Title: SURVIVAL OF CAPTIVE-REARED PUERTO RICAN PARROTS
RELEASED IN THE CARIBBEAN NATIONAL FOREST
Author: THOMAS H. WHITE JR.1,4, JAIME A. COLLAZO2, AND FRANCISCO J. VILELLA3
Date: 2005
Source: The Condor 107 :424432
Description: We report first-year survival for 34 captive-reared Puerto Rican Parrots (Amazona
vittata) released in the Caribbean National Forest, Puerto Rico between 2000 and 2002.
The purpose of the releases were to increase population size and the potential number of
breeding individuals of the sole extant wild population, and to refine release protocols for
eventual reintroduction of a second wild population elsewhere on the island. After extensive
prerelease training, we released 10 parrots in 2000, 16 parrots in 2001, and eight parrots in
2002 ranging in age from 14 years old. All birds were equipped with radio-transmitters to
monitor survival. The overall first-year survival estimate for the 34 parrots was 41% (CI 5
22%61%). Only one parrot died within the first week postrelease, with most (94%) surviving
for at least eight weeks after release. Most (54%) documented mortalities were due
to raptor predation, which claimed 21% of all released parrots. A captive-reared bird (male,
age one), released in 2001, paired with a wild female and fledged two young in 2004. We
also calculated survival based on 0% and 50% of observed predation losses and found
hypothetical survival rates of 72% and 54%, respectively. Rigorous prerelease training and
acclimation was believed to have improved initial postrelease parrot survival, and releasing
mixed age-class groups suggests the potential for shortening the time to recruitment.
Keywords: Amazona vittata, captive-reared, mortality, predation, Puerto Rican Parrot,
reintroduction, survival.
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Citation
THOMAS H. WHITE JR.1,4, JAIME A. COLLAZO2, AND FRANCISCO J. VILELLA3 2005. SURVIVAL OF CAPTIVE-REARED PUERTO RICAN PARROTS
RELEASED IN THE CARIBBEAN NATIONAL FOREST. The Condor 107 :424432.