Join us tonight at 7:30 at the Bristol Public Library for a program
presented by Kevin Blaylock. As always, everyone is welcome to join us for
dinner beforehand at the Mad Greek on Volunteer Parkway at 6pm. Come join
us for a fun filled evening of talking birds!
Program Title:
Saving the Hyacinth Macaw, One Woman's Mission
Program Description:
Founded in the early 1990's by Dr. Neiva Guedes, Projeto Arara Azul
(Hyacinth Macaw Project) is a foundation that studies the biology and
ecology of the Hyacinth macaw through field study, nest monitoring,
providing artificial nest boxes, local education and preservation of
habitat. Here is a small excerpt from one of Neiva's books about how she
started:
"It all began in November 1989, when I stumbled upon a flock of hyacinth
macaws in the Caiman Ecological Refuge. I was taking a natural conservation
course (during college) and we ran into a group of about thirty hyacinth
macaws perched on a tree. The sight was unforgettable, and our professor
mentioned that the bird was threatened and might disappear in fifty years.
I was deeply moved. I felt passionate and willing to make any and all
efforts to prevent the species from ceasing to exist in the wild. All that
I wanted was to keep it from disappearing. I wanted other people to have
the opportunity to see them as I did - free, gracing the Pantanal skies."
Since there was no scientific research yet completed for the Hyacinth macaw,
Neiva had to start from scratch. Through arduous journeys through the wild
(and wet) Pantanal, she researched their diet, nesting preferences, range
and reproduction. She had to learn methods to climb trees via ropes to
access nest cavities where she removed the chicks briefly for measurements,
crop study and health status. Since Hyacinths prefer to nest almost
exclusively in the rare, mature Manduvi trees she quickly realized that
without more opportunities for nesting there was no way the existing
population could ever increase. She set about creating nest boxes of
different sizes, shapes and construction materials until she found the ideal
type. She then partnered with Pantanal ranch owners to place hundreds of
nest boxes on their property. Coupled with educating the ranchers on the
importance of the macaw to the ecosystem she convinced them to refrain from
clear cutting their land for pasture and to protect the palm nut and Manduvi
trees crucial to the survival of the parrot. Tonight we will tell the
story about a young college graduate in the early 1990's who took on such a
gargantuan task and succeeded. In 25 short years the population of Hyacinth
Macaws have grown from less than 1500 individuals to more than 7000 today
due mainly to the efforts of Neiva Guedes and her research team. She truly
is a remarkable person and an example of what one person can accomplish with
enough work and dedication.
