Spring 2017 Spring 2017 CONTENTS a Message From

Home , Grey parrot, Pygmy parrot, Zanda (bird)

Magazine of the

Spring 2017 Spring 2017 CONTENTS A message from... 4 Steve Milpacher, WPT Operations Director 24 Lear’s Macaw Research & Recovery 5 A Pictorial Glanmor House, Hayle Cornwall TR27 4HB UK Cape Parrots Holding On [email protected] +44 (0)1736 751026 12 in the Woodbush Forest www.parrots.org Are Cape Parrots a Separate Species? 16 ...and does it matter? Adventures in Conservation ABOUT The WPT Treeing a volunteer at The Ara Project Capture for the live-bird trade, habitat 18 loss and other factors put wild parrots at risk. One in three parrot species are Book Review currently threatened in the wild. 19 Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology – Third Edition As a leader in parrot conservation and welfare the World Parrot Trust works with researchers, local A Banner Year: organisations, communities and 20 Progress for Blue-throated Macaws governments to encourage effective solutions that save parrots. Free at Last: Since 1989 the WPT has grown to 24 2016 Release of Rescued Maroon-bellied Conures become a global force that moves quickly to address urgent issues and support long-term projects for parrots. PsittaNews WPT has led projects in 42 countries 26 Parrot News and Events for 66 species of parrot. 2016 PsittaScene Issues Index WPT Contacts

CHARITY INFORMATION Parrots in the Wild United Kingdom: # 800944 20 28 Grey Parrot vs Black-and-white-Casqued Hornbills United States: EIN 62-1561595 Canada: BN 89004 1171 RR001

ON THE COVER

Researcher Erica Pacifico carefully handles a curious Lear’s Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) chick down inside a deep, narrow nest crevice at Canudos Biological Station, Biodiversitas Foundation, Brazil. She wears a face mask to protect her from dust and droppings. 5 Editor: Desi Milpacher During the 2016 expedition the project team discovered that the rare Layout & Design: Michelle Kooistra macaws had returned to a historical breeding site after an absence of Production: Karen Whitley four decades.

The World Parrot Trust does not necessarily endorse any views or statements made by contributors to Read more on Page 5, Lear’s Macaw Research & Recovery. PsittaScene. It will consider articles or letters from any contributors on their merits. Visit parrots.org/ Photo © Dorivaldo Alves psittascene for Guidelines. Anyone wishing to reprint PsittaScene articles in full or in part needs permission from the author/photographer(s) and must state that it was copied from PsittaScene. All contents © World Parrot Trust

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A message from... Rainbow Lorikeets © Sandy Horne Lorikeets Rainbow Leave a Lear’s Macaw Steve’s desk Legacy Research & Recovery This issue of PsittaScene has me thinking about the amazingly dedicated and talented individuals Over the last decade researcher Erica Pacífico and her around the world who we work with to help team have worked with the last remaining Lear’s Macaws. save parrots. Their tenacity and determination Their latest expedition, supported by WPT, was one of are admirable. discovery and renewed hope for these special birds. Team members at the Lear’s Macaw Project crawl deep into bat-filled crevices to find the rare nestlings to examine and band, and brave In the north-central Bahia region in encounters with Africanised bees. Volunteers in Brazil these remarkable blue macaws, Costa Rica helping Scarlet Macaws sometimes whose calls sound somewhat like find themselves in a fix up a tree with no way American crows, live a challenging life. down, and need rescuing by others. © Erica Pacífico They nest in the deepest crevices of high cliffs, away from all but the most In Bolivia where the Blue-throated Macaws determined of predators, where they are, the seasonal rains come in a deluge, raise one or two chicks in a good year. leaving project workers having to variously They endure harsh, dry conditions, wade, slog or at worst paddle themselves and are under threat from human through the water for months of the year. interference and habitat loss. But in And then for all of them there are the insects – spite of all this, these tenacious birds some friendly, others looking for a meal from have begun to recover. a warm-blooded mammal. Since 2008 Erica Pacífico and her team These people endure some of the trickiest have completed seven expeditions conditions on the planet, all to help wildlife. at the Canudos Biological Station of But they gladly do the work that is sometimes Biodiversitas Foundation, the last disappointing but at other times deeply refuge of the Lear’s Macaw. There rewarding and inspiring. We at WPT, and the they have uncovered new information parrots, are forever grateful. on foraging and breeding behaviour, and how the environment they live in affects these birds. In 2016 the team set out on a 45-day expedition with six volunteers, five researchers and three local guides to continue the work.

What will be your legacy? Here is their story — and that of Steve Milpacher, the macaws — in pictures. WPT Operations Director Let your dedication to parrots live on.

Leaving a legacy gift to the World Parrot Trust through your estate may be one of the easiest and *Photos taken on location at Canudos Biological Station, Biodiversitas Foundation. most fulfilling contributions you will ever make.

Visit our website at parrots.org/legacy or contact an office nearest you (see Page 27.)

