that Brazil might bring useful action. Here is the press up the question of international release in full: Guard at Rara de Caterina Photo: Roland Seitre

3 include the arr est in 1995 of a laws and jurisdiction against smuggler called Paraiba, who the infractors. Reactions to the Press Release was caught with a Lear ’s The position of the Brazilian Macaw in his possession. In This initiative by Brazil was well r eported in the UK pr ess, and Government and the Lear ’s the following extract fr om a national paper is typical: early 1998 the field team was Macaw Committee is that all able to obser ve a poaching undocumented and illegal Brazil wants rar e Macaws seized in British raids attempt and appr ehend the bir ds should be confiscated by Brazil is demanding the r etur n of three of the world’ s rarest bir ds, infractors in the act of placing the authorities of the country which ar e being held at a secr et location in northern England. the nets for the capture of the in which they are found, and birds. In May of 1998, eight be returned to Brazil as par t of The Lear ’s macaws were seized in raids by Customs and Excise more bir ds were confiscated the conser vation program. As investigators on houses in Nor thaller ton and Driffield, in fr om an aviculturist called there have been no official Yorkshir e, four months ago. Zezao in nor thern Brazil. permissions for legal export of In an attempt to save them fr om extinction, Brazilian authorities Despite incr eased security and Lear’ s Macaws from Brazil. All ar e attempting to track down and repatriate all rare native ongoing efforts to control r epatriated birds, as well as parr ots smuggled out of the country and sold to private collectors poaching, the Lear ’s Macaw those confiscated in Brazil, and pet dealers. The campaign r eflects efforts by wildlife-rich populations are still will be evaluated for possible developing nations to get back the rar e and endangered animals threatened. Many birds are r eturn to the wild or for and plants that have been taken fr om the wild over recent years. still taken fr om the wild by par ticipation in a coordinated The Lear ’s Macaws in Britain wer e found after an investigation into trappers going to a few illicit captive management pr ogram. collectors of rar e species. an inter national network of bird dealers that cover ed Belgium, Ther e is a strong national Ger many, the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Britain. Thr ee men were Unfortunately , Lear’s Macaws commitment to the ar rested in the raids and r eleased on police bail while the haul is are also being smuggled pr eservation of the Lear ’s being evaluated. internationally from Brazil. In Macaw in Brazil, as has been 1996 two birds that did not This UK case is still under investigation, and will be r eported in demonstrated by a r ecent PsittaScene as it develops. The situation of the two birds held by have any legal documentation grant of $200,000 to the or per mits were confiscated the Singapor ean authorities seems unlikely to be r esolved soon. pr oject by the National Fund We understand that the person who imported them claims they fr om Mr Lawrence Kuah Kok for the Envir onment - FNMA. Choon at an airpor t in France. wer e brought out of Brazil before 1967. The authorities ther efore In conjunction with pr oject need to prove that the bir ds are less than 31 years old. WPT has The French gover nmental collaborators, this major grant authorities collaborated fully of fered its exper tise to try to settle this issue, but progr ess has facilitated the pr otection seems slow . The return of these bir ds to Brazil - which the World with the Brazilian of the ar ea against poaching, conservation effort by Parrot Trust suppor ts unequivocally - is likely to be delayed for supported field resear ch, some time. r epatriating the birds to Brazil. habitat r estoration, Sadly, one of the birds died at conservation and educational the French airport befor e it pr ograms. could be retur ned to Brazil. hear nothing fr om IBAMA, and The conser vation of Questions for receive only negative responses In an international ef fort to endanger ed species and the Brazil from a spokesperson on conser ve this species, the pr eservation of the world’s Brazilian wildlife issues who authorities in Singapor e biodiversity is a r esponsibility We have asked for updated works in the USA. It seems that, confiscated two Lear ’s Macaws that all gover nments must information from Brazilian despite the substantial funds fr om a private