Yellow-eared Parrot
The Yellow-eared parrot ( Ognorhynchus icterotis ) is a rare species of parrot from the monotypic genus Ognorhynchus. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.
Features
The Yellow-eared parrot reaches a size of 42 centimeters. His habit is araähnlich. Forehead, reins, the upper cheek area and the ear-coverts are yellow. In some copies, the ear-coverts are slightly extended. The lower cheek area and the throat are green. Top of the head, chest, abdomen and under wing-coverts are yellowish - green. The underside of the wings is dark yellow. The underside of the tail feathers is dull reddish brown. The beak is black. To the orange Iris runs a naked, black eye-ring, which is wider below the eye. The feet are gray. The juvenile birds look similar to the adult birds. However, the head plumage is more olive-yellow and the tail is shorter. The vocalizations of the Yellow-eared Conure consist of two syllables, geese similar calls.
Habitat
The Yellow-eared parrot inhabits mountain forests and their margins, partially deforested woodlands, forested areas at the treeline and Podocarpus forests in the temperate zone at altitudes 2000-3400 meters. Occasionally he travels down to 1,300 meters. The Yellow-eared parrot is ( quindiuense Ceroxylon ) on habitats with the Quindio wax palm - dependent.
Way of life
The Yellow-eared parrot is usually solitary, observed in pairs or small flocks of 25 individuals. In the past there was greater accumulation in the wax palm groves. Although the majority of the population currently found in only one locality, take other swarms during seasonal migrations in search of food. The diet consists mainly of the bark, buds and fruits of Quindio wax palm -. He occasionally gives way to other tree species, including Citharexylon, Podocarpus and Sapium from. There are two breeding cycles from April to November. The nest is built in a tree hollow in height is about 25 meters in a wax palm. During the breeding season the breeding pair of other Yellow-eared Parrots is supported.
Endangering
The Yellow-eared parrot was once common in all three Andean regions of Colombia and Ecuador. After a recent screening of 25 copies on the slopes of Cerro Munchique in July 1978, he was long considered lost until two small flocks were seen in Colombia in 1995. From Ecuador there since 2000 unconfirmed sightings from the Valle de Intag. As the main threat of large-scale habitat loss and overhunting apply. 90 to 93 percent of the mountain forests throughout its range in Colombia are fragmented. However, some larger forest areas have been preserved in its original area of distribution, so that other causes of its decline are responsible. The mortality of wax palms is very high and young palms are scarce because the cattle eat the seedlings. In addition, the logging in adjacent areas increases the vulnerability of the palm trees to disease. Wax palm trees are over 500 years old and grow very slowly. In the entire range of the Yellow-eared Conure this palm species is excessively used for Palm Sunday ceremonies. In Ecuador, the yellow -eared parrot was heavily hunted for its meat and the catches for the pet trade showed effects on population trends, although this type is difficult to keep in captivity.
Protection measures
1998 called the ornithologist and conservationist Niels Krabbe the " projectors Ognorhynchus " to life. After several months of field work could be observed in April 1999, a population of 61 Yellow-eared Parrots in the " Cordillera Central " from Colombia. Until September 1999 for a further 20 copies were sighted. Thanks protection projects in which the organizations Fundación ProAves, Loro Parque Fundación, American Bird Conservancy, Corantioquia, the Zoological Society of species and population protection and funds for endangered parrots were involved and commitments of the guerrillas who not to hinder conservationists in their work, increased the population of the Yellow-eared Conure in Colombia until the year 2005 to 600 copies. In 2008 there were 80 monitored nests fledged 203 young birds.