4 PsittaScene.org Spring 2017 Spring 2017 PsittaScene.org 5 © Maíra Fessardi © Maíra © Fernanda Lacerda © Fernanda © Fernanda Lacerda © Fernanda © Fernanda Lacerda © Fernanda

Field work team and volunteers of the nest study at Canudos Biological Station of Biodiversitas Foundation. From left to right: The Year’s Work: (back row) João Carlos Nogueira, Máximo Cardoso,Thiago Filadelfo, Fernanda Lacerda, Breeding success monitoring Roberta A. Cunha, Angela Prochilo. (front row) Cesar Leite, Erica Pacífico. In the past year the project team has observed 35 nests in 4 breeding sites, health checking and banding 47 Lear’s Macaw nestlings in 31 nests. In addition, they conducted a study of the parent birds’ acceptance of a new banding method, now in use because of the difficulty in reading the numbers on the old bands. With the new bands it is Lear’s Macaw hoped that juvenile macaws can be more easily sighted (Anodorhynchus leari) with binoculars and scopes. Nestling disease studies World population: < 1,200

André Saidenberg, DVM PhD and WPT’s Brazil Where found: Program Manager, and Marcos V. R. Marques, DVM The wild population is confined PhD have collected fecal and blood samples from the Lacerda © Fernanda to the Raso da Catarina plateau, NE macaws’ nestlings to study diseases that could affect Bahia, Brazil. Found in dry, rugged caatinga (thorn scrub) terrain. Mostly the population. Researcher Erica Pacífico and in areas with Syagrus coronata palms. assistant Máximo Cardoso rappel down a steep rock Threats: Survey of chicks in new areas face to work with Lear’s

© Roberta A. Cunha © Roberta This species is threatened by habitat Macaw nestlings. In 2016, the researchers were able to examine nestlings loss, hunting,and illegal trapping. from a nest in the Baixa do Chico area for the first time. Ecology and Behaviour: Macaws had disappeared from here in the 1970s but now These macaws are seen in noisy about 60 birds are back in the area breeding. But pressures flocks outside of the breeding season. continue: there is ongoing disturbance at the site by Roosts are in weathered crevices near farmers driving back and forth with their equipment. the top of sandstone ravines. Foraging is before dawn, roosting at dusk. Because of this, it is believed that the macaws changed their roosting site to another, quieter place on the same road. The local Indian community asked the team to put up a ‘do not disturb’ sign advising people to avoid this path during the macaws’ resting time.

Spring 2017 PsittaScene.org 7 A team member hangs a wooden trap box to lure Africanised bees Volunteer biologist Roberta A. Cunha organizes biological samples collected from Lear’s Macaw roosting sites at the Canudos Biological Station of Impact of invasive killer-bees Biodiversitas Foundation. on nestlings Together with two North American entomologists (Caroline Efstathion, PhD and Robert French Horsburgh, PhD) the team sought to find out how much impact feral Africanised bees (Apis cff. melifera) are having on the Lear’s by studying the insects at potential nest sites. The worst areas for infestation appear to be Barreiras and Baixa do Chico.

Bees invading nests, together with honey gathering activities in the forest and the cliffs, potentially add to the other challenges the macaws face (loss of breeding habitat and

illegal capture both for local and international © Erica Pacífico pet trade).

The next step in helping to prevent possible losses from new threats is to use data collected from the study to prepare an action plan for the insects’ eradication. In the meantime a couple of experiments are being done: using trap boxes to attract and capture swarms, and hitting beehives with crossbow bolts loaded © Máximo Cardoso with repellent. © Fernanda Lacerda © Fernanda Preparing feather samples

Repellent-loaded crossbow bolt lodged in bee hive. Sampling for foraging ecology

and population genetics studies © Thiago Filadelfo Biologists suit up to search for the aggressive insects. Coupled with observations of the birds’ foraging behaviour the researchers discovered and catalogued 24 new food items, which they sampled with more than 800 feathers found in roosting sites (a method known as non-invasive sampling) to study the Lear’s Macaw’s diet. They also collected 300 feathers for DNA testing (for genetically identifying individual birds), and 200 fecal samples for a seed dispersal study in collaboration with the © Roberta A. Cunha © Roberta © Erica Pacífico Museu de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid. Cataloguing seed samples

8 PsittaScene.org Spring 2017 Spring 2017 PsittaScene.org 9 © Erica Pacífico elderly localstogatherinformation on historicalLear’sMacawareas The teamintervieweddozensof counted 147macaws. (Euclides daCunha),wherethey doTanqueroosting siteinBarra Umburanas), andalsofoundanew Formoso, dosBrejões, in andGruta locations (Queixo Dantas, inCampo two additional of the teamlearned Euclides daCunha.Onthistrip Chapéu, Andorinhas, Uá-Uáand Umburanas, do SentoSé,Morro CampoFormoso, the municipalities of teamtraveledThe 1,500km,visiting Habitat study quality In SerradasAraras, environmentalprotection area (APA)Gruta dosBrejõesinUmburanas there ispre-historic rockart,someofwhich resembles Lear’sMacaws inflight.

