Red-tailed Amazon

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Red-tailed Amazon

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Amazona
Species: A. brasiliensis
Binomial name
Amazona brasiliensis
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The Red-tailed Amazon, Papagaio-de-cara-roxa, Amazone Du Brésil, Amazone À Joues Bleues, Amazone À Queue Rouge, Amazona Colirroja, Loro Cariazul, or Papagayo De Cara Roja (Amazona brasiliensis) is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is endemic to Brazil.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss, and is a symbol of the efforts to conserve one of the Earth's most biologically diverse ecosystems, the Serra do Mar and the Guaraqueçaba region of southern Brazil, which was declared a "World Heritage" site in 1992. IUCN estimates a population of 4000-5500, which has been relatively stable for a number of years, and for this reason has reclassified as 'Vulnerable'.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Amazona brasiliensis, commonly known as the Red-tailed Amazon or Red-tailed Parrot, is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). Currently the World Conservation Union (IUCN) ranks the parrot as Threatened, due to its small population size of only 4000-5500 individuals (The World Conservation Union). Habitat The Red-tailed Amazon lives along the southeast coast of Brazil, near São Paulo and Parana. The birds reside in the Atlantic coastal rainforest, which is home to thirteen other parrot species. Four of the parrot species are endemic to the Atlantic rainforest: Amazona brasiliensis, Amazona rhodocorytha, Touit melanonota and Touit surda, all of which are currently endangered (Conservation Status of parrot populations in an Atlantic rainforest area of southeastern Brazil). The birds live in a restricted area of lowland forests near the coast and wetlands areas including freshwater swamps, humid forests and mangroves. Typically, the birds can be spotted feeding 200 meters (656 ft) above the forest floor, sometimes even reaching heights up to 700 m (2296 ft) (BirdLife International).

[edit] Physical Description

Red-tailed Amazons typically live fifty years and are generally classified as medium to large parrots, weighing around 430 g (15 oz). The birds are approximately a foot in length, or about 37cm (14.4 in) The Red-tailed Amazon gets its name from its coloring. As expected, the parrot has a broad red band on its tail that becomes especially visible when the birds are displaying their feathers. The remaining body is colored in deep blues, various shades of green, and yellow.

Coloring for juveniles and adults varies. Adults generally have a deep green plumage and red foreheads, pink and blue chins, outer feathers edged with deep purple/blue, green tail feathers tipped with yellow/green, side tail feathers tipped with green/yellow and banded with red near the end, dull yellow bills, pale grey eye rings, and orange eyes. Juveniles have a duller green plumage and generally have pale pink/red foreheads, pink/mauve chins and cheeks, yellow bills, pale grey eye rings, and brown eyes.

Red-tailed Amazons are usually found in pairs or flocks, which may reach heights of over 400 individuals during winter. Foraging occurs on the mainland, which offers an array of food sources for the parrots. Here, from sunrise until sunset, the birds forage in pairs or flocks up to twenty feeding on primarily fruit, although their diets also consists of seeds, flowers, nectar, leaves, and insects. The birds forage in a 4700 km strip, between Rio de Janeiro and Curituba. During its daily migration, the Red-tailed Amazon feeds on the abundant mainland and then returns to the coastal islands to roost (BirdLife International).

[edit] Breeding

After feeding in the Atlantic forests on the mainland, the parrots then travel to the coastal islands where they breed. Once on the islands, the parrots breed in mangrove and coastal forests. The breeding season typically lasts from September to February, or about five months. The parrots lay their eggs in natural tree-cavities, usually laying three to four eggs. Eggs are incubated for 27 to 28 days and once born the fledging period lasts from 50 to 55 days (BirdLife International). Vocalization The birds call while in flight and sound similar to the Blue-fronted Amazon which calls with musical growls and high-pitched sounds (ARKive).

[edit] Threats

Brazil’s recent industrialization, accompanied by intense economic and population growth, is largely responsible for the parrot’s endangered status. Every year extensive logging wipes out pristine plots of land once home to thousands of plant, insect, and animal species. Land areas equivalent in size to small countries are wiped out in a matter of months. This ongoing logging continues to destroy habitat and threaten the bird’s limited geographic range. Extensive logging also destroys the native plant species that provide food and shelter for the birds. As a result, the birds are forced to relocate to a less suitable area. Frequently, the parrots are unable to locate food and perish.

Habitat destruction is one of the main forces driving the Red-tailed Amazon to extinction. Brazil’s increasing demand for lumber, agriculture, and housing developments has caused the forests to be cleared at an unprecedented rate. In fact, ninety-three percent of the original Atlantic coastal forest, which is the bird’s main habitat, has been cleared. Now, the seven percent of land that remains is so fragmented by paths and roads that the large flocks of birds have difficulty finding enough food in any one strip. This fragmentation is particularly devastating to the birds since they only forage in a 4700 km strip, between Rio de Janeiro and Curituba.

Fragmentation not only limits food sources but also creates additional problems for the birds. As the development of roads and residential areas continue, the remaining land becomes so fragmented that the parrots are forced to live in edge habitats. These edge habitats leave nest sites vulnerable to both human and animal predation (Birdlife International). Yet habitat destruction isn’t the only reason the birds are endangered. Animal trafficking also threatens the Red-tailed Amazon. According to the World Wildlife Fund, “animal trafficking is the third largest illegal trade in the world behind illicit drug and arms sales, totaling $1.5 billion annually in Brazil alone.”

