FEATURE
sites, leading to confirmation of the most important nesting areas. A population census of free flying parrots on Ometepe in July- August 2018 resulted in 1,869 Yellow- naped Amazons, 2,562 Northern Mealy Amazons (Amazona guatemalae) and 1,402 individuals of other species of Psittacidae. During 2018, anti-poaching efforts were
focused on the protection of 52 nests in the four priority areas, and hatchlings from 26 nests successfully fledged. Five nests were illegally poached and the rest were unsuccessful due to natural predation or loss. In collaboration with the local community, the project has protected over 100 hectares of forest in the Peña Inculta (one third of its total area) from deforestation and is protecting Yellow-naped Amazon nests to prevent specimens from entering the illegal market for this species. During the census, a household survey collected data on parrots in captivity and the status of their health, highlighting the communities across Ometepe where this practice is prevalent. Surveys were conducted in 688 households on Ometepe (50% of households per community, across nine communities). The findings showed that 27% of households have at least one parrot in captivity as a pet, and of the species found to be in captivity, 44% were Orange-chinned Parakeets (Brotogeris jugularis) and 40% were Yellow-naped Amazons. From questioning the owners, the estimated age of these
parrots is between three and five years old, which means that few chicks are in captivity. This suggests that they have not been extracted in recent years, which may be due to LOCO’s successful presence in the communities over the last four years. The survey also discovered that allegedly many poachers come to La Palma to extract eggs and chicks from their nests and smuggle them out of Ometepe Island, and this is an issue to be investigated further. People from 25 families engaged with
the project to promote conservation and protection of the Yellow-naped Amazon, and community-led patrols have been accompanied by local authorities (Ministry of Environment, National Police and Naval Force) in five separate patrols to assist in stopping the illegal trade of the species. These patrols provided support to the group by adding to the awareness activities that have been carried out in the Peña Inculta
Crater lake encircled by forest on Volcán Maderas. © L. Davis BIRD SCENE 29
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