© Roberta A. Cunha macaws inthearea. population by releasingcaptive-bred forrecoveringa program the Lear’s Macaw andimplement andforagingareasforthe refuge A futureaimistoidentifyboth breeding birds. Now theareahostsonlytwo non- over 100 macaws. population of Local residentsdescribeahistoric the regioncountedabout30macaws. done by FundaçãoBiodiversitas in in the2000s. last expedition The from which themacaws disappeared forest fragmentmeasuring900,000ha Oncasite is a The site asa release area Review ofBoqueirão daOnça (dry scrub) scrub) caatinga (dry

© Cesar Leite Alonso andEliomarAlmeida. foraging sites. Producedby Pierre Lear’s Macaw of conservation Canudos municipality, andthe areain countryside Barreiras onthe inaninterview took part Researcher EricaPacífico also World Parrot Trust. Horizonte), andco-fundedby the Rosa (NitroImagens, Belo Joãowith photographer Marcus with BBCWildlife, inpartnership Angela’s Master’s of project is part Lear’s Macaws. documentary The field for work andconservation of in 2016todocumentthechallenges Cesar Leiteaccompaniedtheteam ProchiloBiologists Angela and and interview filming Documentary Toyolex Veículos work fundedby Concessionária. Laboratory LoroParque Fundación. de Aves daUniversidade deSãoPaulo (LGEMA). Field work fundedby theWorld Parrot Trust (WPT), and the MuseudeZoologiadaUniversidade de SãoPaulo (MZUSP), andwiththeLaboratóriodeGenéticaMolecular theDoñana BiologicalStation(EBD-CSIC),incollaboration with of Department Biology theConservation of CAPES, the “Ciênciassem byFronteiras” Program, EricaPacífico, andalso M.Sc., biologistandPhDstudent of (FB), InstitutoAraraAzul(ITA), deAves andCentro deEstudosMigração (CEMAVE-ICMBio). Coordinated Lear’s fromFundaçãoBiodiversitas since2014with support Macaw populationdynamicsisongoing studyof The In recognition: recording ofthedocumentaryin the areaofBoqueirãodaOnça © Erica Pacífico Biologist AngelaProchiloduring Spring 2017PsittaScene.orgSpring

11 cape parrots holding on in the Woodbush Forest by Dr. Rowan Martin, WPT-Africa Program Director

Once connected with the more extensive Grey-headed Parrots (Poicephalus robustus forests to the south, ancient climate change suahelicus) in the region, to establish a and more recently logging has left these birds monitoring project. Through systematic separated from other populations by several surveys of key sites, the project aims to hundreds of kilometres. track population trends, and understand the drivers of seasonal movements and Only a tiny fraction of South Africa’s the interplay between Capes and other afromontane forests now remain, scattered species. Nesting sites have been identified in fragments along the Drakensberg and efforts are being expanded to study escarpment and the Eastern Cape. Isolation areas further afield, building an increasingly has left its mark on the genetic make-up of detailed picture of how the parrots utilize the Cape Parrots in Limpopo’s Woodbush the dramatic surroundings. forest. A recent study has revealed this population to be genetically distinct from The area’s steep slopes, covered in dense Capes found elsewhere. The research forest, are intersected by few roads and supports the idea that isolation is a relatively tracks. Only time and tenacity will uncover recent phenomenon and raises the question the deeper secrets of these fascinating of how long these parrots can hold on. birds. There remains much to learn, like the In the far northeast corner location of important nesting and roosting With the global population of Cape Parrots of South Africa, a small sites. estimated at no more than 2,000, protecting fragment of afromontane this forest fragment and the unique parrots Like many parrots, the Capes’ movements forest clings on to the steep that make it their home is a conservation track seasonal shifts in the availability of slopes of the Drakensberg imperative. food, with the birds gathering together in escarpment. Majestic large flocks when trees are in fruit. Feeding Yellowwood and Matumi With the help of the World Parrot Trust sites can be highly predictable and one of (WPT), in 2013 local bird experts David trees reach above the canopy the best chances of seeing large flocks of Letsoalo and Paul Nkhumane initiated a Cape Parrots is during fruiting season on one of the Woodbush forest, with field project aimed at understanding more particular pecan and macademia nut farm the lichens and epiphytes about the Cape Parrots of the Woodbush at the base of the Magoebaskloof valley. cascading over branches like forest and raising awareness in their area Although historically, nut farmers in South the waterfalls that tumble about their significance for conservation. Africa have persecuted Capes as pests, the through the ravines below. David and Paul work as bird guides at owners of Amorentia estate have a much Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge and have an more enlightened view. © Anton in-depth knowledge of the area and its This pocket of subtropical birds. They also have strong links with local Far from persecuting the parrots, they forest hosts a number of Kru communities and are deeply passionate have sought to support them by providing specialised bird species, ger about conservation. nest boxes encouraging them to breed among them Cape Parrots nearby. When a group of international tree- (Poicephalus robustus David, Paul and the WPT teamed up with climbing experts visited the area in 2014, Professor Craig Symes of the University estate manager Wynand Espach saw an robustus) at the extreme of Witwatersrand, who has conducted Natural Forest at Magoebaskloof © Hannest | Dreamstime.com Forest Natural opportunity to harness their skills to expand north end of their range. extensive research into closely related their nest box programme.

