Blue-Throated Macaws Are Making a Comeback in Bolivia

As quickly as thought to be extinct inside the wild, better than 100 vibrant blue-throated macaws have hatched over the previous couple of years in nesting containers in Bolivia.

Rainforest Perception has been working with native companions to protect and improve the habitat of these critically endangered distinctive birds.

“Blue-throated macaws are distinctive, intelligent birds. Naturally curious, they’re acknowledged to hold out larger than primates on some decision-making duties. These birds are generally referred to as ‘barba azul’ in Spanish, or ‘blue beard’ as a result of intense blue feathers that cowl their throats,” Holly Torres, a conservation grants affiliate with Rainforest Perception, tells Treehugger.

“Conservation of this turquoise-blue and yellow hen is essential, as a result of it’s one in all many rarest hen species on the earth. Blue-throated Macaws are extraordinarily specific–spectacular, smart, and social.  Our world might be vastly impoverished with out them.”

Blue-throated macaws (Ara glaucogularis) had been categorised as critically endangered by the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Pink Itemizing in 2000. The birds had undergone a swift inhabitants decline over three generations. They’d been primarily threatened by seize for the illegal pet commerce and by habitat loss.

Nonetheless on account of sturdy conservation measures, the decline stopped and the inhabitants is offering indicators of restoration.

Nesting Discipline Success

Blue-throated macaws are found solely inside the Beni savanna, a tropical space in northern Bolivia. They reside in monogamous pairs or small groups.

The hen was rediscovered inside the wild in 1992. Shortly thereafter, Rainforest Perception and completely different groups helped assist Asociacion Armonia, a Bolivian non-profit group dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats.

They created a nature reserve to protect the birds, kicking off a nesting program in 2007. Now the Laney Rickman Reserve, the world is being expanded to proceed conserving the species.

As of ultimate yr, Asociacion Armonia effectively fledged 105 blue-throated macaw chicks.

“Yearly in the midst of the breeding season, the sphere group intently shows each nest subject to ascertain blue-throated macaw eggs, chicks, and parenting conduct with the help of digicam traps,” says Torres. “Usually, completely different hen species similar to the purple and inexperienced macaw compete for the containers. The sector group always works to reinforce these containers to accommodate the blue-throated macaws, and defend them from predators.”

With nesting season coming to an end, there have been 16 nesting makes an try inside the 100 monitored nesting containers with eight chicks effectively leaving the nests.

Having effectively fledged 113 macaws as a result of the creation of the nesting subject program, the world is now residence to better than 20% of the worldwide inhabitants of blue-throated macaws.

“Defending any number of these birds is important when so few keep inside the wild, nonetheless Asociación Armonía’s success has been extraordinary by any necessities,” says Torres.

“As their environment is consistently threatened by agricultural enlargement and fires, the Laney Rickman Reserve offers a safe home for the birds to reside and reproduce. The blue-throated macaw continues to breed at these web sites each season, an encouraging sign that the onerous work to protect this house is working. The success of this reserve gives us good hope for future populations and for the best way ahead for the species.”