We have a historical record of the Rusty-faced Parrots (Hapalopsittaca amazonina), 6 active nests with up to 3 chicks between March and June, in late March the first occupation was recorded and the first chicks were recorded in early June. In May, the count of 79 individuals was performed in the usual monitoring site in the Colibrí del Sol Bird Reserve, they never had numbered that amount before.
After three successful years with the occupation of 4 nests between 2012 and 2013, in 2014, and after maintenance work, we double this figure with 6 occupied nests.
The maintenance tasks include changes in the shape of the nests and location sites of these places trying to find the right height. Changes were performed in the size and shape of the cavities that allow entry to the nest, and annual maintenance, where the sawdust inside is replaced at the end of the breeding season so that new couples find them suitable.
The Rusty-faced Parrot (Hapalopsittaca amazonina) is categorized as Vulnerable, primarily due to the small size of its population and the loss and fragmentation of its natural habitat caused by the expansion of the agricultural frontier in the Andean forest; for their protection, in 2005, ProAves created the Colibrí del Sol Bird Reserve, with the support of American Bird Conservancy.
The reserve is located on the western flank of the Western Cordillera in the geographic system Páramo de Frontino, in the municipality of Urrao, Antioquia. It was created to conserve the habitat of the Dusky Starfrontlet (Coligena orina) and other endemic birds in the Páramo del Sol area, it has an area of 1806 acres of forest and high Andean paramo, between 2400 and 3750 m
This reproductive success is thanks to the initial support provided in 2008, by The Zoological Society For The Conservation Of Species And Populations (ZGAP) that allowed the preliminary study of the natural history of the species in Colombia and project continuity provided by Loro Parque Foundación and American Bird Conservancy.
The populations of Rusty-faced Parrot (Hapalopsittaca amazonina) have increased in recent years; this can be evidenced in the records of the monthly monitoring performed in Colibri del Sol Bird Reserve, reaching a historical record in May 2014 where a count of 79 individuals was performed in the usual monitoring site, never before have they numbered that amount.
To prevent the extinction of a species of parrot in Colombia, you can support us through the online donation program Adopt a Nestbox, which is sponsoring the exploration, construction, monitoring and assessment of natural nests and artificial nestboxes during a year for some of the most endangered parrot species in the country. To make a donation, simply click here to complete the adoption form.