12 PsittaScene.org Spring 2017 Spring 2017 PsittaScene.org 13 Cape Parrot Awareness: A Grassroots Effort

David Letsoalo is a Bird Guide at Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge in the Woodbush forest of Magoebaskloof, Limpopo - the second largest indigenous forest in South Africa. Here he speaks about inspiring the next generation of conservationists: “Cape Parrots are beautiful, sociable and intelligent birds and I feel a surge of excitement every time I see them flying over or balancing in the tree-tops to forage for forest feasts. Whether they are preening or grooming each other, foraging or excavating a nesting cavity, they are a fascinating and

© World Parrot Trust entertaining species. I have been studying the parrots - in association with the World Parrot Trust and the University of Witwatersrand - for 2 years, and am the co-ordinator of the annual Cape Parrot Count in Limpopo, so I have had many opportunities to observe how they communicate and take care of their young. There is already pressure on the Color the Cape Parrots! Joining forces, the group ‘Explore Trees’ have provided opportunities both inside species due to Beak and Feather Disease, but they are also was born and has since gone on to assist and outside the classroom for children to under threat from nest-robbers who take the chicks to sell. conservation projects for Timneh Parrots learn about the close association between in Guinea-Bissau (see ‘Climbing High for the Woodbush forest’s ancient trees and I am passionate about these birds and their conservation, Timneh Parrots’, PsittaScene Summer 2016) its most charismatic birds. Planting trees as are many in my community. The various groups in the and Lear’s Macaws in Brazil. Following around their school has given these future Magoebaskloof, Haenertsburg, Tzaneen, Kudu’s River efforts to discourage bees from taking over ‘guardians of the forest’ a personal stake Valley and Politsi have an ongoing interest and commitment the nest boxes it is hoped that Cape Parrots in parrot conservation, making an impact to preserving them. will soon take up residence. Lessons learned on the area that will extend beyond their here could be invaluable for boosting own lifetime. Following initial successes, the The Cape Parrot Educational Project has focused on many

You forgot to tell your school children, in particular Lerato Combined School and friends about why Cape breeding populations elsewhere in their outreach programme is set to continue. You found a Parrots are special. parrot feather Move 4 steps back. and gave it to researchers.

! Move 2 steps

Hlalefa Primary School s t , which are situated near to where the t

range. forward. o

a Although the population remains small P Cape Parrots come to forage for pecan nuts in season. So e p a You notice that C start a parrot is sick and get help. Recognising that the future of Woodbush and the situation precarious, the diversity it is relevant to these kids to understand why they should he t Move 2 steps e forward. Sav You saw parrots feed on different forest and the magnificent trees which of conservation efforts for Capes in the celebrate these birds and help to protect them. trees. Move 2 steps You have missed forward. You throw a stone your count of the at a parrot nest. Cape Parrots. Move 3 steps support Cape Parrots lies in the hands of Woodbush forest bodes well for their future. Move 1 step back. back! the next generation, David Letsoalo has As more is learned through painstaking In a series of dynamic lessons, using tailor-made games,

You know the difference puzzles, activity cards and stickers to inspire and interest between a male and driven the development of an outreach research, efforts will be further refined and female parrot. You have pulled out an invasive plant. Move 1 step forward. Move 3 steps end programme in the region’s schools. Through targeted where they can impact the most. the kids, the message of the importance of this species and forward.

You planted an indigenous the assistance of the World Parrot Trust over Perhaps the best reason to have hope is their conservation has been brought across. And through Yellowwood Tree. Move 4 steps forward. 100 children have been treated to David’s that these efforts are driven by passionate competitions and prizes, fun activities and planting trees for passion and enthusiasm for the forest and its local people intent on inspiring the the school, the kids become more actively involved and the birds. A variety of games and other activities conservationists of tomorrow. increased awareness should result in increased ownership and protectiveness. The World Parrot Trust would like to thank the many donors - particularly the Isdell Family Foundation, Ilana and Sean Mercer, Paula Feldman, The Bridging Peace The project is making a difference, one child at a time, Special thanks to Aeri Wittenburgh for volunteering Foundation and Fran Vogel - for their generous support of Cape Parrot conservation. and ensuring that Cape Parrots are a feature of the her time and expertise to assist with the graphical Additional thanks to David Letsoalo, Paul Nkhumane, Lisa Martus and all at Kurisa skies above Limpopo for generations to come.” design of educational resources, Trevor Hardaker Moya Nature Lodge (a great place to base your trip to see Cape Parrots!) © John Karwoski Magoebaskloof Forest !for kindly sharing his photos and Nicholas Bishop for designing the Cape Parrot cartoon now adorning classrooms throughout the area.

14 PsittaScene.org Spring 2017 Spring 2017 PsittaScene.org 15 Are Cape Parrots a separate species? ...and does it matter?

Researchers at the University of KwaZulu- Natal recently analysed genetic samples from throughout their range of Cape Parrots with the aim of settling a decades-old debate over their taxonomic status; should these birds be considered a species in their own right, or are they merely a subspecies of a parrot variously described as Brown- necked or Grey-headed Parrots, (Poicephalus robustus fuscicollis and P. r. suahelicus) widely The new research suggested that the recently updated Checklist of the Birds spread throughout southern Africa? most recent common ancestor of the of the World (del Hoyo et al. 2014). two parrots lived between 2.17 and 2.67 Following this re-evaluation it was This is not a trivial question and draws on million years ago in the late Pliocene determined that Capes are sufficiently discussions over the definition of a species, to early Pleistocene epoch. This period different in plumage (greener head, which have occupied taxonomists since the saw great changes in climate, where darker wing coverts and flight feathers, time of Darwin. grasslands and forests were expanding less extensive red on the head of females) and contracting, which likely led to are smaller (markedly smaller bill) and The categorisation also has significant isolation and divergence of populations. have distinctly different calls from suahelicus/fuscicollis to be recognised as a ramifications for conservation. As This new information paved the way distinct species. conservationists strive to efficiently allocate for the acceptance of Cape Parrots resources, indices such as the IUCN Red as a distinct species by the Convention Cape Parrots will now have their threat List are increasingly influential for deciding on International Trade in Endangered status evaluated for the IUCN Red-List of what gets saved – and what doesn’t. Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), Threatened Species. in 2016. The iconic ‘Green and gold’ Cape parrots It also prompted BirdLife International, have, for some time, been considered the IUCN Red-List authority for birds, Endangered on the South African Red to take a closer look at the differences Databook and are fortunate to have in morphology, vocalisations, ecology, many passionate individuals and groups behaviour and the degree of geographic like the World Parrot Trust, The Cape separation between putative species. Parrot Project, The Cape Parrot Working Group, Explore Trees, BirdLife South Africa This is the criteria under which many and others working for their protection in species splits were evaluated for the Cape Parrot © Anton Kruger Cape Parrot South Africa.

