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ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL 15 (Suppl.): 467–476, 2004 © The Neotropical Ornithological Society NEST MANAGEMENT FOR THE PUERTO RICAN PARROT (AMAZONA VITTATA): GAINING THE TECHNOLOGICAL EDGE Thomas H. White, Jr.1 & Francisco J. Vilella2 1U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program, Box 1600, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico 00745. E-mail: [email protected] 2U.S.G.S. Biological Resources Division, Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Box 9691, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762 USA. E-mail: [email protected]. Resumen. – Manejo de nidos de la Cotorra Puertorriqueña (Amazona vittata): implementando tecnología de punta. – El manejo de la Cotorra Puertorriqueña (Amazona vittata) desde 1973 ha incluido esfuerzos para incrementar el éxito reproductivo a través del mejoramiento de cavidades naturales, uso de nidos artificiales y vigilancia intensa de la actividad reproductiva con intervención activa. A pesar de que estas prácticas han aumentado el éxito reproductivo comparado el con manejo pasivo en el pasado, la aplicación reciente de técnicas de monitoreo electrónico ha incrementado tanto el éxito reproductivo como nuestro conocimiento sobre la ecología y el comportamiento de nidificación de la especie. Estas nuevas técnicas incluyen monitoreo audiovisual de nidos activos, permitiendo la documentación precisa de actividades reproductivas, así como la detección temprana de problemas potenciales con mínima perturbación a la pareja reproductiva. En este trabajo discutimos el diseño, costos e implementación de este sistema de monitoreo. También resumimos los beneficios obtenidos y la aplicabilidad de esta tecnología en estudios sobre la historia natural y el manejo de poblaciones para otras especies de aves que utilizan cavidades en bosques y selvas Neotropicales. Abstract. – Management practices for the critically endangered Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vitatta) since 1973 have included proactive efforts to increase nesting success through improvement of natural nest cavities, placement of artificial nest cavities, and close monitoring of nesting activity and active inter- vention. While these practices have resulted in improved overall nesting success over previous passive management, recent application of electronic monitoring techniques has increased not only nesting suc- cess, but also knowledge of the nesting and behavioral ecology of the species. These new techniques include both audio and video monitoring of active nest cavities, allowing for accurate documentation of nesting activities and early detection of potential problems with minimal disturbance to the nesting pair. Herein we discuss design, costs, and implementation of these monitoring systems. We also summarize the benefits accrued to date, as well as the transferability of these readily available, and user-friendly, technolo- gies in natural history studies and population management of other cavity-nesting species in Neotropical forests. Accepted 12 January 2004. Key words: Amazona vittata, audio, infrared, management, monitoring, nesting, Puerto Rican Parrot, video camera. INTRODUCTION and management of endangered species. Amongst avian species, cavity-nesters present Acquiring reliable data on reproductive ecol- special challenges because of extended nest- ogy is of fundamental importance in the study ing phenology, heightened parental attentive- 467 WHITE & VILELLA ness and sensitivity to disturbance, and tenance of artificial cavities made of PVC secretive behavior of breeding pairs when in (polyvinyl chloride), and intensive monitoring proximity to their nest cavity (Skutch 1957, of nesting activity from observation blinds Ligon 1970, Lanning & Shiflett 1983, Snyder combined with active intervention as neces- et al. 1987, Grenier & Beissinger 1999). In the sary (Wiley 1985, Snyder et al. 1987, Lindsey Neotropics, these challenges are frequently 1992, USFWS 1999). These measures have compounded by structurally complex habitats resulted in improved nesting success, com- and intractable environmental conditions. pared to previous passive management (Sny- Because of these inherent difficulties, biolo- der et al. 1987, Lindsey 1992, USFWS 1999). gists often go to great, even dangerous However, continuing challenges to such lengths attempting to collect the data neces- efforts include difficult access to some nest sary to effectively study and manage endan- cavities, secretive behavior and sensitivity to gered, or otherwise little-known, populations disturbance by nesting pairs, and inherent dif- of Neotropical cavity-nesters (Lanning & Shi- ficulties of monitoring the status of clutches flett 1983, Renton & Salinas-Melgoza 