PROMOTING EXCELLENCEIN PARROT CONSERVATION

AVICULTURE AND WELFARE

The World Parrot Trust VoI.9 No.4 November1997

CAROLINA MEDAL AWARDEDTO TUE ECUOPARAKEET TEAMIn ourFebruary1997editionof

PsittaSceneweannouncedtheWorldParrotTrust'sintentiontomakeanannualawardofTheCarolinaMedalfor 'outstandingachievementin parrotconservation'.TheWPTtrusteesconsideredthatsuchanawardwouldbenefittheparrots,first,byencouragingInitiativesin thisratherspecialisedareaof conservation,andsecond,byprovidinganopportunitytopublicisetheplightof theparrotsaroundtheworld.TheCarolinaMedalcanbewonin

fourdifferentcategories:'Research& Management',whicheffectivelycoversmostfield andveterinaryactivity;'Education',whichiscapableof includingawiderangeofeducationalactivities,targetedatschools,themedia,birdkeepersetc;'AviculturalEndeavours',whichopensthedoorfor manyconservation-mindedaviculturists;and'WelfarePractices',anopportunityfor all concernedabouthowparrotsaretreated.WhentheWPTtrusteescameto

reviewingthepotentialawardwinners,It seemedclearthat,for thefirstCarolinaMedalatleast,thewinnerwaslikely tocomefromamongthosepeopleandorganisationsworkingonpreservingthreatenedparrotspeciesin thewild. ApartfromtheparrotfieldprojectssupportedbytheWorld

, ,psittacine(sit'it sin) Belongingor allied to the , ,parrots; parrot-like

ParrotTrustitself,therearemanyotherprojectsaroundtheworldwhichhavemeritanddeserveencouragement.Quiteafewofthese,however,sufferfromshortagesof fundsorexpertise,eitherof whichtendto removethemfromcontentionfor an award.EveryyeartheWPTreceives

invitationsto fundavarietyofparrot-relatedfield studies,mostofwhichhaveconsiderablevalueintermsof gatheringornithologicaldata. Quiteoften,however,thesestudiesdonotleadontovalidconservationactionof directbenefittoparrotspecies.Pureornithologyis oftenfundedby largecharitiesandinstitutionswhicharenot

The Echo ParakeetTeam1997/98(left to right): SarahJaneBarbe,Arantxa Laliandi, Marc Pierard,Andrew Smart,Audrey Reynolds,

Malcolm Nicoll, Mike Reynolds,LanceWollover, Kirsty Swinnerton,Grant Harper.Carl Jones,PeteHaverson,Mike Thorsen,NickReynolds,Kathryn Murray, Kirsty Jenkin,FrederiquedeRavel

I If we can save the parrots, we may yet save ourselves @WPTI

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Echo Parakeetfeeding from the supplementalhopper.

necessarilyinterestedin theparrotconservationandwelfareobjectiveslistedin the'Aimsof theWorldParrotTrust'(seepage15for areminder).As aresultof exposuretomanyapplicationsfor fundingwhichfail to meetourcriteria,wehavelearnedto identifythoseprojectsthatundoubtedlydeservetoreceivethelimitedandpreciousprojectfundsavailableto theWorldParrotTrust.

ECHOSHIGHONLIST

Highonthelist of suchprojectsistheongoingworkin MauritiustorescuetheEchoParakeetPsittaculaeques. It hasreceivedfinancialsupportfromtheTrustsince1990,andcontinuesto beoursinglemostimportantcommitment.Underthedirectionof Dr.Carllones,aninternationalteamof expertsandvolunteershaslabouredmightilytobringtheEchoParakeetfromaIowpointof 8tol2 birdsin 1987toatotalof 80+bytheendof 1996.Thishasbeenachievedby

effective'management'.Thisdescribesanarrayof methodsdesignedto enhancetheprospectsof breedingsuccessfor theparakeets.Forexample,whenitbecameclearthatratsweredepredatingnests,biologistswithexpertisein trappingexoticrodentswerebroughtin. Whenit wasfoundthatchickswerebeingattackedby tropicalnestflymaggots,everywild nestwithchickswascheckedeverydayanditsnestmaterialreplacedwith newmaterialcontaininganappropriateinsecticide.In 1996first clutcheswereremovedandsuccessfullyincubatedandhand-reared.Severalof thewild pairsre-cycled.Doubleclutchingwill continuewiththemostprolificpairs,andeveryeffort

is madetoensurethateachpairfledgesatleastoneyoung. WhenahurricanestruckMauritiusin 1996theteamwentoutandremovedchicksin dangerof beinglost,andbroughtthemin to theBlackGorgesaviariestobereared.Othertechniquesemployedincludehabitatimprovement,supplementaryfeeding,andnestcavityimprovement.Thislevelof wildlife management

canonlybeachievedbyexceptionalexperience,intuition,andleadership.Carlloneshasdemonstratedthesequalitiespreviouslyin Mauritius,first bybringingtheMauritiusKestrelfromonly4 specimensto over450- 500birdstoday,andthenby savingthePinkPigeonfromextinction. In1991therewereonly 10wildpigeons,butby late1997therewere330freelivingbirds. If hehadnotbeenin apositionto startworkontheEchoParakeetit isverylikelythatthisbirdwouldnowbeextinct.