collection, of take seriously. The illegal sources but have not received provided by WPT for the Mr Lawr ence Kuah Kok Choon, trade in rar e and endangered anything in time for this issue. conservation of parrots in Brazil the same infractor of the species is a pr oblem that has It would be helpful to have the (over $60,000), there are those episode in France. This issue cr ossed national boundaries answers to a number of who are more inter ested in and the eventual disposition and can only be addr essed questions, for example: perpetuating political of the bir ds is now being thr ough cooperation and disagreements than pursuing addr essed by the Singaporean suppor t of all parties. ¥ What facilities are available in Brazil for any returned Lear’s conservation. Fortunately it is legal system. Also this year, quite practicable, and indeed the British gover nment Contacts in Brazil: Macaws? confiscated thr ee birds from a Maria Iolita Bampi enjoyable, for WPT to work collector in Yorkshire. The Chief, Department of Wildlife ¥ How many Lear’s have been directly with Fundacao BioBrasil, Brazilian Gover nment has Dir etoria de Ecossistemas confiscated in Brazil? a recently established SAIN - Av. L-4 Norte conservation NGO based in r equested the repatriation of ¥ Have any prosecutions all of these birds. Edificlo Sede - IBAMA Salvador, Bahia. This city is 70800-200 - Brasilla/DF - Brazil resulted? only a few hours drive away Ther e is an expectation that (Phone): 55-61-225 8150 ¥ How is the FNMA funding of from the location of Lear ’s both the Singapor ean and the Macaw, and is better placed to (Fax): 55 61-316 1067 $200,000 being used? British governments will (e-mail): provide suppor t for this macaw support the conser vation of mbampi@ibama,sede.gov .br ¥ What is IBAMA’s evaluation of than groups based more than a this species by acting quickly the effectiveness of the thousand kilometres away. to r epatriate the confiscated Luiz Francisco Sanfilippo birds to Brazil, following the Chair of the Committee for the guarding activities? This brings me to the latest example of the French Preser vation of Lear’s Macaw ¥ Are IBAMA and Biodiversitas news, repor ting the discovery of a third population of Lear’s government and according to Av. Miguel Estefano 4241, willing to work with other the CITES regulations. It is 04301-905 - Sao Paulo/SP - Brazil Brazilian and international Macaw. Here is a report and a (Phone): 55-11-276 0811 request for funding from hoped that these governments organisations? will access the heaviest (Fax): 55-11-276 0564 Richard Hartley, a volunteer with penalties possible under their (e-mail): [email protected] Sadly, we have to report that we BioBrasil:

4 Request for funding to protect newly discovered populations of Lear’s Macaw and exploratory missions to find other unknown populations by RICHARD HAR TLEY Background The dwindling population of the Lear’s Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) has caused alarm in conser vation circles, particularly among groups concerned with the global well-being of psittacids. The gravity of the situation has galvanised conservation NGOs and government agencies to enact programs that assur e the continued protection of the known populations in the region known as the Ser tao in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Most of the attention has been focused on the population of appr oximately 119 Lear’s near the town of Canudos. A permanent staf f member of IBAMA, the federal government’s environmental protection wing, has been installed in the region and the planting of the licuri palm (Syagrus cor onata), whose nut serves as the primar y food source for the macaws, has recommenced. An agronomist has been contracted to oversee the transplanting of the palms. Supervision of the pr oject rests in the hands of the National Lear ’s Committee with Fundacao Biodiversitas The team enter ed this dirt r oad near Petrolina and travelled on it for four hours, acting as the non-governmental caretaker. leading them to the site of the Lear ’s Photo: Gil Serique Informants in the area, however, the Canudos population. This concentrate its protection specialised ecotourism pr ogram have alerted Fundacao BioBrasil area contains some of the most effor ts on the 30 birds in the that offers as a guaranteed newly discovered population. attraction one of the world’ s to the potential of further preser ved Caatinga vegetation, This would entail the significant populations of these typical Lear’s habitat, and there rarest parrots. BioBrasil’s