1999, and nestlings. Recent developments in elec- Brightsmith 2000, Morera 2001, Pinho & tronic technology have provided tools to suc- Nogueira 2003). cessfully resolve some of these difficulties Such is the case with the Puerto Rican associated with the study and management of Parrot (Amazona vittata), once abundant cavity nesters (e.g., Proudfoot 1996, King et al. throughout Puerto Rico and it’s major satellite 2001, Stake & Cimprich 2003). Here, we islands (Snyder et al. 1987). Primarily because present unique technological applications that of past habitat loss, this critically endangered have aided in overcoming some of the chal- endemic species is currently restricted to the lenges to wild nest management for the montane rainforest of the Luquillo Mountains Puerto Rican Parrot, and we discuss the in northeastern Puerto Rico, where a small potential application of these technologies in relict wild population has been under inten- natural history studies and population man- sive management since 1973 (Wiley 1981, agement for other Neotropical cavity-nesting Snyder et al. 1987). Numbers in the wild have species. Our objective was to evaluate the util- remained low, ranging annually from approxi- ity of an audiovisual nest monitoring system mately 13–50 over the past 30 years (Snyder et for obtaining reliable nesting data, which may al. 1987, USFWS 1999), making the Puerto be used for timely management decisions. Rican Parrot one of the ten most endangered birds in the world (USFWS 1999). STUDY AREA AND METHODS Many of the challenges to Puerto Rican Parrot recovery are common to other endan- All wild nest management activities for the gered Neotropical cavity-nesters, particularly Puerto Rican Parrot were conducted in the Psittacines. Among these, nest failure has Luquillo Mountains, also known as the been identified as a major limiting factor to Caribbean National Forest or Luquillo Exper- population growth (Snyder & Taapken 1977, imental Forest, located in northeastern Puerto Snyder et al. 1987). Accordingly, management Rico (18o18’N, 65o47’W). This mountainous practices for the wild Puerto Rican Parrot forest reserve encompasses 19,650 ha of population have consisted mainly of proactive subtropical rainforest ranging in elevation efforts to maximize reproductive success. from 200 m to 1074 m above sea level. Efforts have included locating and improving However, Puerto Rican Parrot nesting natural nesting cavities, placement and main- areas are located at elevations from 500 m 468 NEST MANAGEMENT FOR PUERTO RICAN PARROTS to 700 m, corresponding to the palo colorado Audio monitoring. Initial nest monitoring (Cyrilla racemiflora) and tabonuco (Dacryodes efforts relied on constant visual observation excelsa) forest types. Palo colorado is the and observer attentiveness to parrot activities primary tree species used for nesting. Annual at or near the nest entrance (Snyder et al. 1987, precipitation ranges from 200 cm in the foot- Lindsey 1992). This type of monitoring was hills to over 500 cm at the highest peaks taxing on observer concentration and atten- (Snyder et al. 1987). Annual temperatures tion spans, and also relied heavily upon range from 11° to 32°C, averaging 21°C observer experience for interpretation of (Lindsey 1992). behavioral patterns of nesting Puerto Rican Parrots to avoid the false perception of poten- Locating and monitoring wild nests. At the onset of tial problems (Lindsey 1992; Wilson et al. breeding season (Jan.–Feb.), active nests 1995, 1997). Moreover, acquisition of reliable of wild Puerto Rican Parrots have typically data on activities within nests was virtually been located by monitoring parrot activities impossible without climbing the nest tree and from canopy-level (25–35 m) observation physically inspecting the nest cavity, poten- platforms, followed by ground reconnaissance tially disrupting the nesting pair and causing to locate the actual nest tree. Because success- temporary or permanent nest abandonment ful nests tend to be reused for several years, (Snyder et al. 1987, Wilson et al. 1995). In long-term monitoring is possible once an 1989, a small electronic microphone was active nest has been discovered. Repeated use experimentally installed in each active nest of successful nests is common among many and connected to a battery-powered speaker cavity-nesters (Brush 1983, Ingold 1991, located in the observation blind (Wilson et al. Sedgwick 1997), particularly Psittacines 1995). These microphones allowed observers (Saunders 1982, Snyder et al. 1987, Forshaw not only to more reliably document ingress 1989, Gnam 1991, Morera 2001, Pinho & and egress of nesting adults, but also to gain Nogueira 2003). Permanent observation more accurate estimations of hatching dates blinds have been constructed at all known and determinations