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First systematic sampling approach to estimating the global population size of the Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaw Ara glaucogularis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2020

SEBASTIAN K. HERZOG Open the ORCID record for SEBASTIAN K. HERZOG [Opens in a new window] ,
OSWALDO MAILLARD Z. ,
TJALLE BOORSMA ,
GUSTAVO SÁNCHEZ-ÁVILA ,
VÍCTOR HUGO GARCÍA-SOLÍZ ,
ANAHÍ C. PACA-CONDORI ,
MARTA VAÍLEZ DE ABAJO  and
RODRIGO W. SORIA-AUZA
SEBASTIAN K. HERZOG*
Affiliation:
Asociación Armonía, Av. Lomas de Arena 400, Casilla 3566, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
OSWALDO MAILLARD Z.
Affiliation:
Asociación Armonía, Av. Lomas de Arena 400, Casilla 3566, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
TJALLE BOORSMA
Affiliation:
Asociación Armonía, Av. Lomas de Arena 400, Casilla 3566, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
GUSTAVO SÁNCHEZ-ÁVILA
Affiliation:
Asociación Armonía, Av. Lomas de Arena 400, Casilla 3566, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
VÍCTOR HUGO GARCÍA-SOLÍZ
Affiliation:
Asociación Armonía, Av. Lomas de Arena 400, Casilla 3566, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
ANAHÍ C. PACA-CONDORI
Affiliation:
Asociación Armonía, Av. Lomas de Arena 400, Casilla 3566, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
MARTA VAÍLEZ DE ABAJO
Affiliation:
Asociación Armonía, Av. Lomas de Arena 400, Casilla 3566, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
RODRIGO W. SORIA-AUZA
Affiliation:
Asociación Armonía, Av. Lomas de Arena 400, Casilla 3566, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
*
*Author for correspondence; e-mail: skherzog@armonia-bo.org
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Summary

Reliable population size estimates are imperative for effective conservation and management of globally threatened birds like the ‘Critically Endangered’ Blue-throated Macaw Ara glaucogularis. Endemic to one of South America’s largest grassland floodplains, the Llanos de Moxos in northern Bolivia, the species’ global population size is uncertain. The region’s inaccessibility renders the application of traditional methods for obtaining bird population estimates impracticable or cost prohibitive. We developed a simultaneous, multilocality, double-sampling approach combined with quantitative habitat availability analyses to obtain the first rigorous population size estimate for the Blue-throated Macaw. We established 11 survey areas across its three subpopulations that were visited twice by one team in each subpopulation over a 23-day period in the 2015 dry season and obtained additional count data from two roost sites. We classified suitable habitat (palm forest islands) using Landsat 8 images and CLASlite forest monitoring software. We extrapolated the number of macaws detected (conservative estimate of the total number of macaws [CETN], highest single count [HSC]) per 100 ha of suitable habitat in each survey area to the entire area of suitable habitat in all subpopulations combined, corrected for the species’ range occupancy of 34.3%. The total number of Blue-throated Macaws detected by survey (CETN) and roost site counts was 137. Across all survey areas, the number of macaws per 100 ha of suitable habitat was 4.7 for the first and 4.4 for the second period for CETN and 3.2 and 3.4, respectively, for HSC data. Corresponding global population estimates were 426–455 (CETN) and 312–329 (HSC) individuals. Other recent research and anecdotal data support these estimates. Although it would be premature to propose downlisting the species to ‘Endangered’, our findings indicate that it has a larger population and slightly larger range than previously thought, and that the positive effects of conservation actions are now becoming apparent.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bird Conservation International , Volume 31 , Issue 2 , June 2021 , pp. 293 - 311
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of BirdLife International

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