Satellite Telemetry of Blue-Throated Macaws in Barba Azul Nature Reserve (Beni, Bolivia) Reveals Likely Breeding Areas
The Blue-throated Macaw (<i>Ara glaucogularis)</i> is a Critically Endangered species endemic to the Llanos de Moxos ecosystem of Beni, Bolivia. To aid conservation of the northwestern population that utilizes the Barba Azul Nature Reserve during the non-breeding season, we set out to le...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-11-01
|
| Series: | Diversity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/11/564 |
| _version_ | 1797510625593655296 |
|---|---|
| author | Lisa C. Davenport Tjalle Boorsma Lucas Carrara Paulo de Tarso Zuquim Antas Luciene Faria Donald J. Brightsmith Sebastian K. Herzog Rodrigo W. Soria-Auza A. Bennett Hennessey |
| author_facet | Lisa C. Davenport Tjalle Boorsma Lucas Carrara Paulo de Tarso Zuquim Antas Luciene Faria Donald J. Brightsmith Sebastian K. Herzog Rodrigo W. Soria-Auza A. Bennett Hennessey |
| author_sort | Lisa C. Davenport |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Blue-throated Macaw (<i>Ara glaucogularis)</i> is a Critically Endangered species endemic to the Llanos de Moxos ecosystem of Beni, Bolivia. To aid conservation of the northwestern population that utilizes the Barba Azul Nature Reserve during the non-breeding season, we set out to learn the sites where these birds breed using satellite telemetry. We describe preliminary tests conducted on captive birds (at Loro Parque Foundation, Tenerife, Spain) that resulted in choosing Geotrak Parrot Collars, a metal, battery-operated unit that provides data through the Argos satellite system. In September 2019, we tagged three birds in Barba Azul with Geotrak collars, and received migration data for two birds, until battery depletion in November and December 2019. Our two migrant birds were tracked leaving Barba Azul on the same date (27 September), but departed in divergent directions (approximately 90 degrees in separation). They settled in two sites approximately 50–100 km from Barba Azul. Some details of the work are restricted out of conservation concern as the species still faces poaching pressures. Knowing their likely breeding grounds, reserve managers conducted site visits to where the birds were tracked, resulting in the discovery of breeding birds, although no birds still carrying a transmitter were seen then. A single individual still carrying its collar was spotted 13 August 2021 at Barba Azul. The work suggests that the Blue-throated Macaws of Barba Azul use breeding sites that are scattered across the Llanos de Moxos region, although within the recognized boundaries of the northwestern subpopulation. We conclude that the use of satellite collars is a feasible option for research with the species and could provide further conservation insights. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:34:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fbe2efec323745718572173beee90dab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:34:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-fbe2efec323745718572173beee90dab2023-11-22T23:04:12ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182021-11-01131156410.3390/d13110564Satellite Telemetry of Blue-Throated Macaws in Barba Azul Nature Reserve (Beni, Bolivia) Reveals Likely Breeding AreasLisa C. Davenport0Tjalle Boorsma1Lucas Carrara2Paulo de Tarso Zuquim Antas3Luciene Faria4Donald J. Brightsmith5Sebastian K. Herzog6Rodrigo W. Soria-Auza7A. Bennett Hennessey8Florida Natural History Museum, Department of Biology, University of Florida Gainesville, Gainesville, FL 32611, USAAsociación Civil Armonía, Zona Palmasola, Santa Cruz, BoliviaAves Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30431-236, MG, BrazilFundação Pró-Natureza (Funatura), Brasilia 70743-520, DF, BrazilAves Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30431-236, MG, BrazilSchubot Avian Health Center, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77843, USAAsociación Civil Armonía, Zona Palmasola, Santa Cruz, BoliviaAsociación Civil Armonía, Zona Palmasola, Santa Cruz, BoliviaAsociación Civil Armonía, Zona Palmasola, Santa Cruz, BoliviaThe Blue-throated Macaw (<i>Ara glaucogularis)</i> is a Critically Endangered species endemic to the Llanos de Moxos ecosystem of