June 2018
Dear Supporter ,
Heavy winds, rains and lots of thunder are having the parrots cuddle up to stay warm and dry. What an exciting thought that they aren’t just keeping themselves warm, but beneath their dry feathers, they nurture Hope; cute, featherless, pink bundles of joy!
I hope you have been as excited to hear about this season’s parrot adventures as I am to finally share them with you. You support really does Give Hope to these magnificent birds and I would like to thank you again for making all of this happen.
Sending you warmth and gratitude from Costa Rica!
Best wishes,
Sarah Williams
Development Director
The Ara Project
Life in the Wild [Wild Great Green Macaws]
It’s been a busy breeding season not only for the wild Great Green Macaws of Costa Rica but also for our field biologist, Jack. He has been in the heart of the Macaw’s range in the north of Costa Rica, monitoring breeding activity and behavior as part of the Great Green Macaw recovery program led by Dr. Sam Williams.
Thanks to the generous support of Indianapolis zoo, Jack was able to successfully carry out a study from February to May over a 1,200km2 area. This data collection is helping us gain a better understanding of the conservation strategies needed to protect one of the last remaining strongholds of these endangered parrots.
Here is a breakdown of Jack’s findings from the 2018 Great Green Macaw breeding season:
98 sites were visited in total
15 of which were new sites located this year
25 cavities were found to be active
12 of which showed evidence of successful fledging before the end of the field work
1 nest was unsuccessful, likely due to predation
9 cavities were found to be now unusable as the trees were no longer standing
1 chick was rescued after a failed fledging and was successfully returned to the wild
Being able to witness these endangered, majestic Macaws in the wild, is a spectacular sight, one that Megan Hill, our media communications officer, can recall so vividly. Make sure to read her entrancing article about the moment she encountered 15 wild Great green Macaws!
“As we continued, we headed down a hill into a secluded patch of forest that opened up to reveal one of the largest tree cavities I had ever seen. The huge opening was large enough for a man to stand in, with room to spare, and I can only think that it must have been just as impressively deep too. Soon, an evening mist started to roll in through the trees, creating an enchanted forest, that you could only imagine existing in fairy tales. Even if I didn’t see any Great Green macaws I would still have been happy to be in such a beautiful area. As we got nearer, we found an enclosed patch of forest and we settled into position, hiding behind bushes and ferns trying to mask our presence. After waiting for what only felt like a couple of minutes, we heard that familiar “Squawk, Squawk” that we had been chasing all day.” Continue reading…..
Love triumphs all! [Breeding center]
The team are buzzing with energy, the air filled with love and to everyone’s delight, six days ago saw the fifth cherished chick hatch at the Breeding and Release center in Punta Islita.
One story, in particular, has captured the hearts of the team. That of Mufasa and Sarabi, a Scarlet Macaw couple whose love has triumphed through their troublesome past. The pair were confiscated by MINAE in 2004 from a home in San Jose, where they were found in a tiny cage that was unsuitable for one Macaw, let alone two. Sadly, due to their inability to fly, the couple were unable to be released into the wild.
The next best thing was to give them a home at The Ara Project, where Mufasa and Sarabi now enjoy a life of happiness and health in their spacious, private aviary. Not only that, but they could also help their species by having chicks that would be released into the wild.
Their love has now been taken to a new level as they have become proud parents to a healthy chick. This precious Scarlet chick is named Jonathan, in honor of the father of team member Fritha who lost his life earlier this year in a tragic accident. This adorable chick is now five weeks old, has started growing his famous brightly colored feathers and is using his newly opened eyes to curiously take in his surroundings.
Despite Mufasa and Sarabi’s difficult past, they are excellent parents, and they ensure that Jonathan is happy and healthy at all times. Thankfully, this chick won’t have to experience the ordeal that his parents went through, because once old enough, he will be released into the wild, to fly free above the canopy of the dry forest.
Make sure to stay tuned for more exciting news about Jonathan on his road to release.
Did you miss our video about this year’s released macaws?
Don’t worry, you can still check it out today!
Islita Heartbreak [Poaching]
Poaching for the illegal pet trade is the second largest reason why Macaw numbers have declined so rapidly in the last 50 years in Costa Rica. Despite laws against owning native species as pets and the penalty of jail, poaching is still very prevalent here. We have been doing all we can to fight this issue and for many years we have been successful.
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, this breeding season a two-week-old wild chick was stolen from a nest in Punta Islita. This was heartbreaking news for everyone involved and the local community, authorities and ourselves are working tirelessly to pursue the investigation in hopes of finding the guilty party.
This type of wildlife crime requires us to constantly create new and innovative ways to protect these vulnerable parrots, and this involves our continued investment of time and resources. We hope that through your (monthly) gift we can ensure safer nests for the next generation of wild macaws.
Your gift will prevent further chicks being stolen from their homes.
Tres Amigos [Apprentice Program]
We would like to congratulate team members Conleth, Connor, and Brittany on their completion of the Great Green Macaw breeding program Apprenticeship. Over the past 7 months, these three talented conservation enthusiasts have gained invaluable experience. Their work here has taught them all about the responsibilities of caring for an endangered species and how to run a conservation program.
The skills that they have acquired have already helped further their careers in conservation. Conleth will be moving to Bolivia to work with the critically endangered Blue-throated Macaws at Conservación de Loros de Bolivia. And Connor is pursuing a career back in his home country of England where he will be working with the local wildlife and landscapes.
Brittany will be staying with The Ara Project, taking over the role from current head bird keeper, Ana, who is off on a new adventure in the form of academia. Ana will be truly missed on site by the team and most importantly the birds. We wish her, Conleth and Connor all the luck in their new adventures as conservationists.
Ana Macaw [Team Story]
“It’s a flurry of red feathers and it makes no sense, at least to my eyes. Before me is an aviary with a newly combined flock of Scarlet Macaws and next to me is Ana, The Ara Project’s Bird Manager. We are observing the birds’ interactions, but they look remarkably similar to each other and can be difficult to identify. I point to a nearby bird and apprehensively comment, “That’s Cooper, right?” Ana glances at the bird and gently says, “No, that’s Harry, Cooper’s over in the corner next to Owen.”
The Ara Project’s breeding and release site could not exist without the incredible help of our dedicated volunteers just like Ana. Working at The Ara Project gives you the opportunity to learn about and work closely with some incredibly beautiful and charismatic parrots, meet people from all over the world and experience Costa Rican life and culture outside of the tourist traps. If this sounds like an adventure you want to be a part of, make sure to find out more here.
Scarlet Macaws @ Ara Project. Photo © Stephanie Cope