"Missing"
South American Parrot Rediscovered After 90 years, Photographed For the First Time
July
28, 2003, researchers with ProAves Colombia, supported by
American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and the World Parrot Trust
(WPT), photographed one of the world's rarest parrots in the
high Andes of Colombia confirming the survival of this long
lost species. Colombian ornithologists Jorge Velasquez and
Alonso Quevedo found a flock of 14 Fuertes's Parrots in a
remote area of the central Andes close to Los Nevados National
Park.
Ninety one years ago, in August
1911, two bird collectors from the American Museum of Natural
History in New York - Leo Miller and Arthur Allen - visited
the same volcano as Jorge and Alonso to explore its birdlife.
They spent several months in the desolate high Andean wilderness,
and discovered a "distinct and interesting" parrot
that was previously unknown to science. The birds were described
the following year and named Hapalopsittaca fuertesi, or Fuertes's
Parrot, also called the 'Multicolored Parrot' by local farmers.
Between the original discovery and this July, the continued
existence of this intriguing species has remained a mystery
with no confirmed sightings of the bird. Last year, ProAves
Colombia, a Colombian bird conservation group, decided to
mount a determined search for the species to see whether
it could be located and protected. The group was supported
by Dr. Paul Salaman, an expert in Colombian ornithology from
the British Museum of Natural History, and received initial
funding from American Bird Conservancy and the World Parrot
Trust. The project, which also studied another rare Andean
parrot, the Rusty-faced Parrot, has subsequently attracted
additional support from Fundación Natura, Conservation
International, The British Natural History Museum, and Instituto
de Ciencias Naturales - Universidad Nacional de Colombia,
and recently won the Gold Award at this year's prestigious
British Petroleum International Conservation Awards.
To date, just 14 Fuertes's Parrots, including 3 juveniles,
have been discovered, surviving in just a few dozen hectares
of forest. The critical requirements of the species appear
to be tall mature trees, where they feed on berries amongst
the epiphyte-laden canopy branches and find vital nesting
cavities. Jorge Velasquez has stated "my team's task
has only just begun, as we must commence the vital job of
protecting the species with great urgency." Now the researchers
know the specific habitat preferences and diet of the parrot,
it is hoped that they can locate and protect other surviving
flocks in the region.
"From
our experience with the critically endangered Yellow-eared
Parrot, another species restricted to the Colombian Andes,
we know that conservation efforts for these rare birds can
succeed. We now need to gain the support of as many people
as possible to help fund and implement a comprehensive conservation
effort" said Mike Parr, Vice President for Program Development
at American Bird Conservancy, and author of Parrots: A Guide
to Parrots of the World.
"The re-discovery of the long-lost
Fuertes's Parrot is a great achievement for ornithologists
and conservationists in Colombia, and underscores the fact
that so many parrots linger on the brink of extinction. ProAves'
accomplishment will inspire desperately needed conservation
work in the Andes, promoting the recovery of this parrot and
many other species unique to the region," said James
Gilardi, Ph.D., Director of the World Parrot Trust.
Click photos for high resolution copies.
Photographs may be only reproduced with inclusion of text
"Rediscoverd Fuertes's Parrot, Hapalopsittaca fuertesi.
Photo by Jorge Velasquez. ©2002 Fundacion ProAves - Colombia."
For further information, or to express
interest to help, please contact Mike Parr, ABC, 202 234-7181
ext. 204, or James Gilardi, WPT, 530 756 6340.
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