16 PsittaScene.org Spring 2017 Spring 2017 PsittaScene.org 17 Book| Review

There are an abundance of graphs, colour plates, illustrations, a large main glossary, with shorter glossaries within chapters for easy reference, and copious references at the end of every chapter for further research. There’s even an electron micrograph featured here and there, in case you want to view things at a cellular level.

The text is advanced, but clearly written. There is a lot to absorb, but it’s never boring: one particularly remarkable chapter is Feathers and Plumages. The diversity of birds’ feathers and down is astounding, with their different structure, types, function, and of course, colours. Another engrossing chapter is Avian Flight.

Although not strictly about parrots, there are examples throughout (see page 77 on the colour Cornell Lab of Ornithology sex differences in Eclectus Parrots, and page 140 for Budgerigar colour morphs.) Moreover, it’s a great Handbook of Bird Biology – way for parrot enthusiasts who wish to broadly Third Edition understand their lives – diversity and classification, evolution, feathers and plumages, flight, anatomy and physiology, foraging and food, mating and social Irby J. Lovette and John W. Fitzpatrick behaviour, vocal behaviour, breeding, migration and John Wiley and Sons, 2016 dispersal, ecology of populations, bird communities and conservation. This book literally delves into Since its first publication by the Cornell Lab of everything related to birds – take a look at the energy Ornithology in 1972, the Handbook of Bird Biology requirements of a Budgerigar flying at different has been enthusiastically embraced by bird (and speeds in a wind tunnel. Now that’s detailed. parrot) watchers and university students alike, and is now in its third edition. And what an edition. Parrot lovers interested in the inner and outer workings of their favourite birds will be eager to get © Kim Hubbard | kimhubbardphoto.com The weighty (both in heft and information) tome is their hands on this thorough text: chock-full of data, adventures in accompanied online by Cornell’s Companion Media and interesting and unusual facts. CONSERVATION Library. Contributors from all over the world – the experts in ornithology – have all collaborated to Order your copy online: present the latest information available. academy.allaboutbirds.org/textbook It’s not an easy thing to scale a 50-foot tree.

It’s quite another to scale a 50-foot tree, attempt to work in it, and have macaws launch an offensive against you while you’re doing it.

That’s what happened to an apprentice climber at The Ara Project in Costa Rica when she became 9th Annual Parrot Lover’s Cruise tangled at the apex of a tree during training on November 10 - 20, 2017: Panama Canal how to inspect a recently installed nest box. Seeing the predicament, project Director Sam Williams Experience some of the bluest waters and best sightseeing in geared up to assist. the world! Educate yourself with onboard parrot seminars, and get a chance to see wild parrots on exclusive excursions. But before he could ascend the tree, a pair of A spectacular cruise for all parrot enthusiasts! This 10-day cruise Scarlet Macaws - who had been previously eyeing the nest box with interest - arrived and set upon features 6 ports of call, including: Princess Cays (Bahamas), the perceived interloper. Fortunately another Cartagena (Colombia), Panama Canal and Colon (Panama), pair of macaws swooped in ready to battle for the Puerto Limon (Costa Rica), and Georgetown (Cayman Islands). prized nesting site, and diverted attention from the unluckily treed human. This gave Sam a chance to Book your seat today! scramble up the tree, untangle the volunteer and 8 [email protected] safely lower her to the ground. ( 1-510-200-5665 (USA)

Just another typical day in the field! parrotloverscruise.com The result was the eventual fledging of “ eight new chicks into this fragile population “ ... an extraordinarily high success rate.