UNANIMOUSCHOICE

Forall thesereasonsandmore,thetrusteesof TheWorldParrotTrustwereunanimousin choosingtoawardthefirst everCarolinaMedalto Carllones,togetherwith all thosewhohaveworkedwithhim ontheconservationof theEchoParakeet.Theteamhasbenefitedfromthe

inputof manytalentedpersonnel.Themanagementof thecaptivebirdshasbeenledby KirstySwinnerton,FrederiquedeRavelandRegisLam. Theworkin thefield hasbeendevelopedbyKevinDuffy,Tim Lovegrove,RachelShortenandMikeThorsen,andthereleaseworkwaspioneeredbyKathrynMurray.Somanyothershavecontributedto theconservationworkthatit is notpracticalto list

Photo: KathrynA. Murray

themall.Themanagementandconservation

of theEchoParakeetisajointprojectof theMauritianWildlifeFoundationandtheNationalParksandConservationService,Governmentof Mauritius. Theworkin 1996/97wassponsoredbyUNDP,WorldParrotTrustUK,WorldParrotTrustUSA,lerseyWildlifePreservationTrust,WildlifePreservationTrustCanada,InternationalAviculturistsSociety,andMauritianWildlifeFoundation.SponsorsalsoincludedtheIrisDarntonFoundation,InternationalZooVeterinaryGroup,ZenecaUK,theParrotSociety(UK),TheKeithEwartCharitableTrustandothersupportingorganisationsandindividuals.It isplannedtopresentthe

CarolinaMedalto Dr.CarllonesinLondonduring1998.In themeantime,theWorldParrotTrustinvitesnominationsfromanysourcefor anawardtobeannouncedinNovember1998.ClosingdateisAugust11998. Pleasewriteformoreinformationandnominationformsto10Pagan,Administrator,WPT,GlanmorHouse,Hayle,,.CornwallUK,TR274HY. ., .,The careful but innovativedevelopment of the EchoProgrammewas well illustratedbetween1995 and 1997 by aseries of trial releases.Otherparrot releaseshave often notbeensuccessful,andthisisa vitalareafor psittacineconservation,whereit is essentialwediscover

andrefinereleasetechniques.SeeKathrynMurray'sarticle on thenexttwopages.

Captive-reared Echo ParakeetsReleased to the Wild by Kathryn A MurrayAn Update from the Mauritian Wildlife FoundationTheEchoParakeethasbeenthe release.Thebasicprincipleis to year.Oneof thesebirdswent

subjectof intenseactivityfor releasebirdsabout15minutes missingandthreeotherswereseveralyearsandis theWorld beforedusksothebirdsarethinking removedfor variousreasons.ParrotTrust'slongestrunning of goingto roost.Hopefullythey Thereleasedbirdsarestill beingproject.Thisyeara landmarkwas will roostcloseto theaviary.The studied.Theywill bemonitoredsoreachedwhenthreeyoungEcho nextmorningsmallamountsof seed thatwecanseehowtheyadapt,Parakeetswerereleasedto thewild. aresprinkledinsidetherelease whetherit ispossiblefor themtoTwoof thesebirdswererearedfrom hatcheswherethebirdsmaysee breedin thewild andsuccessfullyharvestedeggsandonewascaptive them.Ontheirreturnthebirdsare reartheiryoungdespitebeingbred.Thesethreeparakeetsare re-capturedandreleasedlaterthat captive-bredandhand-reared.hopefullythefirst of manyandwill dayabout30minutesbeforedusk.helptoboosttheseverelydepleted Thisprocessis repeated,bringing PRODUCTIVESEASONwild'population.~heywi}l also. forw~rdthedailyr~leasetim~until The1996-1997breedingseasonprovId.eares~rvOIrof traInedbIrds thebI~ds.arespe~dmgthe1!lajonty. wasthemostproductiveof recentthatwIll readIlytakesupplemental of theIrtImeoutsIde.theavIary.ThIS yearsfor thewild EchoParakeets.food,usenestboxes.andaccept processallowsthebIrdsto travel. Thepopulationreacheditshighestotherformsof benefIcIal . andexploreawayfro~.theavIarym sincemonitoringbeganin 1973,management.H~pefullytheywIll stages,hopefullyavOIdIngtheloss with atotalof between76and87encouragethewIldbIrdstodothe of birds.Onre-capturetheyare individuals.Unfortunately,outofsame.Thereleaseof EchoParakeets rewardedwith sufficientamountsof twentyonechicksproducedin thewasonlya~tempt~daft.ertwoyears foodsothattheavIaryISconstantly wild onlythreefledgednaturally,of preparatIonUSIngRmg-ne~k reinforcedasaplaceto returnto. andtheothereighteenhadtobeParakeets(fslItaculakramen)as Elevenoutof thefourteenRing- rescuedandtakenintocaptivityformodelspe.Cles. neckParakeetsweresuccessfully rearing.However,thisgavetheForthefIrstr~leaseeveryfactor released.Fromthesereleaseswe captivepopulationahugeboostand