constr uction of lodging for successful ecotourism efforts macaws. A population of 30 has is a strong likelihood that guards contracted to pr otect the been confirmed in a pr eviously additional populations of birds with the Hyacinth Macaw in the birds and the installation of a state of Piaui, where over 60 undocumented ar ea, east of live in the immediate vicinity. short wave radio system for Canudos. Rumours, Hyacinths are lur ed to one spot daily contact between the site for observation fr om a hide less corroborated by physical and BioBrasil’s pr esident in evidence (the remains of the Plan of Action than 15 meters away, were Salvador, Pedro Lima. Trapping inaugurated last year. Small shredded palm nuts) point to BioBrasil Foundation has activity would be immediately the strong possibility of a r ustic lodges have been embarked on a two-pronged relayed to Dr. Lima who in turn constr ucted as accommodation population of 50 birds in the strategy aimed at protecting would infor m IBAMA. and two birding groups from the western Sertao and an existing known populations and United States have alr eady unspecified number in Bahia’ s launching a vigorous search in A team from BioBrasil is due to undertake an expeditionar y field visited the site. The idea would neighbouring state of the field for new populations. be to r eplicate that experience Pernambuco to the north. research trip to an ar ea west of The 120 birds in the Canudos Canudos where strong evidence in the areas with Lear’s The confirmed newly discover ed area ar e curr ently the exclusive of the bird’s pr esence exists. populations. population is still extremely target for conser vation by the Spearheading the research will The success of such an vulnerable to trappers given that National Lear’s Committee. The be Dr. Lima who will be endeavour would ensure the all official efforts are focused on foundation intends, ther efore, to accompanied by Luiz Carlos self-sustainability of the Lear ’s Lima (no relation to Pedro), a protection ef forts and thereby reformed trapper and BioBrasil embody the principles consultant whose inside underlying BioBrasil’s mission in information is pivotal to the environmental pr otection. success of the project. Mr. C. Lima is consider ed to harbour extensive knowledge about and Budget contacts in the bird trade but is Construction of lodging for keen to share this knowledge Guards in new locality: US$ 1000 with the foundation for the sake of the bird’s conser vation and Two expeditionary trips to find improvement of his image. new populations (car r ental, gas, and miscellaneous costs for Long Term Outlook food etc): US$ 2500 Purchase of two short wave Once more populations of Lear’s radios and solar panel:US$ 2500 Macaw are found and subsequently protected, Total funds solicited US$ 6000 Bahia, Northeast Brazil: Lear’s nesting sites. Photo: Roland Seitre BioBrasil plans to implement a (alr eady funded by WPT)

5 LEAR’S MACAW (Anodorhynchus leari) by ROLAND SEITRE The story of Lear’s Macaw has been one of the great ornithological mysteries. First painted from a captive bird by the famous British illustrator Edward Lear, the species was described a few years later (in 1858) by Charles Lucien Bonaparte, Napoleon’s nephew. The scientist had recognised, from Lear’s painting and from a specimen at the Museum d’Histoire Natur elle in Paris, a different bird from the regular (in those times) Hyacinth and Glaucous Macaws. All these birds were coming through the trade and, if the origins of Glaucous and Hyacinth were rather clear, that of Lear’s was a total mystery. The unusual bir d appeared from time to time in a shipment of blue parrots from Brazil and that was it. The situation remained the same months but got stuck because of during all the 19th and most of the war. After five years in South the 20th century, except that America, he could not come back A group of Lear’s Macaws at one of the ‘new’ locations. Photo: Pedro Lima Glaucous Macaw, in the meantime, any more, in love with fabulous mor e to inform you about in became extinct. Brazil had then Brazil, its diverse flora and 1600 Accounting the Febr uary 1999 PsittaScene. been reasonably explored and it species of birds. He stayed there Responsibility for accounting was unbelievable, at least thinking all his life. and monthly pr ogress reports from outside this country, that Fascinating such a large, vocal and He joined, as a naturalist, the first is entir ely in the hands of expedition to cross Central Brazil BioBrasil Foundation. In