Period under review: 1/10/00 to 31/12/00
Execution: Manoel de Barros Foundation and UNIDERP: University for the Development of the Pantanal Region
Sponsors: Hyacinth Macaw Fund, Estancia Caiman, Toyota do Brasil S/A, Pousada Arara Azul and RENCTAS (scholarship for scientific assistant for 3 months)
Summary:
During this period we monitored 202 nest sites comprising of 162 natural cavities and 40 nest boxes. This work was carried out in the districts of Miranda (N=78), Abobral (N=56), Nhecolândia (N=38), Rio Negro (N=18) and Aquidauana (N=12). 20 new nest sites were registered at the IPP/UNIDERP research station and 3 ranches in the Rio Negro district as well as Rio Negro and Diacuri ranch in the Aquidauana district. Of the 61 nest sites maintained 15 were re-used by Hyacinthine Macaws. In the Miranda district 33 pairs of Hyacinthine Macaws laid 70 eggs including 5 who laid two clutches. Of these 13 eggs were predated, 9 failed, 7 were infertile and 4 did not hatch.
Up to the present time (Ed: the report was written halfway through the breeding season) 24 pairs have hatched 37 young, with 13 pairs having two young. 13 were lost through predation or died and some of the 24 surviving young have already left the nest. We incubated 3 eggs in the laboratory to avoid losing more young. The young thus hatched were re-introduced successfully by placing them back in the nests.
We discovered 26 active nest sites with Hyacinthine Macaws and 11 with Green-winged Macaws Ara chloroptera in other districts. We carried out tracking activities through radio collars beginning with three young, but lost the signal from two during the period.
We gave several talks to guests from the Pousada Caiman and one to guests at the Pousada Arara Azul. We received some visitors to the project and also met with journalists, photographers and other reporters from various branches of the media. We took part in conventions, meetings and professional get-togethers.
The research work of the Projeto Arara Azul/UNIDERP
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