16 years of efforts led to the 100th chick fledging on April 9, 2021
12 Blue-throated Macaws fledged from six nestboxes this season
Record of 9 breeding adults with leg bands indicating that previously-fledged chicks are returning to nestboxes to reproduce
Asociación Armonía is proud to announce that, after successfully managing the Blue-throated Macaw Nido Adoptivo program for 16 years, the 100th chick fledged from one of our nest boxes into the wild on April 9th, 2021. These 100 fledged macaws constitute roughly one-fourth of the entire population of this Critically Endangered species, found only in the Beni department of Bolivia. Each new macaw that fledges is a win for conservation, but the sum of these small victories quickly becomes a significant addition to the overall population of less than 450 individuals.
The Challenges of Breeding in the Wild
The 2020-2021 breeding season got off to an uncertain start. The region was generally preoccupied with COVID, and Laney Rickman Reserve personnel battled two serious rounds of infection that significantly affected activities in the Reserve. Taking precautions, monitoring activities were carried out when possible, but the Blue-throated Macaws were left to their reproductive activities with a little less observation than usual.
The Beni region, and much of Bolivia, was also suffering from an extended dry season. Macaw breeding activities seemed like they could be put in peril. Then the first egg was found on December 15. When the rains finally came in January, nest boxes began to fill with eggs as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
As the weeks went by, excitement came from the first documentation of the presence of Red-and-green Macaws at Laney Rickman Reserve. The thrill was short-lived, however, as these macaws began to not only compete for nestboxes, but destroy the boxes by attempting to enter through the side observation door. Blue-and-yellow Macaws, previously thwarted in their attempts to occupy nestboxes when entry hole design was modified to exclude them, also attempted to gain access through destructive measures, and some 13 nestboxes were damaged during the season. Even with all of the attempted chaos, breeding activity for the Blue-throated Macaws increased by comparison with the last few years, with 13 breeding attempts, up from a previous record of nine, and six successful nests.
Competition for nestboxes this season came from both Red-and-green Macaws (first competition observation since the start of the nestbox program) and Blue-and-yellow Macaws. Photo by Teodoro Camacho.
In May, the success of one nestbox modification was unexpectedly confirmed when a tayra unabashedly climbed a post to reach a nestbox and loot its eggs. The nestbox in question happened to hold a Black-bellied Whistling Duck nest. If it had been occupied by Blue-throated Macaws, the post would have been fitted with a baffle, a protective hood that prevents climbing animals from reaching the nestbox. It was a nice reminder to continue vigilantly placing baffles at each macaw nestbox!
Each breeding season has its obstacles, and each year the challenges are slightly different. The Blue-throated Macaw’s survival in the wild depends on its ability to handle these stressors and therefore breeding in the wild prepares each new generation precisely for life in the Beni Savannas. The nestbox program’s success is especially noteworthy as it allows for increased reproductive success without the serious associated risks of raising chicks in captivity for release.
The 100th Chick
Armonía’s hopes were high for seeing the 100th Blue-throated Macaw chick fledge from the nestbox program in 2021. The macaws delivered over and above the mark! A rush of first flights happened in the first half of April, with eight chicks leaving their nests in just a few days. The long-awaited chick number 100 was one of a pair to fledge from nestbox DMS (87). Lucky nestbox DMS (87) was sponsored this year by The Paterson Family to commemorate the 100th birthday of Dot Slator, the late mother of Laney Rickman and Dorothy Paterson.
Nestbox 87 chicks. Photo by Cesar Flores, Jr.
Nestbox 87 chicks as they fill out with feathers. Photo by Cesar Flores, Jr.
For the third year in a row, a total of 12 Blue-throated Macaw chicks were raised at the Laney Rickman Reserve. A record of 13 attempts, up from the previous high of 9 attempts, were made at nesting, with six pairs of macaws successfully overcoming all the hurdles and producing healthy fledglings. Banded adults participating in the reproductive activity numbered an all-time high of 9, an extremely encouraging sign that the nestboxes will continue to be used by future generations.
Some nestboxes are preferred over others, and this year one popular nestbox SZ 3 sponsored by EARTH Ltd @Southwick’s Zoo was used for a record fifth time and for the fourth year in a row. Interestingly, this nestbox is adjacent to the Laney Rickman Reserve headquarters, making for convenient monitoring and protection.
Clutch of eggs in nestbox PBA6 (codes SZ3/#1). Photo by Cesar Flores, Jr.
Executive Director Rodrigo Soria observing the frequently-used nestbox. Photo by Suzanne Vargas.
One hundred and five fledged Blue-throated Macaw chicks shows that breeding in the wild with the supplementation of nestboxes to offset the lack of natural breeding cavities due to habitat loss is a viable conservation measure. One hundred and five chicks mean that this population has great hope of recovering with continued use of nestboxes and habitat protection.
Be part of the excitement!
Would you like to be a part of the continued recovery of the Blue-throated Macaw at the Laney Rickman Blue-throated Macaw Reserve? Your donation makes a real difference by supporting conservation measures including reforestation, creation and maintenance of firebreaks, fencing for habitat protection, and monitoring and patrolling by park rangers. Please consider supporting this special program by sponsoring a nestbox for the upcoming 2021-2022 breeding season (https://www.birdendowment.org/).
The Laney Rickman Blue-throated Macaw Reserve protects the most important breeding area for the Blue-throated Macaw. After years of supporting reproduction of the species at this site, what is now the Reserve became available for purchase in 2018, and the long-term protection of this strategic habitat was made possible with donor support. Asociación Armonía and the Laney Rickman Blue-throated Macaw Reserve nestbox program are extremely grateful to the dependable support from:
