Lear's Macaw(Anodorhynchus leari)
They are sometimes called the Indigo Macaw. They are 70–75 cm long and weighs around 950 g. The body, tail, and wings are dark blue and the head is slightly paler shade. It has an area of pale-yellow skin adjacent to the base of its beak, and orange-yellow eye rings. It has a large, blackish beak and dark grey feet. Lear's macaw is similar to the larger hyacinth macaw. The hyacinth macaw can be distinguished by its darker plumage, lack of greenish tinge, and a differently shaped patch of yellow skin adjacent to the base of the bill.
Habitat
For over a century after it had been described, the whereabouts of the wild population was unknown. It was eventually rediscovered in 1978 by ornithologist Helmut Sick in Bahia in the interior northeast of Brazil. Some thought the bird was a hybrid or variant involving the similar hyacinth macaw, but this idea was soon abandoned, as plumage, size, and proportions of Lear's macaw differ from those of its close relatives. It is known from two colonies at Toca Velha and Serra Branca, south of the Raso da Catarina plateau in northeast Bahia. In 1995, a roosting site holding 22 birds was located at Sento Sé/Campo Formoso, 200 km to the west.
Lear's macaw inhabits stands of licuri palm. This habitat, while never plentiful, is currently estimated to be around 1.6% of its original cover. Cattle that live near its nesting grounds often stand on the roots of young licuri palms, killing them, so causing a large loss of food for these birds. In fact, though the lifespan of these palms can be 30–150 years, most trees do not make it over 8–10 years. Lear's macaw also requires a sandstone cliff in which to nest. To nest there, they apply their saliva to the sandstone which softens it, then excavate small crevasses using their beaks and scrape the dust out of their soon-to-be nests with their feet.
Diet
The bulk of the Lear's Macaw's diet consists of the nuts of the native Licurí Palm – another factor that contributes to the bird's limited distribution. Licurí Palms are often cut down or burned to make way for farm fields, and domestic livestock, especially goats, browse young trees to the ground before they can regrow. Each Lear's Macaw may eat up to 350 Licurí nuts each day, using its large, strong beak to crack open the hard shells. Other fruits and seeds, agave flowers, and cultivated crops, particularly corn, supplement this bird's diet when palm nuts are scarce. Lear's Macaws are messy eaters, constantly dropping seeds to the ground as they feed in small groups. In this way, the parrots help to sustain the trees they depend upon.
Breeding
Most breeding activities have been observed between February and April; although they may start breeding as early as December and nest as late as May. Lear's Macaws are not as prolific as other bird species, and not all pairs may breed. They reach reproductive maturity when they are about 2 to 4 years old. The Lear's Macaws generally nest high in steep limestone cliffs. They soften the sandstone by applying their saliva to it. Then they excavate small crevasses with their beaks and clean the dirt out with their feet. They nest in colonies, although the nests are not within sight of each other. They will defend their nests from predators and competitors. The clutch consists of 1 - 2 eggs, each measuring 57.0 x 38.4 mm. The survival rate of the eggs and the chicks is low, as they are predated on, are poached, or succumb to diseases. The nesting female will leave the nest only for short periods to feed as the young are depending on her for warmth and feeding. Once the young have developed protective feathers, she will stay away for longer periods. During the night, both parents will roost in the nesting cavity. Those that make it to the fledging age (at about 3 months) will remain with their parents for some time after leaving the nest. The weeks before fledging, the young grow increasingly inquisitive and they are often seen peeking out of their nesting cavities, which makes them particularly vulnerable to poachers.
Population
According to the IUCN Red List, they are classed as Endangered(EN). The most recent population estimate is of 1,694 individuals in 2018 (ICMBio 2018). A study in 2010 found that 20.3% of individuals were reproductively active. The population is therefore placed in the band 250-999 mature individuals. The species underwent a long-term historical decline due to trapping, but population estimates remained fairly stable following its rediscovery in the wild in 1978 until the mid 1990s, when numbers began to increase rapidly. While this may partly reflect improvements in survey methodology, there also has been a genuine population increase owing to intensive conservation efforts.
Threats
The historical decline has been attributed to habitat clearance for agriculture, hunting and trapping. The main factor currently limiting the population size is believed to be a reduction of food resources, especially licurí. Habitat is cleared for the subsistence cultivation of maize, beans and cassava and for large-scale livestock grazing. Licurí palm-stands formerly covered 250,000 km2 but have been vastly reduced by livestock-grazing. Vegetation is cleared through burning, which tends to have little control. A major fire could now eradicate most of the food supply for the Toca Velha-Serra Branca population. The extraction of firewood and timber also pose threats. In 1992-1995, 20 birds were caught and sold to smugglers from Toca Velha-Serra Branca, and in 1996 at least 19 individuals were taken. The threat of live-capture for trade, both domestic and international, continues, but has been significantly reduced. Birds are occasionally persecuted for foraging on maize crops when palm nuts are scarce. Hunting for food and wildlife products are potential threats.
Conservation
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II and protected by Brazilian law. Considered nationally Endangered in Brazil (Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade 2018). There are two conservation units within the species's range, with more in the process of becoming recognised. An action plan was published in 2006 (IBAMA 2006), with a second edition published in 2012. Infiltration of trading networks and improved surveillance at breeding sites has resulted in arrests of poachers, smugglers and collectors. The Toca Velha-Serra Branca cliffs are guarded. Research has been undertaken on the licuri palm and licurí palm seedlings have been grown and planted. Comprehensive monitoring is underway, along with an education and awareness programme and ecotourism. There are plans to study the species's feeding ecology, reproductive biology, movements and habitat use. Local people have been recruited as guards and ecotourist guides, or trained to participate in censuses. Health surveys are being carried on to identify carriers for known psittacine pathogens among the population by sampling nestlings, with preliminary findings indicating a stable host-pathogen system. A scheme to reimburse farmers for maize lost to macaws was begun in 2005. There is a captive population and breeding programme. Two individuals were released at Jeremoabo in 2008 as a test of captive-breeding methods.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue annual population censuses. Ensure the de factoprotection of all known populations. Create further protected areas within the species's range. Restore degraded areas of habitat. Enhance existing nest sites to prevent premature fledging of chicks. Continue to compensate farmers for crop losses. Incentivise the planting of licuri and other food source plants. Continue environmental education programme. Promote sustainble methods of licuri management. Continue and expand the programme of growing and planting seedlings of caatinga plants, including licurí. Enforce legal measures, especially through local patrolling to prevent trapping and increase the severity of penalties for those caught. Monitor trafficking of birds, both within Brazil and internationally. Confiscate all birds from trade, integrating them into breeding programmes. Evaluate potential sites for the release of confiscated and captive bred birds throughout historic range. Promote the sustainable extraction of caatinga natural resources.