First Report of Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus Patagonus) Nesting in Tree Cavities

Abstract

∙ The Burrowing Parrot Cyanoliseus patagonus is known to breed in burrows mostly on cliffs and ravines in arid or semi‐arid regions of Argentina and Chile. However, during a tree cavity monitoring project we confirmed at least two active nests in tree cavities. Cavity entrances were located between 3.1 and 5.3 m above the ground in live caldén (Prosopis caldenia) trees, Parque Luro, province of La Pampa, Argentina. One nest failed while the other one successfully produced three fledglings. The absence of cliffs and scarcity of ravines in the region, and the presence of a nesting colony of the Blue‐crowned Parakeet (Thectocercus acuticaudatus) in the site may have promoted the adoption of this new nesting substrate for the species. Resumen ∙ Nidificación inusual del Loro Barranquero (Cyanoliseus patagonus) en cavidades naturales de árboles El Loro Barranquero (Cyanoliseus patagonus) nidifica mayoritariamente en cavidades en barrancos y acantilados en regiones áridas y semiáridas de Argentina y Chile. Sin embargo, durante un proyecto de monitoreo de cavidades en árboles, confirmamos al menos dos nidos activos de Loro Barranquero. La entrada de las cavidades estuvo localizada entre 3.1 y 5.3 m de altura en árboles vivos de caldén (Prosopis caldenia), en Parque Luro, provincia de La Pampa, Argentina. Un nido fracasó mientras que el otro tuvo éxito produciendo tres volantones. La escasez de barrancos y la presencia de una colonia de nidificación de Calancate Común (Thectocercus acuticaudatus) en el sitio, podrían haber favorecido la adopción de este nuevo sustrato de nidificación para la especie.

Nesting innovations in neotropical parrots associated to anthropogenic environmental changes

“…Our observations on the Neotropics of parrot species known to nest in cavities (in trees or cliffs) throughout their native ranges (Cornelius et al, 2008; Forshaw, 2010), together with data reported elsewhere (Hernández‐Brito, Martina Carrete, et al, 2021; Hernández‐Brito, Romero‐Vidal, et al, 2021; Lopez et al, 2018), suggest that the ability of these birds to use novel nesting sites is not merely anecdotal but rather an overlooked phenomenon. Factors promoting the emergence of these innovations are unknown, but the lack of suitable cavities resulting from increasing anthropogenic changes in natural habitats may be an important driver encouraging individuals to try alternative strategies.…”

“…Therefore, these attempts at innovation, which also involve dealing with the stress generated by humans, could be initiated by bold individuals, as in the case of urban colonization by other species (Carrete & Tella, 2013). The use of tree cavities (Lopez et al, 2018), palm tree bracts or abandoned burrows from burrowing owls may not be novel but occur at a very low frequency. However, the use of these substrates may now be increasing, together with the use of buildings, likely due to the human‐induced habitat transformations and/or to seek the proximity of humans for the new food resources they provide (i.e., exotic plant species and crops; Blanco et al, 2022).…”

“…In the case of burrowing parrots, although rare, this species can show plasticity in its selection of nesting sites, and sometimes breeds in human structures that resemble natural substrates (Masello & Quillfeldt, 2005; Tella et al, 2014) or even in trees holes (Lopez et al, 2018). Thus, the choice of palm bracts for nesting is similar to breeding in tree holes (Lopez et al, 2018), as other parrot species do in other areas. In fact, the large number of observations involving different species at different sites suggests that this behavior may not be merely anecdotal but rather an overlooked phenomenon.…”

“…Individuals excavate their own burrows by tunneling into sandstone, limestone, and earth cliffs (Masello et al, 2001(Masello et al, , 2006Masello & Quillfeldt, 2002. Some extraordinary events have been recorded, such as breeding in tree holes (Lopez et al, 2018) or quarries (Tella et al, 2014).…”