Threatened parrots of Chingaza National Park´s buffer zone, San Juanito municipality (Meta)

Abstract

The Yellow-eared parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis) and the Flame-winged parakeet (Pyrrhura calliptera) are both endangered Andean parrot species from Colombia. Recent explorations in remote zones of the Chingaza National Natural Park and its buffer zone, have led to the finding of well conserved Andean forests dominated by wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense) in the municipality of San Juanito, Meta, an appropriate habitat for both species. Considering the potential distribution of the Flame-winged parakeet and the close relation between the Yellow-eared parrot and the wax palm, we intended to confirm the presence of both species in this sector. We carried out 30 visits in two localities within the municipality of San Juanito between December 2016 and January 2019. We obtained 23 records of O. icterotis of groups between two and eleven individuals and 28 records of P. calliptera of groups between six and twelve individuals, which represent a new locality for both species. However, while P. calliptera is a resident species, we found that O. icterotis is only present between September and March, which might be due to temporal migrations of individuals looking for nesting sites from the population found in the municipality of Cubarral, 80km away. Moreover, we report the use of the same nest in a wax palm in different times of the year by the two species, which suggests that this resource might be a limiting factor for their survival. Despite its proximity to the protected area, the reported localities are not under any protected category, so investigation and conservation activities with the community are imperative to ensure the survival of these species in the area.