Abstract
SummaryWe report on what appear to be increasing predation events on nesting Thick-billed Parrots Rhychopsitta pachyrhyncha. Thick-billed Parrots are classified as ‘Endangered’ and their seasonal breeding range is restricted to increasingly fragmented and degraded high elevation mixed conifer forest habitat within the Sierra Madre Occidental region of north-western Mexico. Predation of established breeding pairs has recently contributed to the ongoing decline of Thick-billed Parrot populations by removing mature birds with high reproductive value, which has associated consequences for future recruitment. We observed increasing predation events on nesting Thick-billed Parrots by bobcats Lynx rufus accompanied by kittens throughout the 2018–2019 breeding seasons, and we speculate that recent reductions in bobcat habitat have pushed them into new ranges where they are supplementing their diet with nontraditional prey items.
Highlights
Thick-billed Parrots Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha inhabit highland pine forests at elevations above 2,000 m in the Sierra Madre Occidental ranges of north-western Mexico
We have identified five species of predators of Thick-billed Parrots occurring within their breeding range: Bobcat Lynx rufus, coati Nasua narica, western spotted skunk Spilogale gracilis, common raccoon Procyon lotor and Stellers Jay Cyanocitta stelleri
We report on what appear to be increasing predation events by bobcats and provide recommendations to control and manage these impacts to improve the demographic viability and long-term conservation outlook for Thick-billed Parrot populations
Summary
Thick-billed Parrots Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha inhabit highland pine forests at elevations above 2,000 m in the Sierra Madre Occidental ranges of north-western Mexico The parrots spend their breeding season (June to October) primarily within the states of Chihuahua and northern Durango, overwinter (November to May) within the south-central Sierra Madre Occidental in the states of Durango, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, and Colima (Snyder et al 1994, Cruz-Nieto 1998, Monterrubio et al 2002, 2015). Sheppard elevation pine species, including Pinus strobiformis, P. arizonica, and P. durangensis (Lanning and Shiflett 1983, Snyder et al 1995)
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