Distribution, abundance, and conservation of a threatened parrot, the Vinaceous Amazon, Amazona vinacea, in Argentina and Paraguay

COCKLE K; CAPUZZI G; BODRATI A; CLAY R; DEL CASTILLO H; VELÁZQUEZ M; ARETA JI; FARIÑA N; FARIÑA R

JOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY

Año: 2007 p. 21 - 39

0273-8570

Vinaceous Amazons (Amazona vinacea) are endemic to the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil,eastern Paraguay, and the province of Misiones in Argentina. We searched for Vinaceous Amazons throughout thewestern part of its range in Argentina and Paraguay during 1639 days of fieldwork from1997 to 2006. These parrotshave disappeared from most areas where they were historically recorded in these countries, and are now limitedto a few sites in northeastern Paraguay and central Misiones (Argentina). We estimate the minimum remainingpopulations at 220 individuals in Paraguay and 203 individuals in Argentina. Important sites for the species are (1)the farming area from San Pedro to Tobuna (Misiones, Argentina) and (2) the Itaip´u reserves complex and ReservaNatural Privada Itab´o (Paraguay). In our surveys, Vinaceous Amazons were absent from the largest tracts of forest inMisiones, and were most often observed feeding, roosting, and nesting in small forest remnants and in agriculturalareas that included forest fragments and isolated trees. Threats to amazons in these areas include nest poaching, forestclearing, and being shot as a crop pest. We confirmed 40 Vinaceous Amazons kept as pets in 35 homes betweenSan Pedro and Tobuna. Environmental education and law enforcement are urgently needed to reduce threats inpopulated areas, and subsistence farmers need technical and logistical support to slow or stop the conversion offorest into cropland. Finally, additional study is needed to determine this amazon’s habitat preferences, nest siterequirements, and demography in different habitats.