Searching for food in a concrete jungle: feeding ecology of a Psittacine assemblage (Aves, Psittacidae) in a major Amazonian city

SOARES, CRISTIANE S.; BARNETT, ADRIAN A.; SCUDELLER, VERIDIANA V.; BORGES, SÉRGIO H.

doi:10.1590/0001-3765202320220606

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…By leveraging citizens' photographs, this study expands our knowledge of the Red‐bellied Macaw dietary variety by 85.7%. We identified 12 previously unknown food plant species, supplementing the existing data of 14 species, many of which have been anecdotally reported (Bonadie & Bacon, 2000; Lee et al., 2014; Silva & Melo, 2015; Soares et al., 2023; Strahl et al., 1991). Nevertheless, our study reveals the consumption of novel food sources by macaws, including flowers and alien cultivated plants, such as L. chinensis palm fruits.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Revealing new insights into Red‐bellied Macaw foraging ecology through citizen photography

Silva,

da Silva Júnior,

Santos

et al. 2024

Austral Ecology

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Social media platforms focused on wildlife photography have become valuable ecological data sources through citizen science. In this study, we utilized photos shared by citizens on iNaturalist and WikiAves to analyse the interactions of the Red‐bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilatus Boddaert, 1783) with its food plants. Despite being recognized as specialists in Mauritia flexuosa L.f. palm fruits, our findings suggest some flexibility in the foraging behaviour of the macaws. The photos indicate that palm fruits are an essential food source (20 taxa; highlight the native species M. flexuosa, Euterpe spp., Elaeis oleifera, and Syagrus spp.) in the Cerrado and Amazon biomes. It also confirms the predominance of M. flexuosa ripe pulp fruits in their diet, encompassing 45.2% of the 414 analysed photographs. The results highlight the potential role of the Red‐bellied Macaw in seed dispersal (stomatochory) for various palm species and reveal the consumption of new food sources such as flowers (present in 8% of photos) and alien plants, including the fruits of cultivated Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R. Br. Ex Mart. palm (10.9%). Our photo analysis provided a comprehensive overview of Red‐bellied Macaws feeding in diverse localities (141 municipalities in 15 Brazilian states) and at different times. As a result, there is a consistent seasonal variation in foraging in the strongly seasonal Cerrado biome, for example, feeding on alien‐cultivated palm fruits in urban areas during the driest period, particularly L. chinensis. Through this photographic approach, we expanded knowledge of the macaw's food plants by 85.7%, now encompassing 26 species compared to the initial 14 documented species. This study underscores the relevance of citizen science in obtaining novel dietary data and deepening our understanding of ecological patterns in specialized species, emphasizing the significance of considerate plant‐bird relationships to support conservation efforts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soares et al. (2023) also highlight that the Red‐bellied Macaw can extend its food range in urban areas. Such facts provide valuable insights into the behavioural patterns and adaptive strategies in Red‐bellied Macaws foraging despite specialization, as pinpointed below.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revealing new insights into Red‐bellied Macaw foraging ecology through citizen photography

Silva,

da Silva Júnior,

Santos

et al. 2024

Austral Ecology

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Feeding Ecology of Reintroduced Golden Parakeets (Guaruba guarouba, Psittacidae) in a Protected Area in the Amazon Forest

Vilarta,

De Moraes,

Gondim

et al. 2024

Diversity

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The Golden Parakeet is an endemic Brazilian flagship species that has suffered from poaching and habitat loss, leading to local extinctions in the urbanized parts of the Amazon. We reintroduced six groups of mostly captive-bred parakeets in a protected area. The birds were acclimatized for at least five months at the release site, where they were trained to recognize native foods and develop foraging skills. Subsequently, we conducted a soft release, followed by daily supplementation and monitoring. For three years following the release we recorded their diet, feeding behavior, and how they adapted to wild foraging. The reintroduced birds fed on 23 plant species, with 13 not being previously listed in past studies. The three most consumed species corresponded to 77% of their feeding records. Parakeets spent more time feeding in altered landscapes and secondary vegetation than in the preserved forest. Most of the feeding happened during the rainy season when most of their favorite plants are fruiting. The parakeets’ incorporation of new species in their diet and their transition from supplemental to natural feeding happened gradually, as we did not reduce food offerings. Parakeets that showed site fidelity were able to find native food rapidly following release, but individuals that dispersed immediately had more difficulty finding food. This study showed that captive-bred Golden Parakeets can transition to a wild diet following a gradual reintroduction process.

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Searching for food in a concrete jungle: feeding ecology of a Psittacine assemblage (Aves, Psittacidae) in a major Amazonian city

Cited by 2 publications

References 41 publications

Revealing new insights into Red‐bellied Macaw foraging ecology through citizen photography

Revealing new insights into Red‐bellied Macaw foraging ecology through citizen photography

Feeding Ecology of Reintroduced Golden Parakeets (Guaruba guarouba, Psittacidae) in a Protected Area in the Amazon Forest

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