Initiative for the conservation of Golden-winged Warbler – Results 2010

Sampling

Sampling of Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) were conducted in five countries in winter: Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Venezuela. These countries were selected based on several parcels MAXENT model, where the probability of occurrence of the species was greater than or equal to 80%. A total of 242 individuals were recorded: 161 in Nicaragua, 50 in Costa Rica, 14 in Panama, 13 in Colombia and 4 in Venezuela. In general, most records of the species were collected in secondary forest (59%).

Reforestation

As a conservation strategy, four nature reserves were reforested in Colombia: RNA Cieloazul Warbler (115.1 ha), RNA Pauxi Pauxi (37.44 ha), Loro Coroniazul RNA (5 ha), and amphibians Ranita Dorada Reserve (13 ha). Reforestation projects were presented to the community, established several nurseries and reforestation carried out several acres of which are in cash monitoring and maintenance.

Environmental education

To promote the conservation of Golden-winged Warblers within local communities wintering areas held the Migratory Bird Festival 2010 during the month of October in Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Golden-winged Warbler was used as flagship species of the festival which held lectures, workshops and other activities such as parades, plays, dance, painting and poetry, among others.

Dissemination

The results of international collaboration for the modeling and sampling winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera), during non-breeding season (2010), were published in a poster and presented at the XXV International Ornithological Congress which took place in Brazil In August 2010.

P. calliptera

The Brown-breasted Parakeet (P. calliptera) is considered a species vulnerable to extinction (VU) by IUCN, mainly because of its restricted geographical distribution, as is known in less than 10 localities (BirdLife International 2009). In each of these, it is assumed that the population has decreased and continues to decline due to habitat loss.

Since 2004 in the Municipality of Guasca (Cundinamarca) buffer zone of PNN Chingaza, ProAves has studied various aspects of reproductive biology of this parrot in the framework of the Pyrrhura Project. In general, P. calliptera often uses cavities in trees located in wooded pastures surrounded by secondary forest fragments, both for sleeping and nesting.

By implementing the Programme of artificial nests for several species of threatened parrots, it has been possible to get to know deeply various aspects of reproductive biology essential to develop more precise and realistic measurements about their conservation.

Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis)

The Psittacidae family is one of the bird families most threatened in the world. In Colombia it is represented by 53 species; 21% of them are included in an endangered category due to the destruction of their habitat and the exploitation of these birds for commercial purposes.

There are currently two species considered to be severely endangered -Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis and Fuerte’s Parrot Hapalopsittaca fuertesi; two in danger -Great Green Mackaw Ara ambiguus and Santa Marta Parakeet Pyrrhura viridicata– and seven vulnerable – Military Macaw Ara militaris, Golden-plumed Parakeet Leptosittaca branickii, Brown-breasted Parakeet Pyrrhura calliptera, Rufous-fronted Parakeet Bolborhynchus ferrugineifrons, Spot-winged Parrotlet Touit stictopterus, Saffron-headed parrot Gypopsitta pyrilia and Rusty-faced Parrot Hapalopsittaca amazonina.

Fuerte’s Parrot

(Hapalopsittaca fuertesi)

To alleviate this situation ProAves began in 1999 the Yellow-eared Parrot Project after rediscovering this endangered species considered to be extinct up to then. Afterwards it was created the Threatened Parrots Project with the objective of working towards the preservation of the threatened parrot species in Colombia.

Within this programme we have developed different research projects like the “Threatened Parrots in the Central Mountain Range Project” and the “Pyrrhura Project” both aimed at evaluating threats and directing the preservation efforts involving the local communities as much as possible. One of the main achievements of this Programme was the rediscovery of the Hapalopsittaca fuertesi colony, also considered to be an extinct species after 90 years of lack of records.

Up to now more than 60 studies have been concluded regarding 9 of the 11 species of threatened parrots. This has led to a recompilation of very important data such as their diet, distribution, reproductive biology, use of their habitat and demography among others. Moreover, expeditions have been organized in search of new colonies of parrots and for the first time there have been registers of the Hapalopsittaca amazonina in the Western Mountain Range of Colombia and of the Pyrrhura caeruleiceps in the Santander region.