Beni, Bolivia. To aid conservation of the northwestern population that utilizes the Barba Azul Nature Reserve during the non-breeding season, we set out to learn the sites where these birds breed using satellite telemetry. We describe preliminary tests conducted on captive birds (at Loro Parque Foundation, Tenerife, Spain) that resulted in choosing Geotrak Parrot Collars, a metal, battery-operated unit that provides data through the Argos satellite system. In September 2019, we tagged three birds in Barba Azul with Geotrak collars, and received migration data for two birds, until battery depletion in November and December 2019. Our two migrant birds were tracked leaving Barba Azul on the same date (27 September), but departed in divergent directions (approximately 90 degrees in separation). They settled in two sites approximately 50–100 km from Barba Azul. Some details of the work are restricted out of conservation concern as the species still faces poaching pressures. Knowing their likely breeding grounds, reserve managers conducted site visits to where the birds were tracked, resulting in the discovery of breeding birds, although no birds still carrying a transmitter were seen then. A single individual still carrying its collar was spotted 13 August 2021 at Barba Azul. The work suggests that the Blue-throated Macaws of Barba Azul use breeding sites that are scattered across the Llanos de Moxos region, although within the recognized boundaries of the northwestern subpopulation. We conclude that the use of satellite collars is a feasible option for research with the species and could provide further conservation insights.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/11/564Psittacidae<i>Ara glaucogularis</i>migrationdaily behavioral patternsLlanos de Moxos |
| spellingShingle | Lisa C. Davenport Tjalle Boorsma Lucas Carrara Paulo de Tarso Zuquim Antas Luciene Faria Donald J. Brightsmith Sebastian K. Herzog Rodrigo W. Soria-Auza A. Bennett Hennessey Satellite Telemetry of Blue-Throated Macaws in Barba Azul Nature Reserve (Beni, Bolivia) Reveals Likely Breeding Areas Diversity Psittacidae <i>Ara glaucogularis</i> migration daily behavioral patterns Llanos de Moxos |
| title | Satellite Telemetry of Blue-Throated Macaws in Barba Azul Nature Reserve (Beni, Bolivia) Reveals Likely Breeding Areas |
| title_full | Satellite Telemetry of Blue-Throated Macaws in Barba Azul Nature Reserve (Beni, Bolivia) Reveals Likely Breeding Areas |
| title_fullStr | Satellite Telemetry of Blue-Throated Macaws in Barba Azul Nature Reserve (Beni, Bolivia) Reveals Likely Breeding Areas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Satellite Telemetry of Blue-Throated Macaws in Barba Azul Nature Reserve (Beni, Bolivia) Reveals Likely Breeding Areas |
| title_short | Satellite Telemetry of Blue-Throated Macaws in Barba Azul Nature Reserve (Beni, Bolivia) Reveals Likely Breeding Areas |
| title_sort | satellite telemetry of blue throated macaws in barba azul nature reserve beni bolivia reveals likely breeding areas |
| topic | Psittacidae <i>Ara glaucogularis</i> migration daily behavioral patterns Llanos de Moxos |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/11/564 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lisacdavenport satellitetelemetryofbluethroatedmacawsinbarbaazulnaturereservebeniboliviarevealslikelybreedingareas AT tjalleboorsma satellitetelemetryofbluethroatedmacawsinbarbaazulnaturereservebeniboliviarevealslikelybreedingareas AT lucascarrara satellitetelemetryofbluethroatedmacawsinbarbaazulnaturereservebeniboliviarevealslikelybreedingareas AT paulodetarsozuquimantas satellitetelemetryofbluethroatedmacawsinbarbaazulnaturereservebeniboliviarevealslikelybreedingareas AT lucienefaria satellitetelemetryofbluethroatedmacawsinbarbaazulnaturereservebeniboliviarevealslikelybreedingareas AT donaldjbrightsmith satellitetelemetryofbluethroatedmacawsinbarbaazulnaturereservebeniboliviarevealslikelybreedingareas AT sebastiankherzog satellitetelemetryofbluethroatedmacawsinbarbaazulnaturereservebeniboliviarevealslikelybreedingareas AT rodrigowsoriaauza satellitetelemetryofbluethroatedmacawsinbarbaazulnaturereservebeniboliviarevealslikelybreedingareas AT abennetthennessey satellitetelemetryofbluethroatedmacawsinbarbaazulnaturereservebeniboliviarevealslikelybreedingareas |