Conserving Ecuador’s Great Green Macaw

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Tara

A few years ago, I saw the Great-Green Macaw in Costa Rica and was aware that a smaller subspecies existed in Ecuador. I was hoping to see them at Cerro Blanco but this didn’t happen, they are just too rare and the populations are very fragmented. The Ecuadorians are very keen to protect this bird and proudly display their image when entering the country at Guayaquil airport.

DSCN0319 They are the emblem of Bosque Cerro Blanco shown on the logo and in artwork around the park. Conservation efforts have been increased to save the bird in both Cerro Blanco and Rio Canande. DSCN0337 DSCN0366

Here are some videos showing conservation efforts in Cerro Blanco (Spanish).

My Top Twenty-Five Bird Sightings Of 2013

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Tara

Following on from last year’s post in which I highlighted only parrot sightings, this year I have expanded to all bird species. There were just so many birds who made a major impression on me! I have also increased the number to 25 since we did 3 birding trips this year. I didn’t always get good shots so I will put my own photo when I got one. Some of them were pretty quick! They are being presented in chronological order.

1. Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) – seen at Nimbokrang & Waigeo, Indonesia; March 2013

2. Lesser Bird-of-paradise, (Paradisaea minor) – seen at Nimbokrang, Indonesia; March 2013

I couldn’t get a photo as he stayed in the trees so here’s one taken in Jurong Bird park, Singapore.

3. Victoria Crowned Pigeon (Goura victoria) – seen at Nimbokrang, Indonesia; March 2013

Victoria Crowned Pigeons, Nimbokrang

4. Western or Arfak Parotia (Parotia sefilata) – seen at Siyoubring, Indonesia, March 2013 I’ll never forget this feathered Lord of the Dance trying so hard to woo 3 aloof females!

One female Western Parotia comes in for a closer look while the male shows his best moves. There were a couple other females higher up in the branches.

5. Vogelkop Bowerbird (Amblyornis inornata) – seen at Siyoubring, Indonesia, March 2013

OK lady Bowerbirds, come and check out my awesome bower!

6. Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus) – seen near Nimbokrang and on Waigeo Island, Indonesia, March 2013

7. Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise, (Cicinnurus respublica) – seen on Waigeo Island, Indonesia in March 2013. This little guy played hard-to-get with the camera.

Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise, Cicinnurus respublica

8. Red Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea rubra) – seen on Waigeo Island, Indonesia , March 2013.

Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra), Waigeo- dancing in the trees

9. Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis) – seen at Crooked Tree, Belize, Tikal, Laguna del Lagarto, Carara, Soberania, August 2013. This was the first parrot we saw after arriving in Central America so I chose him to represent all the Amazon species seen all over Central America.

Red-lored Amazon or Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis)

10. Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) – seen at Crooked Tree, Belize, Tikal, Selva Verde, Laguna del Lagarto, Soberania, August 2013

11. Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) – seen at Selva Verde & Laguna del Lagarto, Costa Rica, August 2013

12. Golden-hooded Tanager (Tangara larvata) – seen at Laguna del Lagarto, Costa Rica, August 2013.

13. Brown-hooded Parrot (Pyrilia haematotis) – seen at Laguna del Lagarto, Costa Rica, August 2013.

14. Collared Araçari (Pteroglossus torquatus) – seen at Selva Verde, Laguna del Lagarto, Costa Rica, Soberania. August 2013.

15. Hummingbirds (all of them) – seen at Laguna del Lagarto, Monteverde, Savegre, Soberania. There is no way I can single out one species, they are all spectacular!

16. Chestnut-coloured Woodpecker (Celeus castaneus) – seen at Laguna del Lagarto, Costa Rica, August 2013

17. Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) – seen at Monteverde (Curi Cancha) & Savegre. I will never forget both sightings of this stunning bird! The first one because I found him by myself and the 2nd one because there were several of them and they hung around a while so I could watch them.

18. Sulphur-winged Parakeet (Pyrrhura hoffmanni) – seen at Savegre, Costa Rica, August 2013

I haven’t started the India & Sri Lanka series yet, we only got back a few weeks ago and I have been playing catch-up. These birds will be covered first thing in the New Year. The photos are a sneak-peek!

19. Malabar Parakeet (Psittacula columboides) – seen in Coorg, India; Nov. 2013. This time there were only fleeting glimpses of a flock flying overhead so the photo is one I took in 2011 in Kerala.

20. White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) – seen at Kithulgala, Sri Lanka. Dec 2013.

21. Layard’s Parakeet (Psittacula calthropae) – seen at Kithulgala & Sinharaja, Sri Lanka. Dec 2013. They were swift flyers and refused to perch & pose.

22. Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot (Loriculus beryllinus) – seen at Kithulgala, Sri Lanka. Dec 2013. At least he posed, albeit with the sun behind him!

23. Alexandrine Parakeet – (Psittacula eupatria) – seen at Kithulgala & Sinharaja, Sri Lanka. Dec 2013.

24. Malabar Trogon (Harpactes fasciatus) – seen at Sinharaja, Sri Lanka. Dec 2013. He only let me get one shot before turning his back.

25. Sri Lanka Blue Magpie or Ceylon Magpie (Urocissa ornata) – seen at Sinharaja, Sri Lanka. Dec 2013.

I didn’t get a photo of them since they stayed in the trees so here’s one from Wikipedia.

Hotel Punta Islita (Near Ara Project) Available With Marriott Points

Posted on December 8, 2013 by Tara

The Ara Project had been located in Alajuela for years but were recently served an eviction notice. They eventually found a new home on Punta Islita and have been working hard to get a new breeding centre and release site up and running. They are anticipating a “reveal” with a new website on 15 Dec, 2013.