Santa Marta Parakeet (Pyrrhura viridicata)

Moreover, to contribute to the preservation of the existent parrot colonies we have implemented two specific strategies, namely, the Artificial Nest Programme and the establishment of 8 Natural Bird Reserves with more than 10.000 hectares dedicated to the protection and recovery of the parrot’s habitat. The civil society has also dedicated 2,600 hectares of woods, in particular within the municipality of Jardín and other neighbouring communities, to the preservation of the parrots through the Reserves linked to the Civil Society Network of Nature Reserves.

The numerous achievements of this programme are the result of the hard work made by the ProAves team that have cooperated with the local communities and many national and international institutions that also support the preservation process for this species.

Vulnerable species threat status:

Military Macaw(Ara militaris), Rusty-faced Parrot (Hapalopsittaca amazonina), Golden-plumed Parakeet (Leptosittaca branickii) y Brown-breasted Parakeet (Pyrrhura callipetra).

Related news

First conservation workshop for parrots of Colombia
Wednesday 17 March 2010.

From 1st to 6th March, was held the first Workshop of population monitoring techniques and management of artificial nests for endangered Andean parrots of Colombia. It was attended by 20 people from different parts of the country.

Conservation plan on threatened parrots
Friday 5 February 2010.

On 15 January, the workshop successfully developed Plan for the conservation of threatened parrots of Colombia from 2010 to 2020 which was attended by representatives of 11 organizations and local communities, ornithologists and conservationists.

Threatened Parrot Action Plan being developed
Tuesday 12 January 2010.

Parrot experts and conservation groups are working with ProAves to develop a ten-year conservation Action Plan for threatened parrot species in Colombia. A workshop will be held on January 15 at the headquarters of ProAves to discuss the plan.

New insight into Endangered species
Tuesday 26 August 2008.

ProAves has published the first videos inside the nests of the Yellow-eared Parrot and Fuertes’s Parrot from its Threatened Parrots program supported by Fundación Loro Parque.

This project was developed from the need to generate initiatives that promote the recovery and conservation of stocks of Blue-Billed Curassow (Crax alberti) and Magdalena Spider Monkey (Ateles hybridus) are Critically Endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Appendix III.

These two species are also framed within the National Policy on Biodiversity and the Convention of Biological Diversity, also funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Workshop socialization El Paujil Bird Reserve July 23, 2010.

The main threats identified were deforestation and habitat destruction caused by farming, logging and agriculture, hunting, for medicine and food, lack of knowledge about the importance of species, poor production systems that prevent a better income familiar and natural resource sustainability. Lack of land titles, property owners who generate rootlessness, lack of sense of belonging and increased uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources.

A representative of WWF and other researchers met on July 16th at the ProAves installations in Bogotá to find possible solutions for the improvement of natural resources and conservation of the species of interest.

Finally, concrete actions and agreements were established to provide solutions to these threats and the partners committed to develop these measures.

With the support of:

The Festival is a national event, where participating towns and cities across the country take part; Jardín in Antioquia is one of them. In this town various activities were held throughout the month of October where the community, especially children, attended various ecological workshops on birds in which ballads, poems, songs and dances, alluding to migratory birds and their conservation, were performed, likewise, more than 600 people participated in the homecoming parade, where children dressed up as the migratory birds that come to Jardín. These children worked for two weeks preparing their own costumes.

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Another town that participated actively in the celebration was Puerto Pinzón, Boyacá, where more than 180 children, youths and adults were in the parade to welcome the migratory birds with the slogan “conserve the migratory birds’ habitat”. Students and teachers marched through the streets of Puerto Pinzón, bringing a message of respect and preservation of habitat for these birds.

In San Vicente de Chucuri, Santander department, various activities were done in spaces that allowed the creativity of children free reign to work with clay, make figures with balloons, parades and carnivals.