conspicuous bird, as macaws are history generally known to be, could have from Amazonia to the Cerrado, by addition, following completion the Roncador-Xingu-Tapajos river of the expeditionar y trip We have had the good fortune remained unfound. Therefore, it was either suggested that the Systems. It was quite an occur ring this week, BioBrasil to r eceive some photographs adventure from deep swampy of Lear’s Macaw fr om Roland ‘species’ was made of aberrant will pr ovide photographs and birds or, eventually, that they jungles to the forested savannahs first hand accounts and and Julia Seitre, distinguished of the high plateau. He also wildlife photographers, were only hybrids between recommendations of future Glaucous and Hyacinths. An accomplished other expeditions. strategies fr om the trip’s conservationists, and Wildlife, in those times, was veterinarians. It is their shot ornithologist had already been participants. looking for the unknown blue bird abundant and, as far as blue To add to this good news, we on the front cover of this since 1954. This hybrid theory, macaws were concerned, can say that a fur ther PsittaScene. They also sent us printed in 1965, only stimulated Hyacinths were often to be seen. expedition, funded by a new a most inter esting article him as he could not believe it for Gradually, Helmut Sick got donation fr om World Par rot describing some of the histor y a second. His name, Helmut Sick, himself involved in tracking the Trust UK, is about to explore of Lear’s Macaw and its will be attached to the story of Lear’s especially after 1950, when an area in Per nambuco, the discovery by Professor Helmut the Lear’s forever. Prof. Sick another famous Brazilian state just nor th of Bahia. Sick. Although written in studied ornithology in the Berlin ornithologist told him he had Ther e have been strong 1992, this article is a useful Museum with Prof Str esemann found a pet specimen in a fazenda r eports of further populations addition to these notes on this and was sent to Brazil in 1939 to of Pernambucco state. But this there, and we expect to have critically endanger ed macaw. look for Crax blumenbachii, the bird had apparently been bought curassow of the Atlantic forest in Bahia. Other information was and for a ground cuckoo collected and analysed: an restricted to Espiritu Santo. He aviculturist of Treresopolis had a was supposed to stay only three live bird he claimed being from

Lear’s feed off the palm right in front this house, despite the fact that ther e ar e six children running around. Photo: Gil Serique Prof. Helmut Sick Photo: Roland Seitr e

6 WHAT FUTURE FOR LEAR’S MACAW? We have some notes from Dr. Charles A. Munn, the leading authority on macaws in the wild. He writes as follows: ‘There are between 100 and 200 confirmed sightings of Lear’s Macaw in the wild. The main thr eat to the survival of this species is continual illegal trapping from the location of the first known population at Toca cliffs. This is a vulnerable site, and many Lear’s macaws have been netted over the past two or three years and sent to Rio or Sao Paulo for specialist Lear’s Macaw in flight. Photo: Roland Seitr e collectors. Some birds are Amazonia, in the Rio Negro it. This is a common attitude palm trees are said to be traded on to international region; in Joazeiro, a bor der city among natives in macaw’s necessary for each bird which also destinations. The second, more between the states of Piaui and country. Boosted by this finding, feed on numerous fr uits of trees remote population has also been Bahia, ‘black’ macaws coming the team found the energy to and shrubs. Bird distribution raided, and climbing ropes have from the north or the south were continue and was rewar ded on certainly used to be much wider, been found there. sometimes sold. Nevertheless, all 31st December, by the sight of a as indicated by their presence To take control of this situation this was quite puzzling due to the few birds flying. For the first time forty years ago on the other side and ensure the survival of the confusion with Hyacinths and ever, ornithologists had seen the of the Rio Sao Francisco, in macaw, we need to pursue two even Spix’s. bird in the wild and the locality of Pernambucco. It is also difficult to priorities: understand why they were not the rare bird had been discover ed. First, work co-operatively to Prof Sick decided to explore this A mystery had been unfolded found in other parts of the range immense region of Nor th-East make sure the macaws are after more than 120 