New system for tracking macaws emphasizes species' conservation needs


Date:
July 14, 2021
Source:
Texas A&M University
Summary:
New data on macaw movements has the potential to greatly improve
conservation strategies for the scarlet macaw, as well as similar
species of large parrots.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
New data on macaw movements gathered by the Texas A&M University College
of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences' (CVMBS) The Macaw Society
has the potential to greatly improve conservation strategies for the
scarlet macaw, as well as similar species of large parrots.


========================================================================== While the overall conservation status of the scarlet macaw is listed as
"least concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature,
the species is declining across much of Central America and in other
parts of its range in South America. The species also shares its habitat
with numerous endangered species and influences the ecosystems in which
it lives.

The Macaw Society's paper, recently published in Avian Conservation &
Ecology, is the result of the long-term research study of the ecology
and conservation of macaws and other parrots in Peru's Tambopata National Reserve.

Historically, the migratory movements of large parrots and macaws have
largely remained a mystery because of the difficulty of tracking them
over the long distances they travel. The recent publication describing
the discoveries made using satellite tracking of individual birds over
large areas has shed some light on this mystery.

The research team -- consisting of associate professor Donald Brightsmith; adjunct associate professor Janice Boyd; Elizabeth Hobson from the
University of Cincinnati; and Charles Randel from the Southwestern
Wildlife Survey in California -- used ARGOS satellite telemetry (orbiting satellites that detect signals emitted from a transmitter attached to
an animal) to track six scarlet macaws and four blue-and-yellow macaws
over a period of eight years.

They found that both macaw species had very large home ranges, consisting
of thousands of hectares (with 1 hectare equaling 2.471 acres), and often traveled 20 to 40 km (approximately 12 to 25 miles) per day. Individuals
of both species moved up to 160 km (99 miles) during the periods of
low food availability, likely searching for areas with dense patches of
food trees.

New data on macaw movements gathered by the Texas A&M University College
of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences' (CVMBS) The Macaw Society
has the potential to greatly improve conservation strategies for the
scarlet macaw, as well as similar species of large parrots.

While the overall conservation status of the scarlet macaw is listed as
"least concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature,
the species is declining across much of Central America and in other
parts of its range in South America. The species also shares its habitat
with numerous endangered species and influences the ecosystems in which
it lives.

The Macaw Society's paper, recently published in Avian Conservation &
Ecology, is the result of the long-term research study of the ecology
and conservation of macaws and other parrots in Peru's Tambopata National Reserve.

Historically, the migratory movements of large parrots and macaws have
largely remained a mystery because of the difficulty of tracking them
over the long distances they travel. The recent publication describing
the discoveries made using satellite tracking of individual birds over
large areas has shed some light on this mystery.

The research team -- consisting of associate professor Donald Brightsmith; adjunct associate professor Janice Boyd; Elizabeth Hobson from the
University of Cincinnati; and Charles Randel from the Southwestern
Wildlife Survey in California -- used ARGOS satellite telemetry (orbiting satellites that detect signals emitted from a transmitter attached to
an animal) to track six scarlet macaws and four blue-and-yellow macaws
over a period of eight years.

They found that both macaw species had very large home ranges, consisting
of thousands of hectares (with 1 hectare equaling 2.471 acres), and often traveled 20 to 40 km (approximately 12 to 25 miles) per day. Individuals
of both species moved up to 160 km (99 miles) during the periods of
low food availability, likely searching for areas with dense patches of
food trees.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Texas_A&M_University. Original
written by Megan Myers.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Donald J. Brightsmith, Janice D. Boyd, Elizabeth A. Hobson,
C J. Randel.

Satellite telemetry reveals complex migratory movement patterns
of two large macaw species in the western Amazon basin. Avian
Conservation and Ecology, 2021; 16 (1) DOI: 10.5751/ACE-01822-160114 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210714110407.htm

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