thatco~ldpossIblygowr~ng.hadto established:thatthefirst groupis increasednumbersto 23birds;2beconsIdered.Totry toelImInate thehardesttoestablish'asmall adultma]es4 adultfemales3sub-po.tentialproblemsatrialrelease groupsizeispreferabl~;theyounger adultmales:9juvenilemale~and5USIngtheRmg-neckParakeetswas thebirdsareafterfledgingthebetter juvenilefemales.At lastthereweretriedbetweenO~tober1995and andthattamenessshouldbe enoughto try a release!ThereleaseJanuar¥1996.Rmg-ne.ckParakeets encouragedfor thefirst groupor groupthereforeconsistedof threearea~~ntroducedspecIeson two.Thebirdswerenotverytame, birdsthatweresurplustogeneticM~untlUsand.arefrequentlyse~n. theywouldcometo acallbutnot requirementsof thecaptiveflYIng~roundmsmallflockswIthIn allowyouto touchthem. population.TheywerescreenedfortheNatIOnalPark. Theywerereleasedintoanareain anumberof diseasesandwere

thesouth-westof theNationalPark healthywhenreleased.calledBelOmbre,or 'Beautiful BeforereleasingouryoungbirdsShadows',whereasmallpopulation to thewild wewantedtoput themof wild Ring-neckParakeetsare throughacourseof pre-releasefrequentlyseen.Threepairsof Echo trainingsothatthechancesof themParakeetsarealsoknowntobreed beinglostwouldbeminimised.Wein thatarea.Of theelevenreleased releasedthemfromasmall

Ring-neckParakeets,sevenarestil~ enclosureintoamuchlargerflig~t,residentandonepairmaybreedthIs 20.15mx 5.0mx 3.65mhIgh.ThIs

TRIALRELEASEWITHRING-NECKS

ThreegroupsofRing-neckParakeetsdifferingin age,groupsizeanddegreeof tamenesswerereleasedusingasoft-releasetechnique,developedfor thePinkPigeonin 1987andadaptedfor this

allowedmeto gettoknowthebirdswell andto testsomeof ourreleasetechniques.Eachbirdhadasmallbell attachedtooneof its tarsi.Thesearehighqualitybrassandsilverbellsusedbyfalconersonsmallfalconsandcanbeheardoveraconsiderabledistance.Eachindividualwastrainedto

walkontoadigitalscalesbalancetobeweighed.TheRing-neckParakeetreleasesshowedthatcatchingthebirdsregularlywithanetandweighingthemin abagmadethemverynervous.SincetheEchoParakeetswereweighedeverycoupleof dayswedidnotwantthemto avoidthereleaseaviaryandthehandler.Theywereall trainedtocometoawhistleandthewords'Comeon!'DuringtheRing-neckParakeetreleasesbirdswereinitiallyconfusedbyhowto getin andoutof thereleaseaviaryviahatches.Oncetheylearnthowtodothistheysoonbecamewaryof beingcaughtup.Wewantedto teachtheEchoParakeetshowtousethereleasehatches.Thiswasdonein thepre-trainingusingthehatchbetweentheflight andtheaviary.Wedidthisbyfeedingthemonlyin thesmallaviaryandclosingthehatchbehindthem.Theysoonlearnttheycouldgetoutagainandthehatchwouldneverremainshutfor long.Soontheywereconfidentenoughto fly inandoutof thehatchandnolongercrawledupanddownthewire.Theflight alsogavethemtheopportunitytobuilduptheirflightmuscles.Theydefinitelyneededitastheywereflyingjust ametreofftheground!

The threebirds on thereleaseplatform. Photo: KathrynA. Murray Echo on releaseplatform. Photo: KathrynA. Murray

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Echofeedingin the wild.

