Macaw Conservation in Tambopata, Peru

2001 Proposal

By Donald Brightsmith, Ph.D

Duke University Department of Biology

Project Summary

Macaws and parrots are among the most striking features of the tropical avifauna. Human interest in macaws dates back to pre-Colombian times when they were kept as pets and their feathers used as ornaments. Due in part to their great popularity 9 of 15 macaw species are currently considered threatened or endangered (Collar 1997). The project proposed here will 1) increase our knowledge of the basic nesting ecology of macaws, 2) develop techniques to help increase their reproductive rates in the wild, 3) document and help us understand the patterns of clay lick use by parrots and macaws, 4) document the impacts of ecotourism on macaws and parrots and develop ways to reduce this impact and 5) work with the Ese’eja Native Community of Infierno to ensure that the community preserves macaws and their habitats in perpetuity. The results of this work will be shared directly with researchers working with endangered macaws and parrots throughout the Neotropics to ensure that the information is immediately put in to use in other areas. The project described here is a subset of the work that will be done during this project. For more information please see the post-doctoral application submitted by Donald Brightsmith.

Location of study

This project will be conducted at two adjacent sites, the Tambopata Research Center (TRC) and Posada Amazonas Lodge in the Department of Madre de Diós, Peru. The area is located in the lowland subtropical moist forest life zone (Holdridge et al, 1971) and receives about 2 meters of rain annually. Tambopata Research Center (TRC) is located on the upper Tambopata River in the Tambopata-Candamo National Reserve, adjacent to the recently formed Bahuaja-Sonene National Park (*).The forests here have been relatively free from human disturbance; there is no evidence of either logging or hunting at the site (Kirkby et al.2000). Posada Amazonas Lodge (PAL) is located on the lower Tambopata River on lands of the Ese’eja Native Community of Infierno (12°43’S; 69°13’W). PAL is just outside the Tambopata-Candamo National Reserve. The area immediately surrounding the lodge was declared a protected area by the community in the late 1970’s.

A combined total of 19 species of parrots have been recorded from the two study sites, including 6 macaws. Of these three are large macaws (Ara ararauna 1,125g A. macao 1015g, and A. chloroptera 1,250g weights from Dunnings 1992). At TRC the populations of all macaw species are healthy and protected. They are not in need of intensive management to ensure their long-term survival. As a result, the work being done here is designing techniques that can then be used in other areas where the macaws are more endangered. At Posada Amazonas populations of macaws are smaller due presumably to historical exploitation.

Timetable

October 2000 – April 2001: Macaw nest monitoring, chick feeding as needed, clay lick observations at Tambopata Research Center. Workshop for Peruvian Government officials from INRENA on macaw management techniques.

January 2001- April 2001: Clay lick observation at Posada Amazonas.

March 2001: Construction and placement of new nest boxes at Tambopata Research Center and Posada Amazonas.

April 2001 – September 2001:

Field Work: Volunteer observers will continue taking data at the clay licks at both Posada Amazonas and Tambopata Research Center.

Writing: The PI will return to Durham NC to work on reports and publications.

October 2001 – April 2002: Nest monitoring and clay lick observations at Tambopata Research Center and Posada Amazonas. Oral reports presented to the Native Community of Infierno

May 2002 – October 2002: Volunteer observers will continue taking data at the clay licks at both Posada Amazonas and Tambopata Research Center.

The significance of this work to conservation

The goal of this project is to develop techniques that will aid the recovery of endangered macaw populations throughout the Neotropcis. Wild populations of parrots and macaws frequently suffer from a lack of nest sites and in many instances the adults can raise only one chick as the other starves (Abramson et al 1995, Munn et al 1991, Nycander et al 1995, Johnson et al 1997, Vaughan et al 1991). The nest boxes and hand feeding techniques being developed here can greatly increase the number of pairs breeding in a given area and increase the reproductive output per nest. These techniques may prove to be invaluable to the success of captive breeding and reintroduction projects. In fact researchers working on captive breeding and reintroduction projects in Brazil (Spix’s Macaw), Ecuador (Great-green Macaw) and Costa Rica (Scarlet Macaw) have shown great interest in the results of my work (Brightsmith 1999, 2000c, Horstman 1996).

Detailed project description

Objectives

  1. Develop and analyze techniques to increase the reproductive rates of Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao), Blue-and-yellow Macaws (A. ararauna) and Red-and-green Macaws (A. chloroptera) so that these techniques can be used to help populations of endangered macaws throughout the Neotropics.
  2. Determine the survival and reproduction of macaws hand-raised and released in the early 1990’s
  3. Develop new artificial nest structures for Blue-and-yellow and Red-and-green Macaws.
  4. Develop new hand-feeding and cross-fostering techniques to aid the survival of chicks that would otherwise die of starvation.
  5. Quantify seasonal and annual variation in clay lick use by large macaws and parrots.
  6. Assess the impacts of ecotourism on large macaw and parrot use of clay licks and determine ways to reduce this impact.
  7. Work with members of the Ese’eja Native Community of Infierno to instill in them the knowledge and desire to preserve large macaws on their lands.