That fact pushes our team to carry on our Breeding struggles, then... fieldwork with increasing urgency year after year. The latest in our series of efforts with The Blue-throated Macaw suffers from issues the Project was in 2016: in fifty-nine days of in recruitment: a failure of parent birds to raise surveying we managed to map a wide range chicks, for whatever reason, and get them of Blue-throated Macaw habitat, among into the wild so they themselves can begin other important tasks. A large focus of our breeding. That’s where we intervene, giving search this time was a new area, the Big them the means to successfully incubate, Lakes region in NW Beni. We highlighted hatch and raise their babies to adulthood. this particular location because it had the potential to support Blue-throated Macaws, As difficult as the situation sometimes is, and locals had reported seeing the birds a banner year: this past year there was fantastic news: we here. Since no one had explored there before found three wild Blue-throated Macaw nests, Progress for Blue-throated Macaws we weren’t at all certain we’d find them. all with eggs. So we immediately took some by José Antonio Díaz Luque, We completed an initial trip in May, together critical steps: to prevent climbing predators WPT Bolivia Program Manager/ from reaching the nests we fitted metal Blue-throated Macaw Project with a group of institutions including CIBIOMA, CLB and the Natural History cones, with a minimum of disturbance, on Museum of Santa Cruz, spending ten days all nest trees to protect them during the exhaustively searching 215km of road along vulnerable incubation and chick-rearing Amazonian and dry forest, 35km of lakeshore period. We also lightly pruned one of the by boat and 18km of interior forest on foot. trees to prevent access to the nest from A year in which a field project achieves nearly everything it sets out to do is The massive effort proved fruitless, but there nearby trees. a good one. For the Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaw it is doubly are other promising portions of the region to important: with less than 200 individuals in the wild, every good year counts. be surveyed. Despite our overall success in protecting nests we have sometimes encountered Then, a break: late in October 2016, after a cases of nest-robbing by unknown natural In its native Bolivia the Blue-throated Macaw the Blue-throated Macaw Project collected more detailed 735km trip by motorbike, we predators. Predator detection is difficult at (Ara glaucogularis) has been in a holding new data on the birds’ ecology and ongoing located an undocumented group of at least any time but is especially so at night, so the pattern: breeding difficulties, a shrinking threats to their survival. Inventive measures ten adults in the Municipal Protected Area of team installed motion-sensitive cameras home range and heavy harvesting for the were put into place to protect the birds, the Great Tectonic Lakes of Exaltación. The at each of the three nests to see what was

wildlife trade brought its population to but their population levels have remained Project © Blue-throated Macaw group was new to science, but people living happening. We checked the cameras every precariously low levels in the 1980s. In 2002 stubbornly low, mainly because the number there have known about the birds for more 10 days for images and to replace batteries. the World Parrot Trust began supporting key of reproductive pairs is still very low. To add to than two decades. Though apparently the efforts for these beautiful macaws in the Beni that, in climatically and environmentally poor population has always been small, the locals The nest protection worked; we had no region of Bolivia. During the next decade years no attempts to breed are made at all. did see it double during those years. predation at any of the nests monitored.

© Blue-throated Macaw Project Macaw Blue-throated © Education + engagement = pride in one’s local wildlife A youngster receives a thorough but gentle health check A team member clambers up a tree to check on a nest box A wild pair watches as their nest is checked by the WPT team

The result was the eventual fledging of eight We are planning on an extensive effort in this Captive Breeding and Release: new chicks into this fragile population. This is area in the coming years. a New Frontier for Blue-throats an extraordinarily high success rate, which we The Project has made good progress on a new area attribute to the protective measures installed. Communities: Partners: Awareness and Involvement of action – captive breeding for release into the wild. It’s an idea that has required much thought Macaws Need Trees Over the past 12 months, the World Blue-throated Macaws aren’t the only ones and planning for captive and wild birds alike. Our Parrot Trust has strengthened its Blue-throated Macaws’ lives are inextricably living in the area; there are people, too. In the conclusion, gained from valuable past experience ties with the following: Dirección tied to trees – Motacú palms, in particular. birds’ range we identified 16 important rural in releasing other parrots, is that it can be a viable General de Biodiversidad y Attalea phalerata is extremely important communities based on their relationships means of increasing a wild population in trouble. Áreas Protegidas; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad for foraging and breeding. Unfortunately, with the macaws, because there is always y Medio Ambiente (CIBIOMA); they and other tree species like the Curupaú the potential for interaction, good and bad, At the Conservation Centre, first established in Fundación para la Conservación (Anadanthera colubrina) are disappearing. The between the two. October 2012, construction of new breeding and de los Loros en Bolivia (CLB); value of these trees to the macaws cannot be flight aviaries has been completed in preparation Centro de Biodiversidad y overstated, so their continued loss is a serious The solution is to educate and involve people. to receive birds currently settled in the US, UK Genética de la Universidad Mayor and Canada. The hope is to eventually start new de San Simón (CBG-UMSS); problem that needs to be addressed. The project team has developed materials to Instituto de Investigación de la create awareness among communities over wild populations with careful reintroduction of Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias To begin to remedy this, the team has the years, and this past year we presented appropriately screened captive-raised birds. (IIFCP); Facultades de Ingeniería begun working with the Biodiversity conservation-themed education programs to Agronómica, Veterinaria y Research Center and Environment - Centro over 2,800 people (mostly children), giving Looking Forward Zootecnia de la Universidad Autónoma del Beni José Ballivián; de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Medio the greatest priority to those who live in Secretaría de Medio Ambiente Ambiente (CIBIOMA) to establish a plant close proximity to the macaws. The program In the future the Blue-throated Macaw Project looks del Gobierno Departamental del nursery with the capacity to produce 5,000 in the rural schools are separated into eight forward to further developing these current actions, Beni; Centro Ecoturístico el Tábano plants every year for habitat restoration, and different education modules. The children as well as expanding the program into important Campestre; Honorable Alcaldía build a tree nursery at the Blue-throated take part in a Parrot Quiz at the beginning new areas in the north and north-east part of Municipal de la Ciudad de Trinidad; their range, where there is hope in finding new Honorable Alcaldía Municipal del Macaw Conservation Centre. We have found and end of each cycle of modules, to see Municipio de Loreto; Honorable that out of the ten species of plants in the how much they have learned about the populations. Our restoration program will grow as Alcaldía Municipal de Santa Rosa area, six provide food and three nest trees. birds. In addition, we reached a significant well, and our plans to create a new protected area in del Yacuma; Honorable Alcaldía amount of people at festivals and other the south of the species’ range have come to fruition. Municipal de Exaltación, Federación Using this vital information we set to work events. In the near future we look to hire local de Ganaderos del Departamento del Beni y Pando (FEGABENI). planting out 1,508 native tree seedlings people to work at the Pampas del Yacuma If all continues to go well, we will have more with over 90% establishment success, for a Local Reserve, encouraging another level of encouraging news to share in the upcoming months. total of 15 hectares of renewed forest habitat, inclusion in the world of the macaws. Our sincerest thanks go to the many supporters and a good first step. foundations that make this possible. © Eduardo Franco Berton © Eduardo Franco

