NATURAL HISTORY AND POPULATION STATUS OF THE YELLOW-SHOULDERED PARROT ON LA BLANQUILLA ISLAND, VENEZUELA

Abstract

The Yellow-shouldered Parrot (Amazona barbadensis) has a disjunct geographical distribution and the smallest population of the species inhabits La Blanquilla Island in the southern part of the Caribbean Sea. We conducted field work from 1993 to 1998 to gather information on the natural history and population status of this parrot on La Blanquilla. We compared that information with similar data gathered previously from Margarita Island. We found three communal roosts on La Blanquilla and estimated the parrot population to be ∼100 individuals. We found an average of 8.8 ± 3.6 active nests/year; all nests were in the central and western parts of the island, mainly in tree cavities of Guaiacum officinale. Nests on La Blanquilla Island were closer to the ground than nests on Margarita Island. The breeding season on La Blanquilla Island started later and clutch size was lower (2.24 ± 0.95 eggs/nest) than on Margarita Island. Parrots were observed foraging on 12 plant species; most observations involved consumption of the fruit of Casearia tremula (Flacourtiaceae). The main threats to Yellow-shouldered Parrots on La Blanquilla are predation and illegal poaching. Survival of the Yellow-shouldered Parrot on La Blanquilla Island is uncertain because of small population size and increasing threat levels.