Expected significance

  1. Techniques to increase reproductive success:
  2. Survival and reproduction of hand-raised macaws: From1992 – 1995, 36 starving chicks were rescued from nests and hand raised at the Tambopata Research Center. Determining how many of these birds survive and their reproductive status is of vital importance to evaluating this hand raising technique as a conservation tool.
  3. Nest box design: Many macaw populations have suffered serious declines as a result of habitat modification and collection for the pet trade (Johnson et al 1997, Yamashita and Machado 1997). This work will develop and test a variety of nesting structures that can be used by released macaws and remnant natural populations.
  4. Hand feeding: Many macaw chicks are known to die in the nests as a result of starvation and most nests fledge only one young (Nycander et al 1995). Given this low reproductive output, techniques that allow two or even three chicks to survive in a nest will be of great use in aiding the recovery of endangered macaw populations.
  5. Seasonal and annual variation in clay lick use: To clay lick research has focused on physiological reasons for clay eating and ignored more ecological issues like daily, and seasonal variation in lick use (Diamond 1999, Emmons and Stark 1979, Gilardi 1999). My preliminary results suggest that there is a general decline as the wet season progresses (Brightsmith 2000b). If the suspected strong seasonal patterns are confirmed, it will suggest new research directions including diet studies etc. that will help illuminate the ecological role and importance of geophagy (clay eating) to these birds.
  6. Impacts of ecotourism: Ecotourism is an economically important and expanding global industry that is now the third leading foreign currency gainer for Peru (Stronza 2000). Detailed studies often show that tourism can have an effect on the key attractions that the companies should be working to protect (Kirkby et al 2000). Clay licks are an extremely important part of the ecotourism business in the southwestern Amazon Basin (Kirkby et al 2000). As a result, it is of great importance that we scientifically document the impacts of ecotourism and suggest methods to mitigate these effects.
  7. Work with the Ese’eja Native Community: Beginning this year the project will work on the lands of the Ese’eja Native Community of Infierno. This community is equal partners with Rainforest Expeditions in Posada Amazonas Lodge (Piana 2000b, Stronza 1999, 2000). This partnership has provided new economic opportunities for the people and new interest in conserving forests and wildlife within the community (Piana 2000a). The macaw work will provide the members of the community with the knowledge and incentive to conserve macaws throughout their lands.

Methodology

  1. Techniques to increase reproductive success
  2. Nest box design: Design and construction of macaw nest boxes: The work at TRC in the early 1990’s designed PVC nest boxes that are useable only by Scarlet Macaws (Nycander et al 1995). New artificial nests will be designed for Red-and-green Macaws and Blue-and-yellow Macaws by mimicking the sizes, locations and orientations of natural nests of theses species. During 2001-2002, 20 nest boxes will be erected in the Native Community of Infierno. Some of these will be located near Posada Amazonas Lodge and others will be erected in the small farms of willing community residents. A mix of Scarlet and Red-and-green Macaw boxes will be constructed, but the exact designs will depend upon the results of the nest box work in TRC.
  3. Survival and reproduction of hand-raised macaws: Each time that a macaw returns to the lodge at TRC a member of the project personnel will read its band and record whether or not it is accompanied by another bird. In this way we will build up a record of the birds that are still alive and which ones are paired.
  4. Hand feeding: In order to discover why chicks die from malnutrition and how to save the chicks without producing tame macaws, all active nests will be climbed daily from hatching until all chicks are over 30 days old. Each time the nest is climbed, the chicks will be weighed and if shows signs of malnutrition, it will be fed twice a day until it begins to receive sufficient food from the parents or fledges.
  5. Variation in clay lick use: Licks will be monitored throughout the day from shortly after dawn until late afternoon. Temporal patterns will be documented by making complete counts of all birds on the lick every five minutes.
  6. Impacts of ecotourism: During clay lick observations described above, observers will record all visits by tourists to the area of the lick. Observers will also record the passage of all boats. These data will be combined with the climate data and basic clay lick monitoring data to determine if tourist activities are having any of the following effects: 1) causing birds to fly from the vicinity of the lick, 2) reducing the numbers of birds descending to the lick to eat clay, 3) preventing the birds from descending to the lick or 4) changing the timing of activity of the birds at the lick.
  7. Work with the native community of Infierno: Members of the Ese’eja Native Community of Infierno have shown interest in extending the macaw work to their lands. During the 2000-2001 field season the project will be formally presented to the community at one of their monthly meeting in conjunction with the Rainforest Expeditions Community Project Coordinator. This person is an employee of Rainforest Expeditions and the Community and works as a liaison for all new projects with the community. During this presentation the importance of macaws in tourism (Munn 1992) will be discussed with relation to the community’s own lodge, Posada Amazonas. This will be used to strengthen the community’s motivation to conserve macaws. We will then solicit volunteer families that would like to have a macaw box erected on their property. Starting in March 2001 nest boxes will be placed on the lands of the native community. The entire family (and nearby families) will be invited to participate in the construction and hanging of the box to give them a sense of involvement in the process. This expansion of the project will also aid the recovery of macaw populations on the lower Tambopata River and provide additional data on macaw nesting ecology.