The good news for miles & points collectors is that the nearest hotel, Hotel Punta Islita; to their new location is available with Marriott Reward points. It’s a beautiful property and a great place to take the whole family as there are plenty of activities to occupy those who are less interested in bird watching.

Hotel Punta Islita Spa

Hotel Punta Islita is easily accessible from both Liberia International and San Jose International airports. Local 40 minute flights service the regional Islita Airstrip, including private charters. For those who prefer to drive, Hotel Punta Islita can be reached through a good road network connecting with Costa Rica’s main cities. Land transportation takes about two hours from Liberia and about three and half hours from San Jose. Here you see the location (red star) in reference to the cruise ship port of Puntarenas, the airport at Alajuela & the capital, San Jose.

The most recent program involves a full partnership with The Ara Project. Jumpstarted in the 1980’s by a retired expat American couple The Ara Project is now staffed by a dedicated group of scientists, administrators, and volunteers who have successfully reintroduced close to a hundred red and green macaw specimens in three wildlife release sites in Costa Rica. Hotel Punta Islita is proud to host the program’s headquarters, donating a plot of land, a specialized aviary cage, living quarters for a biologist, and the biologist’s wages. The recently- inaugurated Lapa Lookout is an education and viewing center where guests can learn and participate in the recovery and release efforts.

Rooms start at $203 USD which is not bad for such a posh hotel.

You will need 30,000 Marriott Rewards points for a free night here and other than the holiday season, availability looks really good! If you are new to birding and would like to be introduced to the hobby gently, or your spouse/partner/family wants other activites while you go birding, this is a great choice!

An Afternoon At The Ara Project, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Posted on December 7, 2013 by Tara

Founded in 1989, the Ara Project (ARA) is a Costa Rican licensed zoological park and non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of the two native macaw species of Costa Rica: the critically endangered Great Green or Buffon’s Macaw (Ara ambiguus) and the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao).

ARA promotes macaw conservation, contributes to the scientific community, encourages the protection of tropical forests, and educates the public to assure the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Naturally I was very keen to visit them and see how their breeding centre is run. They have some macaws who are destined to fly free again in the wild and some who are injured or not healthy enough to survive in the wild so need to be housed in a sanctuary. Although they have had their Alajuela facility for many years, their landlord has evicted them and forced them to find a new location. They are in the process of moving to Punta Islita and by the time you read this, they may have already relocated. If you want to visit them, please contact them on their website to arrange the details.

These photos are of my visit in August 2013 to the Alajuela facility which is very near the airport; with Jenny very kindly giving us a hasty tour of the Scarlet Macaws & Great Green Macaws before the heavens opened up with a torrential downpour. It’s amazing what they can do to help these birds! If you visit them, please be generous with a donation, even if you can’t visit, donation details are below the photos.

This video shows what it’s like to release Macaws back into the wild. What a great feeling this must be!

Please, support our work by donating today:

http://www.razoo.com/story/The-Ara-Project

Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus)

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Tara

The Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) is also known as Buffon’s Macaw or the Great Military Macaw. Two allopatric subspecies are recognized, the nominate subspecies is found in Central America to northern Colombia, while A. a. guayaquilensis is found in western Ecuador and possibly south-western Colombia.

The photo above from Wikipedia shows the bird up close in all his glory. I wasn’t so lucky with my photography as both my sightings were at a distance and came out blurry. At least I got to see them which was exciting in itself!

This macaw has a very limited range in Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador. Costa Rica has the easiest places to see them in the Selva Verde/Sarapiqui area and near the Nicaraguan border at Laguna del Lagarto. Use a Central American award to San Jose, Costa Rica.

Great Green Macaws are the largest parrots in their natural range, averaging 85–90 cm (33–36 in) long and 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) in weight. They are mainly green and have a reddish forehead and pale blue lower back, rump and upper tail feathers. Tail is brownish red tipped with very pale blue. The bare facial skin is patterned with lines of small dark feathers, which are reddish in older and female parrots.

They are highly endangered and there are several conservation groups working to preserve them in the wild. If you would like to help this fantastic macaw survive, please visit these projects’ websites.

WORLD PARROT TRUST
WPT has provided support in the form of funds ($15,000 US) through the Great Green Macaw Fund.
Also see: http://www.parrots.org/index.php/ourwork/greatgreenmacaw/

Links to Other Project(s):
http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2005/07/great_green_macaw.html

http://www.thearaproject.org/project.php

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PARROT

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

Wikipedia

VIDEO

This was filmed near the Selva Verde Lodge. I wish I had a camera crew like this! The host, James Currie of Birding Adventures talks about a conservation project to protect the nesting trees of the macaws.

Great Green Macaw Reintroduction – The Ara Project

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Tara

Later this year, we will be going to Costa Rica and a few other places in Central America for birding. One of the biggest problems facing wild birds, especially parrots which can be sold to the black market pet trade is poaching. Organizations such as the Ara Project are trying to save what’s left of the remaining population of Great Green Macaws by breeding them and releasing them into the wild. If you plan to be in Costa Rica, they are presently located in Alajuela but due to an eviction by the landlord they are moving to Punta Islita.

Hatched To Fly Free

They also need volunteers which would not only be very rewarding but a lot of fun while you help to conserve these beautiful, endangered macaws. More details on their website. Don’t forget to download the Lonely Planet book about volunteering to help you get started!

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