I could have never dreamt of this …..

 

I know I said every 2-3 weeks, BUT – I just couldn’t wait a few weeks for this update! I arrived at ARA yesterday and I am in HEAVEN!!!! There are parrots everywhere!!! This place is simply amazing. Deep breath lol

We had an early morning rain that broke just as the sun came up, leaving a heavy mist in the jungle.ARA Project – Manzanillo

 

Okay, so …. so much for me to learn but here is the initial run down. The Manzanillo site is primarily a release and monitoring location (will get in to the breeding portion in a few minutes). To date they have successfully released dozens of birds (I say dozens because I need to confirm the actual number). Although these birds are free and wild, many of them do return to this area to both enjoy some supplemental feedings and to roost for the night. In addition there are 7 parrots here that are being prepared for release (including three babies!!!). Aside from the babies (whom are in the nursery) the parrots to be reintroduced are in a large outdoor aviary. I have a ton to learn about the reintroduction process but a large part of their success will be the bonds that they form while communicating with the parrots that are already released and in the wild.

So in love

 

In addition to the bonding with the wild parrots, the parrots in the aviary are supplied with fruits, nuts, leaves and branches that they will use for both food and nesting once they are released. In this way they become accustomed to what is available to them in the wild. This is part of where I come in! In addition to cleaning of the aviaries and taking care of the supplemental feeding stations, I will spend a portion of my time gathering the appropriate foods to introduce in to the aviary. Jungle and beach hikes required!!!

 

As I indicated above, there is no breeding facility here (as yet – there are plans to move the breeding facility here). All of the Great Green Macaws are currently bred at the facility on Punta Islita (Pacific Coast side and where the breeding facility is for the Scarlett Macaw) The babies stay there until they are old enough to be transferred to this

facility wherein they enter the aviary and start the reintroduction process.

This guys has his wings spread slightly to cool down! Great Green Macaw – Manzanillo, Costa Rica

 

But I did mention that there are babies in a nursery here right? The only babies that are cared for at this facility are ones that come from the wild birds. All nest sites here (that are known) are monitored by the staff. When the wild birds have a successful hatching of 2 or 3 babies (instead of just 1) it can happen where one or two of the babies is not cared for (resource constraints, new parents etc). If one of these babies does not thrive in the natural environment, the staff will bring them to the nursery where they are raised and then prepped for reintroduction when they are ready. Yesterday, I got to feed the babies a formula and today we are practicing eating sunflower seeds! Photos will come eventually!

 

Great Green Macaw – Manzanillo, Costa Rica

 

I am simply in awe of this place. The Great Green Macaw was once a thriving species in this area. Due to poaching for the pet trade and the harvesting of hard woods (primarily the Mountain Almond – a critical tree for this species) their number and range dropped dramatically. The work this group is doing, in conjunction with reforestation of the mountain almond and aggressive preservation of the remaining trees, the population is starting to climb again. I will post more information on the ranges, specific details etc once I am more versed in these details (No fake news here 😉 ).

 

I am housed with another volunteer immediately adjacent to the nursery and aviary. And we are seriously in the jungle lol. Within hours of my arrival I had seen a variety of frogs, two troops of monkeys, toucans, a sloth, countless varieties of birds and insects and of course dozens of these magnificent parrots. I have started an album (ARA Project – Manzanillo, Costa Rica) that will house only the photos from my experience here! Expect to be parrotized 😉

 

Okay, now it should only be every 2-3 weeks!!!!! I got work to do lol

 

Love and Light
Mary Lou

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