Budget:

Nest boxes for macaws in the Native Community of Infierno 5 @ $300 each $1,500

Salary to hire 2 members of the Native Community of Infierno to monitor nests$2,500

($7 per day x 6 months x 2 people)

Climbing gear (1 set)$1,200

16-m boat for travel to nests in the Native Community$1,000

25 horse power motor$1,500

Gasoline for motor$1,000

Please make checks payable to Duke University and mail to:

James Tunney

Duke University, Department of Biology

Box 90338

Durham NC 27708-0338

Please put Wild Parrot Conservation Fund in the memo line

Literature Cited

Abramson, J., B. L. .Spear, and J. B. Thomsen. 1995. The Large Macaws: Their Care, Breeding and Conservation. Raintree Publications, Ft. Bragg, CA.

Brightsmith, D. J. 1999. An evaluation of the Guayaquil Macaw project, Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, Guayaquil, Ecuador. Unpublished Report, Duke Univerisity, Durham NC.

Brightsmith, D. J. 2000a . Tambopata Macaw Project: Final Report 1999-2000. Unpublished Report. Duke University and Rainforest Expeditions, Durham NC.

Brightsmith, D. J. 2000b. Wet season clay lick use by macaws and parrots, 1999-2000 preliminary report. Unpublished Report. Duke University, Durham NC.

Collar, N. J. 1997. Family Psittacidae. Pages 280-479 in J. d. Hoyo, A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

Dunnings, J. B. 1992. CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses. CRC Press, London.

Emmons, L., and N. M. Stark. 1979. Elemental composition of a natural mineral lick in Amazonia. Biotropica 11: 311-313.

Gilardi, J. D., S. S. Duffey, C. A. Munn, and L. A. Tell. 1999. Biochemical functions of geophagy in parrots: detoxification of dietary toxins and cytoprotective effects. Journal of Chemical Ecology 25: 897-922.

Horstman, E. 1996. Update of the Guayaquil Macaw Conservation Project Ecuador. Psittascene 5: 11-12.

Johnson, M. A., W. M. Tomas, and N. M. R. Guedes. 1997. Density of young manduvi (Sterculia apetala), the Hyacinthine Macaw's nesting tree, under three different management conditions in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil. Ararajuba .

Kirkby, C., A. Valdez et al. 2000. Impacts of ecotourism on birds and mammals in the Tambopata Region of Peru. Unpublished Report.Tambopata Research Society

Munn, C. A. 1992. Macaw biology and ecotourism, or when a bird in the bush is worth two in the hand. Pages 47-72 in S. R. Beissinger and N. F. R. Snyder, eds. New World Parrots in Crisis. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.

Munn, C. A., D. Blanco, E. Nycander, and D. Ricalde. 1991. Prospects for sustainable use of large macaws in southeastern Peru in J. Clinton-Eitniear, ed. The First Mesoamerican Workshop on the Conservation and Management of Macaws. Center for the Study of Tropical Birds, Inc., Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Nycander, E., D. H. Blanco, K. M. Holle, A. d. Campo, C. A. Munn, J. I. Moscoso, and D. G. Ricalde. 1995. Manu and Tambopata: nesting success and techniques for increasing reproduction in wild macaws in southeastern Peru. Pages 423-443 in J. Abramson, B. L. Spear, and J. B. Thomsen, eds. The Large Macaws: Their Care, Breeding and Conservation. Raintree Publications, Ft. Bragg, CA.

Piana, R. P. 2000a. The Harpy Eagle project in the Infierno Native Community. Unpublished Report. Rainforest Expeditions, Lima, Peru.

Piana, R. P. 2000b. Traditional forest use and ecotourism at the Infierno Native Community: two different income generating activities and their impact on local people's economy. Masters Thesis. Department of Economy and Natural Resources. Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmak.

Stronza, A. 1999. Learning both ways: lessons from a corporate and community ecotourism collaboration. Cultural Survival Quarterly Summer 1999: 36-39.

Stronza, A. L. 2000. Because it is ours: community-based ecotoruism in the Peruvian Amazon. Ph. D. Dissertation. Department of Anthropology. University of Florida, Gainsville, FL.

Yamashita, C., and Y. Machado. 1997. The Blue-throated Macaw Ara glacogularis: characterization of its distinctive habitats in savannahs of the Beni, Bolivia. Ararajuba 5: 141-150.