22 PsittaScene.org Spring 2017 Spring 2017 PsittaScene.org 23 free at last: Release of Rescued Maroon-bellied Conures

(opposite page) Freedom! (top left) Hand-feeding one of the chicks. Release Area ASM Cambaquara is on the island of Ilhabela, off the Atlantic coast of Brazil. (bottom left) Birds being encouraged out of the aviary with food. (top right) Observers witness the release. (middle right) Released birds Officially founded in 2014 by Pablo Melero and Silvana Davino, staff and volunteers rescue at one of the feeding stations. (bottom right) Foraging on local foods. and rehabilitate Amazons, conures, Brotogeris parakeets and other birds from a variety of situations. Thanks to their dedication, 25 conures recently made their way back to the wild.

Release area Cambaquara has species and so far has successfully appears to have been successful and little by little, they start to leave the enclosure and been receiving rescued conures raised three clutches up until the to a degree. The rescued chicks explore the surroundings. At that moment they make since 2013. Most of the time, the moment where they start to wean go through several care stages an exquisite vocalisation. Then they start to go farther, chicks are removed from the nests and try solid foods. before getting to the actual release: climbing on the trees, discovering new textures. Suddenly, that are located under the tiles first they live in a cardboard box they all fly off at once but quickly come back to hang of houses during the September- This year however has been with heating, then go to a smaller around the flights and feeding stations. They repeat this March breeding season, because different as we have received fewer cage where they learn how to feed over and over, each time flying just a little further. the birds tend to damage the conures than expected. We didn’t themselves. After that, they go to electrical wiring and people receive our first clutch until the two-metre smaller flights, where More than a month since the release they are still coming consider them to be too noisy end of October. We attribute this they learn how to fly and finally back to the feeders, which are maintained with fruits, seed during the night. reduction to a number of factors: to the large aviaries, where the and water, and keeping their connections with each other the delay in the Spring season and clutches are grouped in a flock. as siblings. But they are also mingling together in a single As we were worried about the an increased awareness among There they learn their skills in large flock, flying over the skies of Cambaquara. increase of incoming chicks local people as a consequence of order to go back to the wild. It is a moment to be celebrated with birds achieving their that needed to be hand reared educational campaigns presented freedom and the partnerships of the people working and rehabilitated for release, we in March 2016. The release took place after 12 created the extension for the days of constant rain, on a sunny together for this cause. Thanks to our volunteer Sandra, existing project calling it ‘Conure We worked together with The Sunday. In total, 25 Maroon- the representatives of the Environmental Police, the Rehabilitators’, and local Sandra Environmental Department bellied Conures (Pyrrhura frontalis) Environmental Department of the City of Ilhabela, the Tellefsen Pietzchke accepted the of the City of Ilhabela on a were released from four different Instituto Ilhabela Sustentavel NGO, Ilhabela State Park challenge as the first candidate. presentation explaining that the clutches. It is always a joyful and keeper Eduardo. This work is partly funded by She has been getting more removal of chicks from their nests moment and they are always the World Parrot Trust. is an environmental crime, and it and more familiarised with the curious. The doors are opened, *See PsittaScene back issues Summer 2015 and Summer 2016 for more on ASM Cambaquara.