years of of the licuri palm, which is huge, effectively guarded. Brazil, still a large ‘white spot’ on puzzling. basically from the Nordeste states the vast ornithological map, as no down to Minas Cerais. Although It is high time the various one had ever collected there. This Contrary to what might have been deforestation has been very interested parties resolved their is a place of extreme pover ty, very said or written, this was not a severe, licuris are usually kept in differ ences and set about different from the general image ‘rediscovery’, but a genuine the pastur es as shade for cattle providing reliable and co- of Brazil, with few roads or tracks. ‘discovery’. For the scientist, it and eventually food for humans. ordinated guarding for all Lear’s The land is dry and holds a short, also initiated an intellectual fight Therefore, plenty of feeding populations. bushy and thorny vegetation. that was to end only with its own habitat appears to be left but Second, put in hand essential Trees grow only in dry river beds. life: to prove his finding he had to maybe not as many nesting sites, biological studies. Rains can be totally absent for shoot one of these birds, an act although stone cliffs are not so Knowledge is strength, and we months or even years. People which the scientist in him rare either. speak a basic Portuguese and understood but which the are woefully short of the have suffered deeply from civil conservationist and extr emely Hunting was also a problem but essential information about all wars, revolutionaries and bandits life-attached man he had always now that the bird is a state biological aspects of Lear’s up to the 20th century. Moreover, been deeply abhored. All the monument, people are aware of Macaw, for example: nesting the Sertao has been a place of same, he had to publish the its rarity and proud of it. ecology, ranging patterns, food chronic famine at all times. locality of the collection but then Unfortunately, so far numbers do requirements, population this was vital information for the not appear to have risen and dynamics. If we could secure Five expeditions lead by Prof. Sick genetic abnormality such as this information we would be explored localities where blue poachers. Only a few tens of birds better able to evaluate were found. Not only was it time crooked bills or tails have been macaws had been reported. On reported as a consequence of management techniques, such (maybe already too late!) to locate as those employed with the Echo some occasions, Hyacinths were the colony, but it was then very inbreeding. In captivity, about 15 found, nesting in rock cavities birds are legally kept but most are Parakeet in Mauritius, that among cliffs. The last expedition, urgent to give it local protection might help accelerate rapidly enforced by local very old and captive breeding has during summer l978-l979, was the been very poor so far. Ther efore, recruitment to the threatened most tenuous. At the height of the authorities in the Reserva do Raso and dwindling population of da Catarina. maintaining the free population is warm and dr y season, in the more than essential. Prof. Helmut Lear ’s Macaw. suffocating heat, lacking water Today the population is estimated Sick left us in 1991, just as the I have high hopes that the new and almost stuck in the sand, to number about 60 birds divided English version of his excellent Committee for the Preservation Prof. Sick and his companions into two colonies which inhabit book on the birds of Brazil was of Lear’s Macaw, under its were offered by a hunter, on 29th large sandstone cliffs where they ready for printing. This will also chairman Luiz Francisco December, a few feathers. The roost every night, away from keep his name for posterity but Sanfilippo, will have the wisdom unmistakable blue colour of these pr edators Arriving at dusk, they no doubt that he would be more and determination to use all was the first authentic proof that leave at dawn and their raucous satisfied to know that the bird to available resources and skills to the species still existed in the calls echo among the stones. which he dedicated most of his save this remarkable bird from wild, and in this region of Brazil. Their main diet consists of the life still roams and will keep on extinction.’ The man said he had killed the small nuts of the licuri palm roaming free in the vast expanses Charlie Munn bird only few weeks earlier to eat (Syagrus cor onata). 450 producing of North-East Brazil.

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