Although the poaching of nestlings for the pet trade is thought to contribute to the decline of many species of parrots, its effects have been poorly demonstrated. We calculated rates of mortality due to nest poaching in 23 studies of Neotropical parrots, representing 4024 nesting attempts in 21 species and 14 countries. We also examined how poaching rates vary with geographic region, presence of active protection programs, conservation status and economic value of a species, and passage of the U.S. Wild Bird Conservation Act. The average poaching rate across all studies was 30% of all nests observed. Thirteen studies reported poaching rates of ≥20%, and four reported rates openface> 70%. Only six studies documented no nest poaching. Of these, four were conducted on islands in the Caribbean region, which had significantly lower poaching rates than the mainland Neotropics. The other two studies that showed no poaching were conducted on the two species with the lowest economic value in our sample ( U.S. retail price). In four studies that allowed direct comparison between poaching at sites with active nest protection versus that at unprotected sites, poaching rates were significantly lower at protected sites, suggesting that active protection efforts can be effective in reducing nest poaching. In those studies conducted both before and after the passage of the U.S. Wild Bird Conservation Act, poaching rates were found to be significantly lower following its enactment than in the period before. This result supports the hypothesis that the legal and illegal parrot trades are positively related, rather than inversely related as has been suggested by avicultural interests. Overall, our study indicates that poaching of parrot nestlings for economic gain is a widespread and biologically significant source of nest mortality in Neotropical parrots.

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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 1–4 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 = 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. Supervivencia de Individuos de Amazona vittata Criados en Cautiverio y Liberados en el Bosque Nacional del Caribe Resumen. Determinamos la supervivencia de 34 individuos de cotorras Amazona vittata criados en cautiverio y liberados en el Bosque Nacional del Caribe, Puerto Rico entre el 2000 y el 2002. El propósito de las liberaciones era aumentar el tamaño de la población y el número potencial de individuos reproductores en la única población silvestre remanente, y refinar los protocolos de liberación para eventualmente establecer una segunda población silvestre en la isla. Después de un adiestramiento extensivo, liberamos 10 cotorras en el 2000, 16 cotorras en el 2001, y ocho cotorras en el 2002 fluctuando en edades entre uno y cuatro años. Cada individuo se liberó con un radio transmisor para determinar su supervivencia. La tasa general de supervivencia para 34 cotorras después de un año fue de 41% (IC = 22–61%). Sólo una cotorra murió durante la primera semana post-liberación, con la mayoría (94%) sobreviviendo por lo menos ocho semanas después de liberadas. La mayoría (54%) de la mortandad se debió a la depredación por aves rapaces, la que reclamó 21% de todas las cotorras liberadas. Una cotorra criada en cautiverio (macho, un año de edad), y liberada en el 2001, se apareó con una hembra silvestre y produjeron dos volantones en el 2004. Reduciendo la mortandad por aves rapaces informada en este estudio en un 100%, o en un 50%, resultó en tasas hipotéticas de supervivencia del 72% y 54%, respectivamente. Creemos que el adiestramiento y la aclimatación rigurosa pre-liberación mejoraron la supervivencia inicial post-liberación, y que la liberación de grupos de cotorras de edades mixtas sugiere el potencial de acortar el tiempo de reclutamiento.