24 PsittaScene.org Spring 2017 Spring 2017 PsittaScene.org 25 Psitta| News WPT CONTACTS 2016 Index Fiordland Kaka population soars with massive bump ON THE WEB parrots.org psittascene.org There is good news for at least one Kaka (Nestor facebook.com/WorldParrotTrust meridionalis) wild population: scientists have recorded a twitter.com/parrottrust jump in numbers in a Fiordland forest on New Zealand’s South Island. Twenty times more juveniles and four times more females have been found, a good sign of recovery © Georgina Steytler MAIN BRANCHES for the species, listed by IUCN as Endangered. The current statistics bode well for continuing stability of this UNITED KINGDOM (Main Office) population, as historical numbers were very skewed toward 28.1 28.2 Karen Whitley, Administrator male birds. The recent boost means that the male-to- Glanmor House, Hayle, female ratio has begun to balance out once more, helping Spring Summer Cornwall, TR27 4HB Tel: (44) 01736 751026 to normalise breeding. Fax: (44) 01736 751028 Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos continue to struggle [email protected] Read more at: • From the Editor: Desi Milpacher • From the Editor: Desi Milpacher UNITED STATES tinyurl.com/zs6po28 According to Birdlife Australia, Perth’s northern Glenn Reynolds, Administrator • Unsung Heroes: Durán Family • News from The Ara Project population of Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo (Zanda latirostris) P.O. Box 935, Lake Alfred, FL 33850 has dropped by 53% since 2010. The decline is due to • Boogie and the Bottle Cockatoos: • Parrot vs Cockatoo - is there a difference? Tel/Fax: (1) 863 956 4347 Aruba has named the ‘Prikichi’ as national bird Update from Indonesia • A Chance Encounter: Story of [email protected] clearing and non-restoration of the Gnangara-Yanchep- Pinjar pine plantation forest in the city’s north end, • It Takes a Village: Ara Project ASM Cambaquara CANADA Responding to a plea by Aruba Bird Conservation, the where the birds feed and roost. The cockatoos began • Pet Pages: The Parrot that Fears • Climbing High for Timneh Parrots Michelle Kooistra, Administrator Council of Ministers on Aruba on 7th February 2017 4377 Gordon Dr., Kelowna, BC, V1W 1S7 using the pine in this area as a food source after the loss • Parrots of the Wild: co-author interview • Volunteer Spotlight: Maria Rogstadius Tel/Fax: (1) 250 766 7828 approved a proposal to declare the ‘Prikichi’, or Brown- of their traditional Banksia woodlands. Officials have • Parrots in the Wild: • Parrots in the Wild: Red-bellied Parrot [email protected] throated Parakeet (Eupsittula pertinax arubensis), Aruba’s acknowledged the decline of the cockatoo population Red-breasted Pygmy Parrot National Bird. The subspecies occurs only on Aruba, and it is and are planning measures to protect the species, hoped that raising its profile will boost awareness of it and including creating of hundreds of artificial nesting Aruba’s other endemic animals. hollows and planting 5,000ha of pines. ADDITIONAL BRANCHES

Africa Rowan Martin Read more at: Read more at: [email protected] tinyurl.com/z5xvk4y tinyurl.com/jbd2nvk Australia Nicholas Bishop [email protected] Tribute to Linda Nelson Wittkoff 28.3 28.4 Benelux Ruud Vonk Written by Emily Robinson [email protected] Autumn Winter On February 5th of this year the parrot world lost one of its true heroines, Belgium Ronald Coens Linda Wittkoff, who passed away at the age of 79. In 1999 Linda and her [email protected] husband bought a precious slice of Atlantic rainforest near São Paulo in Brazil André Saidenberg Brazil which later matured into the Lymington Foundation. Here Linda • From the Executive Director: • From the Executive Director: [email protected] facilitated the hatching and nurturing of threatened species such as Golden Jamie Gilardi Jamie Gilardi Conures, Hyacinth Macaws, and even Harpy Eagles. In 2005 Lymington India Avin Deen • Notes from an Expedition: Adventures • Bolivian Community Creates Vast Reserve became host to two Spix’s Macaws, Flor and Presley, the famous bird who [email protected] studying the Yellow-naped Amazon surfaced miraculously in Colorado in 2002 and who lived under Linda’s loving • WPT-Benelux: Celebrating 25 Years Indonesia Oka Dwi Prihatmoko • Anatomy of a Dispute: Ringneck • What’s Next for Grey Parrots? companionship until his death in 2014. [email protected] Parakeets vs Bengal Monitor Understanding the CITES Ruling It was my very great privilege to visit Lymington in 2012, where I was • Yellow-crested Cockatoos of Komodo • Pet Pages: Height Dominance Italy Cristiana Senni astounded by the unfailing energy with which the 75 year old Linda attended National Park in Parrots: Fact or Fiction? [email protected] to the physically arduous tasks of caring for their many charges. I witnessed • Seized in Bulgaria: Many hands help • Stories from the Field: Japan TSUBASA first-hand her devotion to Presley the Spix’s Macaw and the many other Grey Parrots Yellow-naped Amazon [email protected] birds in their care, some rescued from tragic situations. I also had the terrific • Parrots in the Wild: • Parrots in the Wild: joy of observing the newly released population of Vinaceous Amazons, a Netherlands Ria Vonk Ringneck Parakeet Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo reintroduction project collaboration between Lymington, the World Parrot [email protected] Trust, and the Brazilian Institute for Natural Resources (IBAMA). But what impressed me most of all was the untiring energy, passion and deep love that Peru/Spain/ Rosa Elena Zegarra Central [email protected] Linda brought to the cause of parrot conservation—a love which carried her Access Past Issues at: Psittascene.org America through this Sisyphean task, against seemingly impossible odds. If there is English, Dutch, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish such a thing as a life well lived, Linda lived it. She will be missed. Sweden Maria Rogstadius [email protected] 26 PsittaScene.org Spring 2017 Parrots in the Wild: Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus)

“Morning drama in the garden! One of our regular Grey Parrot visitors was minding his own business when the Black-and-white- Casqued Hornbills (Bycanistes subcylindricus) decided to take over his prime perching spot.

The parrot stood his ground for a bit, and they almost appeared to have a friendly chat — or maybe they were trading insults? — before he eventually left the hornbills to it.”