In Genova, Quindío department, workshops and some very dynamic walks with the children of the communities were held, informing them of the biodiversity of birds in the town, what the migratory birds are like and their importance through activities such as coloring, cutting and pasting, rounds and costumes.

In the town of Roncesvalles, Tolima department, a mini documentary about the importance of festivals in the town was made.

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Posters that were part of the diffusion

Paula Romero y Fernando Laverde from Fundación Arte y Conservación.

The VII Migratory Bird Festival was carried out with support from the following organizations:

El pasado 23 de Septiembre, la Corporación Autónoma Regional Corantioquia, Territorial Citará, celebró sus 15 años de labores con una ceremonia en la que hizo un reconocimiento a aquellas entidades que han trabajado de manera muy comprometida y constante por la preservación de los Recursos Naturales, haciendo la entrega de la Distinción Vida, máximo galardón que entrega la Corporación a una persona o institución.

El evento contó con la participación de las organizaciones gubernamentales y no gubernamentales más importantes que trabajan en la Territorial Citará y fueron condecorados la organización EcoRegion, la Cooperativa de Caficultores de AndesCooperan y la Fundación ProAves Colombia, destacándose por todas las acciones puntuales de conservación que ha realizado desde 1998, en especial por el desarrollo del Proyecto Ognorhynchus en el Municipio de Jardín, Antioquia.

Terminado el acto protocolario de condecoración, se hizo presentación de la muestra fotográfica “Citará, miradas al territorio, allende el Cauca” realizada por los funcionarios de la Corporación. Además del lanzamiento del “Plan Colegas”, acuerdo de Voluntades que nos compromete a seguir con la Protección y preservación de nuestro Patrimonio Natural.

En representación de la Fundación ProAves fueron invitados: Luis Felipe Barrera, Subdirector de Áreas protegidas Cordillera Central, Ana Cristina Velasquez, Educadora Ambiental de Jardín y Ana Esperanza Contreras, Coordinadora de Áreas Protegidas para el Norte de la Cordillera Occidental.

Agradecemos a La Corporación Autónoma Regional Corantioquia, por este reconocimiento y los felicitamos por sus 15 años de buena gestión en la protección de los recursos naturales de la región.

Los premios Alejandro Ángel Escobar son considerados como el más alto galardón científico del país no sólo por la alta calidad de quienes los han recibido, sino por el rigor de los jurados encargados de adjudicarlos.

En esta oportunidad, el premio se otorga en la categoría de Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible al trabajo “Estado del conocimiento de la flora silvestre en la jurisdicción de Corantioquia 2009” de JUAN LÁZARO TORO MURILLO. “esta obra es un importante ejemplo de exploración e investigación de nuestros recursos naturales, escrito en forma clara y accesible a un público amplio, sin dejar de lado la rigurosidad científica fundamental de una obra de esta índole.

La investigación surge de un esfuerzo institucional de muchos años de trabajo, el cual debe verse como el producto del amplio conocimiento del tema por parte de su autor, a raíz de su larga dedicación a su labor tanto de estudio científico de la flora antioqueña como administrativa y de gestión en CORANTIOQUIA.” Jurado de Ciencias

La Mención de Honor se otorga al “Programa de Investigación para la Gestión Integral del Agua en Colombia” del grupo Red de Cooperación en Investigación Sobre el Agua (GRECIA) liderado por GERMÁN POVEDA JARAMILLO. “Por sus invaluables aportes al conocimiento de la gestión integral del agua en Colombia.”

El Jurado de Ciencias está conformado por: Edgar Eduardo Daza, Carlos Arturo Guerrero Fonseca, Hugo Fazio Vengoa, Juan Plata Caviedes Y Santiago Madriñán Restrepo; quienes acogieron para la evaluación de los trabajos presentados criterios como Rigor, Innovación y Claridad.

La ceremonia de entrega se llevará a cabo el miércoles 27 de octubre, a las 6.30 p.m, en la sala de conciertos de la biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango, en Bogotá.