SUPPLEMENTARYFEEDING

Mostimportantlytheyweretrainedto recogmseandfeedfromfooddispensers.TheoriginaldesignwasbasedonaKakapohopper.Onlyafterslavingawaytomakeourownandthereleasewasalmostoverdidwehit ontheideaof askingDonMerton,whoheadstheKakapoprojectfor theDepartmentofConservationin NewZealand,if hewoulddonatesomespareKakapohoppers!Hewillinglyobligedandprovidedsmallerversionstosuittheparakeets.SomenewMWFteammembersfromNewZealand,ex-Kakapofieldworkersthemselves,transportedthemover.Thebirdsquicklylearnedto feedfromthenewdispensers.Thesmallfeedingstationswere

attachedtothetopof apolewith aperchsystembeloweachone.Foreaseofmanagementtheindividualcomponentsaredetachableandtheentirehoppercqnbeeasilymovedfromplacetoplace.SonowtheEchoParakeetsandtheKakapohavethesamedinnerservice!Onthe13thJulythethreebirdsfor

releasewerepackedupin boxesandtransportedto thereleasesitein thebackof a4WDjeep.Thereleasesite,calledPlaine

Lievre,issituatedin anareaofuplandevergreenforest.It wasideal

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Photo: Kathryn A. Murray

for thisreleasebecausethereisanestablishedfield stationwith areleaseaviary.Thefield stationisusedmainlybyPinkPigeon,MauritiusKestrelandEchoParakeetfield staff.SeveralEcho

Parakeet~airsarefoundin andaroundthIsarea.Followingaverywetandwindy

acclimatisationweek,whenthebirdsthoroughlyenjoyedthemselveswith endlessrain-bathing,theweatherimprovedandIdecidedit wastimeto seeif themonthsof preparationhadpaidoff.

ECHOSFLYFREE

It did.Withintwoweeksall threebirdswereatlibertyandtheywereallowedto comeandgoastheypleased.Noproblemswereexperiencedandthereleasewentexactlyasplanned.Theyspentalotof timeforagingin nearbytreessamplingeverythingtheycould.Theywerequitepartialto thebounteousamountsof guavaandprivetberries,whichwasinterestingbecauseboththesespeciesareintroducedandarechokingthenativeflora.Theydutifullyreturnedto theaviaryandthesupplementaryfeedinghoppersdaily.Thebellsonthebirdsprovedtobe

amajorbonusallowingmeto locatethebirdsquicklywithinthetrees.

Theirgreencolourblendssowell inthetreesthattheyarealmostinvisibleto theeye,especiallyiftheyarenotmovingmuch,orcalling.All threeremainedwithinthecloseproximityof thereleaseareamakingmyjob of followingthemeasier.Withinthreemonthstheyhad

venturedupto lkm awayto aConservationManagementAreacalledBriseFer.It consistsof a27hectarefencedarea,weededofexoticplantspecies.Mostof thePlaineLievrereleasedPinkPigeonpopulationresidesthereandit isknowntobeafavouredfeedingsiteandroostareaof wild EchoParakeets.Wehopethattherewillbesomeintegrationbetweenthereleaseandwild birdsin thenearfuture.Thereleasebirdsarebeingencouragedto feedin thisareawiththeuseof supplementalfeedingstationsandwhoknows,it maynotbetoolongbeforeawild bird isseenfeedingwith them.A time-partitioningstudyis being

developedatthemomentto helpassessthereleasebirdsadaptationtobeing'free'.All thebirdswill beintensivelymonitoredjust like thereleasepopulationsof MauritiusKestrelsandPinkPigeons.Thesuccessof thiscomingbreedingseasondictateshowthenextreleaseswill proceed.Three

membersof stafffromParadise

Parkareallhelpingwith theEchoParakeetbreedmgseason,bothinthewild andin captivity.Thereleasegrouf isbeingencouragedtoremainloya to thereleasesitetoactasdecoybirdsfor futurereleases.Thiswill alsoremovetheneedfor birdsin futurereleasesbeingquitesotame.Tohelpwithfuturereleasesit wouldbeadvantageoustobuildareleaseflight alongsidethereleaseaviary.Trainingwouldthennotbequitesointensiveandbirdscantrainthemselvesto gointoandoutofreleasehatchesandbuilduptheirmusclespriorto release.Anydonationstowardsthereleaseflightwouldbegreatlxappreciated.MWFwouldlIketo thank

everyonewhohascontributedtothisprogramme,includingtheWorldParrotTrust(UK andUSA),JerseyWildlifePreservationTrust,WildlifePreservationTrustCanada,theNationalParksandConservationService,MauritiusGovernment,UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme,InternationalZooVeterinaryGroup,theParrotSociety(UK), InternationalAviculturists'Society,theIris DarntonFoundationandmanyotherorganisationsandindividuals.TheUNDPprovidedfundingfor thenew"EchoParakeetreleaseaviary. It.,

'Pablo', the most tameof the threereleasedEchos. Photo: M. Reynolds

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