Reintroduction and monitoring of the bird Amazona aestiva (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Reintroduction is a procedure used to reestablish wild animal populations. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the success of reintroducing Amazona aestiva and investigate whether abiotic factors (temperature, humidily, and luminosity) interfere with the search for food supplementation in feeders installed in the release area. Methods: Pre-release evaluations were initiated with 59 Amazonas spp. Tests were run to stool parasitological tests, leukocytes, flight capacity, and level of animal-human interaction. In all, 33 animals were selected and sent to the release area, which is an ecotone between the Atlantic Forest and the Caatinga biomes. After release, visits to the feeders and survival in the area were monitored for a year. Abiotic factors were also recorded in these periods. Results: The stool parasitological tests revealed the presence of Heterakis spp. and Eimeira spp. The leukocyte parameters were within the reference values for the species. At least 50% of the released animals survived after one year, with recordings of reproductive events. Abiotic factors did not interfere with the animal visits to the feeder. However, the variable humidity best explained visits in the morning, while the variables temperature and luminosity most influenced visits in the afternoon. Conclusion: The reintroduction observed and presented here is on the threshold of the classification as successful. The installed feeders and artificial nests caused the animals to stay in the area for monitoring. Abiotic factors may influence daily behavioral decision-making related to the use of supplementary feeding in reintroduced parrots.

Feeding Ecology of Reintroduced Golden Parakeets (Guaruba guarouba, Psittacidae) in a Protected Area in the Amazon Forest

“…Reintroductions are still incipient in Brazil, but recent years have seen an increasing number of projects restoring extirpated populations of parrots, ranging from nonthreatened species (Amazona aestiva) [14] to endangered ones such as Amazona vinacea and Anodorhynchus leari [15,16], with even a species that was extinct in the wild (Cyanopsitta spixii) being brought back [17]. Despite being a favorite flagship species for conservation efforts, some parrots have been insufficiently studied, leaving substantial gaps in information on their habitat and foraging requirements, which are necessary for supporting reintroduction efforts and increasing their chances of success.…”

A novel feeding platform design for behavioral research on wild Tanimbar corellas (Cacatua goffiniana)

“…In terms of the effects of specific abiotic factors on foraging, increased environmental temperatures (>27°C) may elicit heat stress in birds and led to a reduction of foraging activity in Western Australian magpies (Edwards et al, 2015). In psittacines, some foraging behaviours are influenced by weather conditions (more clay licking by various species on sunny than rainy mornings; Brightsmith, 2004), whereas others (feeder visitations by Bluefronted amazons; Amazona aestiva) are not interrupted by temperature, humidity, and luminosity (although morning visits were best explained by variable humidity and afternoon visits by temperature and luminosity; Fraga et al, 2023). Overall, higher daily maximum temperatures seem to reduce foraging activities and increase rest time (Carnaby's cockatoos, Zanda latirostris; Riley et al, 2023).…”

Genetic Variability and Kinship Analyses of Seized Red-Browed Amazon, Amazona rhodocorytha (Aves, Psittacidae)

“…Brazil concentrates the greatest number of Psittacidae species, holding important parrot conservation hotspots with high species richness [7]. It is also the country with the greatest number of endangered taxa [8,9], and many conservation initiatives have been started in the last few decades [3,10], including monitoring and protection of nesting sites [11][12][13][14], rehabilitation and release of seized birds [15][16][17], captive breeding [4,18] and reintroduction into the wild [17,19,20].…”