The Red-tailed Amazons are a particularly easy target for traffickers thanks to their vibrant colors and isolated breeding grounds. In fact, one study noted that of forty-seven nests monitored between 1990 and 1994, forty-one were robbed by humans (Genetic Variability in the Red-tailed Amazon). Rural, low income Brazilians are desperate for money and catch the birds for dealers. In turn, the dealers pay the locals $30 per bird and turn around and sell the birds for $2,500 a piece to buyers (The Problems).

There are two main buyers: laboratories and collectors. Research laboratories, located primarily in Europe, seek exotic creatures and use their products for medicine or as ingredients for beauty products. Wild game collectors, many of them Brazilians, want the birds for live trophies, pets, or as additions to their private zoos (The Problems). Part of what makes animal trafficking so harmful to the parrots is the destructive nature of the process. Often, traffickers damage the fragile nests while removing the birds. This damage prevents future nesting and forces the birds to rebuild elsewhere.

Once the birds are removed the situation only gets worse. Traffickers smuggle the birds across borders in containers too small to properly hold them. As a result, many parrots die along the journey from thirst, starvation, broken limps, or simply from fright. Fatality numbers are astounding: nine out ten parrots transported die before reaching their final destination (The Problems).

The ineffectiveness of animal trafficking creates a vicious cycle. Several birds are plucked from the forest because so few reach their destination. As a result, the birds become increasingly difficult to find. Consequently, invasion into the forests for trafficking becomes more frequent, which further threatens the ecosystem and its wildlife.

[edit] Conservation efforts

A number of steps are being taken to ensure the parrots’ safety. One program aimed at educating locals on the importance of the birds is already underway. Established in 1997, the Environmental Education Program for the Conservation of the Red-tailed Amazon focuses on reducing threats to the bird through educational programs (BirdLife International). Working specifically with students, women and artists, the Environmental Education Program hosts several workshops and field trips to promote awareness about the endangered Red-tailed Amazon. The program hopes these workshops and fieldtrips will illustrate the importance of conservation and consequently reduce logging and animal trafficking (The Problems).

An additional step to ensure the birds’ safety was the establishment of ex-situ facilities, specifically zoos. Research shows that the Red-tailed Amazons breed moderately well in captivity. There are already successful captive-breeding programs in the European Union and Brazil well underway (The Parrot Society UK). Breeding programs at Chester Zoo and the UK Rode Tropical Bird Garden have both successfully bred the Red-tailed Amazon (Chester Zoo).

Possibly one of the most significant steps taken to save the parrots was the establishment of Superagüi National Park in 1989. Although the park wasn’t established solely with the birds’ safety in mind, the park does provide an excellent safe haven for the Red-tailed Amazon and thousands of plant and animal species alike. The over 34,254 hectares of lush forest, which is part of the largest continuous stretch of intact Atlantic Rainforest, is without a doubt one of the most important protected areas within this Brazil (ParksWatch).

Measures to stop the illegal trafficking of the parrots into the U.S. have also been taken. The United States Endangered Species Act (ESA) and The United States Wildlife Service act as the Red-tailed Amazon’s greatest protection against illegal transportation to the US. Because the bird is listed as Endangered under this act, if imported illegally into the U.S. the bird will be confiscated and its carrier will be punished. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to prevent illegal importation of animals by setting up search sites in airports. Luggage is search manually and many times trained dogs are brought in to search the bags for any trace of animals (The United States Fish and Wildlife Service).

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) also affords the birds protection. Under CITES, a legally binding contract between 164 countries, the international trade of wild animals and plants is limited. “The Red-Tailed Parrot is listed under CITES as Appendix I, the strictest degree of protection, which is applied to species threatened with extinction and allows trade only in exceptional circumstances” (CITES).

The ESA and CITES are the Red-Tailed Amazons primary governmental protection. They control the trade of individuals to an extent; however, often the laws are not adequately enforced.

The Red-tailed Amazons play a vital role in seed dispersal. Because the birds cover extensive areas while feeding, they are tremendous seed dispersers. As the birds migrate between the Atlantic mainland and the coastal islands they disperse seeds via their droppings. Seed distribution of this extent helps create and maintain biodiversity in the mainland and islands (The Problems).

The birds also indirectly provide Brazilians with a source of income. Excursions near the birds’ breeding islands offer birdwatchers the opportunity to watch the birds in flight. Some tourists come to revel at the spectacle of the parrot’s migration, while others simply come to see this rare gem decorate the islands (The Problems).

[edit] References

  • Alexandre B. Sampaio, Karen D. Holl, and Aldicir Scariot. 2007. Regeneration of Seasonal Deciduous Forest Tree Species in Long-Used Pastures in Central Brazil. Biotropica 39(5): 655-659.
  • Martin, M., and M. Sa. 1999. Conservation Status of parrot populations in an Atlantic rainforest area of southeastern Brazil. Biodiversity and Conservation 8:1079-1088.