Conserving Highland Parrots - The Gems of Mexico

High in the slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountains of Central Mexico reside the remaining populations of wild Rhynchopsitta Parrots. Thick-billed Parrots, R. pachyrhyncha, and the lesser-known Maroon-fronted Parrots, R. terrisi, are the two psittacines classified under this genus. BirdLife International classifies both Parrots as critically endangered species (CITES appendix I and II.) Leading authorities acknowledge that each species is on the decline and have a maximum population of 4,000 individuals per species. Thick-billed Parrots have a much broader range (170,000km²) across the Sierra Madres as compared to the range of their Maroon-fronted relatives (12,900km²). However, increased logging and exploitation within Thick-billed Parrot breeding territory place them at a much higher risk of extinction in the next decade. Though the conservation obstacles are grand for these Mexican Parrots, hope looms in the horizon.

This summer, I had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the ongoing in situ fieldwork as a field assistant to the Mexican researchers striving to save these gems of the Mexican highlands. For nearly three weeks, I trekked and bushwhacked my way into the Sierra Madres in search of known and unknown Thick-billed Parrot breeding habitat with the leading Rhynchopsitta parrot researchers. Mexican researchers at Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Mexican government, have initiated a multiyear natural history and conservation study of both parrot species. This endeavor is at least 5 years in progress. The goals of this study are to identify the areas of the Sierra Madres that are used as breeding and roosting grounds and to create digital 'habitat maps' with the use of GPS (Global Positioning System) devices. When these maps are generated conservationists can then accurately pinpoint areas within the mountains requiring the greatest need of protection. There are no current logging regulations in the Sierra Madres, and this contributes to the grim fate of Mexican parrots. In addition to addressing the ecological concerns associated with establishing protected breeding and roosting grounds, researchers also desire to proactively work with local farmers to address their needs. A successful plan will work to formulate a rigid, sustainable conservation strategy beneficial to both parrots and humans. This approach is somewhat novel, and if successful may serve as a framework for other conservation studies of critically endangered species across the world.

One major focus of this multi-year conservation collaborative is to report the habits and behaviors of these parrots because conservationists have realized that Mexican parrot natural history is poorly known, thus adding to the conservation challenge. Both species share great physical resemblance bearing mostly green bodies and reddish-maroon fore-crowns, eye-stripes, shoulders, and thighs. Thick-bills also bear yellow under-wing coverts conspicuous in flight, and their 38 cm length makes them slightly smaller Parrots compared to their 40-45 cm congeners. Maroon-fronted Parrots have always been endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains of northeastern Mexico. However, Thick-bills once bred northward into the southwestern portion of the United States (Southern Arizona.) But recent anthropogenic pressures, such as logging and illegal hunting, have led to the recession of their wild range to the Sierra Madre Occidentals of central-west Mexico.

Rhynchopsitta Parrots have not adapted easily to human impacts on their habitat because of their highly specialistic foraging and breeding habits. Both species of parrots are endemic to high-alpine pine-oak forest habitat (1200m-3700m) even though they reside in different areas of the Sierra Madres. Thick-billed parrots nest in hollow cavities of a select few tree species, mostly pines; Maroon-fronted parrots nest in limestone cliff dwellings. Their food resources include a wide variety of pine seeds. Logging of any kind within their nesting habitats produces even a greater impact on the future breeding seasons because both food sources and nesting areas are eliminated from an already reduced area.

In 1998 the National Aviary became involved with Rhynchopsitta Parrot conservation by joining the AZA's Thick-billed Parrot Species Survival Plan (SSP), which works to maintain a viable population of captive parrots in zoological facilities with strong genetic lines. Over the past couple of years, the SSP program has increased its interaction with the Mexican research group (ITESM) in hopes of furthering the conservation movement of these parrots in the wild.

I arrived in the Sierra Madres in June 2001, at the start of the nesting season. Each day my team trekked to the highlands searching for guacas (a local Spanish term for thick-bills.) We were hulling tree climbing ropes, harnesses, crampons, digital scales, cameras, maps, a GPS (Global Positioning System,) and other field equipment essential for recording nesting data. A great portion of each day was spent trekking miles toward known nesting areas and exploring 'nidos nuevos' - new nests never before documented. Some nest cavities contained recently laid eggs. Eggs were catalogued, weighed, and measured before carefully returning them to their feather-bed nests. Nests identified would be re-examined at future dates within the season to record hatching and fledging data for the project.

Identifying and documenting active nests was one of the most essential aspects of the project; however, socializing with the locals proved an invaluable tool in discovering new breeding territories of the mountains. The Sierras are vast, unexplored, and vacant. The farmers and small villagers occupying the hillsides were extremely familiar with their land and its dwelling wildlife. We were very successful in identifying substantial breeding grounds never documented in recent studies through interviews with locals. This aspect of the project exemplifies the complexity of contemporary conservation work. Conservation in the 21st century requires a holistic approach; researchers cannot focus solely on the wildlife in question, the surrounding people also require investigation, education, and attention for the initiation of a successful conservation plan.

Every country may (and should) take claim to a few ecological gems on Earth, and Rhynchopsitta Parrots are undoubtedly the jewels of montane Mexico. Unfortunately, this beautiful country has already lost some other avian gems like the presumed-extinct Imperial woodpecker, Campephilus imperialis, which is not only the largest woodpecker on Earth but also one of most stunning member of Order Piciformes. Is it too late for Mexican parrots? NO! Judging by the success of this project, optimism abounds, but we need to take an active interest in conservation issues and fieldwork. We all need to support these projects, inquire about their progress, and possibly work to contribute to their successes.