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The Cuban parrot Amazona leucocephala and the Cuban parakeet or Catey Aratinga euops constitute the two surviving species of the family Psittacidae in Cuba (the Cuban Macaw Ara tricolor is extinct). Once considered very abundant over the whole island, these two endemics (subspecies and species, respectively) are now threatened and distributed in small isolated populations, most showing a continued decline in number of individuals. They have also been extirpated from several localities in Cuba.
In spite of the popularity of these species to Cubans, their intrinsic and extrinsic valuesas flagship or emblematic species, and their commercial value as pets, their biology and ecological role in the ecosystems that they inhabit is little known.
Therefore this project will examine the general aspects of the basic biology of these species in the area that should serve as base to orchestrate a solid program of environmental education, high-lighting the true values of these species to the local community and translating this into the conservation of these species and the ecosystems they inhabit.The project will be undertaken by Maikel Cañizares Morera
of the Ecology and Systematics Institute (Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática). Since 1998 he and his colleagues have placed a total of 50 artificial nests in the area of Jarico, Ecological Reserve “Alturas de Banao" in Central Cuba, achieving an increase from 18 to 53 Cuban parakeets until now. Another result has been the reestablishment of 8 Cuban parrots in this area, after more than 30 years of absence.
The project team has a programme of visits to different areas of the mountains of Central Cuba where the presence of Cuban parrots or Cuban parakeets is known. Each visit characterizes the flock and vegetation in these areas and determines the type of use that they make of the area.In addition, the nesting areas of any flocks not previously known are located and described. Visits are made to another area located to the south ofSancti Spíritus Highs (coastal area), where it is reported that the population nesting in Banao moves during the non-breeding season. During the 2005 and 2006breeding seasons, the parakeets hatched in Banao will be ringed with the purpose to reveal the movements and the feeding areas of this flock.
Surveys and interviews of people from the communities near to the breeding places of Cuban parrots and parakeets will be conducted to know their attitude toward these species, as well as to define the intensity of captures of chicks as pets. The results are expected to lead to incentives at local and regional level for the conservation of these species and their ecosystems.
The LPF is providing funds to this project from 2005.