What is happening inside wild macaw nests?

Video observations in Scarlet Macaw nests in Tambopata Peru

Gabriela Vigo1,2, & Donald J. Brightsmith1,2

1Tambopata Macaw Project, E-mail: parrots@rainforest.com.pe;2Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center at Texas A&M University, E-mail: dbrightsmith@cvm.tamu.edu

The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) is one of the most iconographic members of the psittacidae family (in which all macaws, parrots, parakeets, cockatoos, and cockatiels are included). It is widely distributed in the Americas, ranging from Mexico through Bolivia and Brazil . Wild macaw populations are declining very rapidly in some parts of their ranges. The Scarlet Macaw is considered endangered or extinct in most of Central America due to poaching and habitat loss. For that reason, it listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) . However, it is considered Least Concern by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) because is still common and it is doing well in South America, especially in places such as Tambopata .

In Tambopata, we have been monitoring Scarlet Macaw nests for the past twelve years. During this time, we have studied how to increase the reproductive success of the species. As part of these studies, we have hung artificial nests, recorded growth and development of chicks, analyzed chick diets and watched macaw behavior around the nests. But during all this time, we have always been curious about what was happening inside the nests.

According to our preliminary investigations, 26 % of all chicks hatched in Tambopata die of starvation. By comparison, predation causes just 2% of chick deaths. Usually, the first chicks survive, while 45% of the second chicks and 100% of the third and fourth die of starvation.

We have been testing different methods to try to save the youngest members of the broods. Our best attempts included supplemental feeding techniques in which the youngest chicks received food as soon as they started to show signs of starvation. We don’t understand why none of the third chicks that we fed survived while nearly all the second chicks we fed survived. These results suggested that starvation can be avoided for some birds, but not others.

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The Tambopata Macaw Project is a long term study of the ecology and conservation of macaws and parrots in the lowlands of southeastern Peru under the direction of Dr. Donald Brightsmith of the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center at Texas A&M University.

The Tambopata Macaw Project is a long term study of the ecology and conservation of macaws and parrots in the lowlands of southeastern Peru under the direction of Dr. Donald Brightsmith of the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center at Texas A&M University.

Manipulating brood sizes is another method used help youngest siblings. Moving chicks among nests and placing captive chicks in wild nests are techniques that have been used with wild Puerto Rican Amazons (Amazona vittata) and Hyacinth Macaws (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) (N. Guedes. pers.comm). These experiences suggest that decreasing the size differences among brood members increased the probability of survival. But, it is not clear why this does not always work. With this knowledge, we have decided to step back and invest our effort in trying to understand why the youngest chicks die of starvation.

To accomplish this challenging goal, we borrowed ideas of the Puerto Rican Parrot Project and developed a nest video system to work in high humidity and resist the attacks of Scarlet Macaw beaks. Since 2007, we have been recording the behavior inside the nests.

The “Nest watch and video” activities, as we call them, are quite interesting. They allow us to see in real time how the parents interact with their chicks, how they feed them and brood them and how the chicks interact with their siblings as well. The video systems really make you feel like you are spying in the macaw’s personal lives.

Our preliminary results show that older chicks and second chicks that fledged were fed between 4 and 5 times per hour. However, second chicks and third chicks that eventually starved to death were fed on average only about once per hour. What these data suggest is that the parents are specifically choosing which chicks will live and which will die. Those that die, they kill through specific, targeted neglect. Now, our next step is to try to understand what is driving this important parental decision.

Our plan for the coming breeding season is to install video systems in five nests and record the activity inside. Our new video system will give us better visibility in the nest, even at night. Using the night vision feature we will be able to record interactions of great interest to many who hand raise captive parrots such as parental care and feeding behavior overnight.

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Give us a chance to help the Scarlet Macaw

One of the main goals of the Tambopata Macaw Project is to provide not only new scientific information but also to develop and test management techniques which can be used in places where macaw populations are declining. In the case of the Scarlet Macaw, death by starvation is a leading cause of chick death in the wild. The results of our study will provide essential scientific knowledge and help us more effectively use brood size manipulation as a technique to increase reproductive success in the wild.

This type of field investigation requires a massive investment of human effort. Just to give you an example, we need to install the video system in a cavity that is located 75 to 100 ft high while we are hanging from ropes in the middle of the rainforest canopy. Additionally, funding is a limited factor too. Field equipment just doesn’t survive long in the humid conditions of our field site so vital climbing gear and other equipment needs to be replaced every breeding season.

We would like to invite you to be part of this important effort. Our innovative video camera system is going to require a larger initial investment, but we are sure it will be worth it. We encourage you to help us to succeed in this investigation

Please help us learn more about wild macaws and give us a chance to help the Scarlet Macaw.

All donations are tax deductible. If you would like a more formal research proposal or more information on donating, feel free to contact him directly at: dbrightsmith@cvm.tamu.edu

Literature Cited

BirdLife, I. 2004. Red List of Threatned Species.1. Forshaw, J. M. 1989. Parrots of the World. Third edition. Landsdowne Editions, Melbourne, Australia.2. UNEP-WCMC. 2011. UNEP-WCMC Species Database: CITES-Listed Species

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Give us a chance to help the Scarlet Macaw

Macaw nest video equipmentBudget

Specific name of equipmentQuantity per nest

Cost per nest

$

Quantity per

Season *

Cost per

season $

Recording equipment 1 230 2 460Waterproof cases 2 40 4 80Storage waterproof case 1 30 5 150500 GB portable hard drive 1 60 3 180Portable TV screen 1 80 2 160Car battery 1 60 4 240Video security camera 1 25 5 125Video cable 1 10 5 50Camera power supply 1 9 1 9Power convertor system 1 10 3 30Video adaptors 1 13 5 65Car battery charger 1 27.5 4 110USB 2.0 Drive (16 GB) 1 25 5 125Mounting supplies 1 16.4 5 82Field chairs 1 55 3.2 176

* Five (5) video systems per breeding seasonTotal

per nest $

691 Grand Total

$ 2042

Any amount you can donate will be a great help. To make a donation please make checks payable to Texas A&M University and mail to:

Donald J. Brightsmith

Texas A&M University TAMU 4467Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, VTPB

College Station, Texas 77843-4467

For more information please contact us at Dbrightsmith@cvm.tamu.edu

For further information about the Tambopata Macaw Project, please visit: www.macawproject.org

at Texas A&M

Give us a chance to help the Scarlet Macaw

at Texas A&M

Give us a chance to help the Scarlet Macaw