Download The effect of ecotourism on Macaws at clay licks

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“The Effect of Ecotourism on Macaws at Clay Licks”
Julie Shapiro
Center for the Environment Fund for Undergraduate Research
Final Report
I conducted research on the feeding behavior of macaws, parrots, and parakeets at clay
licks. Clay licks are deposits of dirt located on banks of rivers and streams and are
common throughout the Amazon region. This material contains minerals that are
essential for many macaws, parrots, and parakeets, as well as other avian species and
occasionally mammals. These substances also neutralize the toxins that the birds ingest
from eating unripe fruit. Some scientists also theorize that this behavior could be
important socially as the birds, especially parrots and parakeets, typically feed on the clay
in large groups (although this may simply be to protect against predators) (Brightsmith et
al., 2004)
Clay licks located on the banks main rivers, such as the Tambopata River, where I
conducted research, are subject to heavy boat traffic from ecotourists as well as local
farmers. I was interested in quantifying the effect of these regular and frequent
disturbances on the birds’ behavior at the lick by comparing observations from two
separate locations, one remote and the other on the banks of the Tambopata River. I
collected data from a very remote and inaccessible clay lick, “Secreta,” located on the
banks of a small river, about 2.5 miles from the Tambopata River. I monitored this
location forty days in total from mid-June until mid-August between the hours of 6:15
AM and 11:15 AM, although there was some variation in start time due to a five mile
hike to the clay lick. Weather was recorded in regular intervals. Once the birds began
feeding, a count of individuals, by species, was taken every three minutes. Original
protocol adapted from the Tambopata Macaw Project takes counts every five minutes,
but feeding behavior was extremely irregular and often for short intervals with more
frequent changes in numbers and flushes, which is when the birds become scared and fly
away from the lick. After a flush, they can leave the area entirely or remain in the trees
close to the clay lick. Partial flushing, when only part of a group leaves, is also common.
If the birds remain in the area, sometimes they will return to feed again. I took notes on
average feeding time per species, average number of flushes per species per feeding, and
percent of times each species returned to the clay lick after flushing. I also looked at
overall trends in total number of days birds were observed at the lick and the chronology
of feeding for each species. This was later compared to feeding behavior recorded by
other Tambopata Macaw Project volunteers at a clay lick exposed to the frequent, heavy
boat traffic of the Tambopata River, “Hermosa.” This preliminary research may indicate
that birds could be habituated to boat traffic and this is not having a significant, negative
effect on their ability to feed at clay licks.
On the most basic level, a far larger percent of observed days had feeding at Hermosa
than Secreta. In fact, there, feeding was observed by at least one species every day at
Hermosa while Secreta had many days without any bird species observed feeding on the
clay lick. For dusky-headed parakeets, orange-cheeked parrots, and scarlet macaws, the
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percentage of days with observed feeding was roughly the same. Cobalt-winged
parakeets and blue and yellow macaws were the only species observed more often in
Secreta than Hermosa.
Feeding times also varied widely by species and most had a significant range. Parrots and
parakeets generally fed for a bit longer than the macaws. Feeding activity was also very
low for all species except cobalt-winged parakeets, in June, peaked in July, and seemed
to be falling again in August, although monitoring ended in mid-August. There were no
apparent indicators for this change in behavior. Cold and rainy weather usually decreases
clay lick activity, but July was coldest and rainiest month in this time period. Another
clay lick was found close by across the river and activity and environment there could
also have had an effect at Secreta.
I then decided that monitoring the rate of flushing and returning would be a good
measure of disturbance. If birds were flushing more often per feeding, indicating more
fright, and also returning less at Hermosa, it could indicate a change in behavior due to
fear of the heavy boat traffic. But here, the results were unexpected, as rates of return
after flushing were similar in both sites, and in fact, higher for all species, except for
mealy parrots, in Hermosa. This suggests that boat traffic overall has not had a significant
impact on the birds’ ability to feed. They may be less timid than the birds less exposed to
anthropogenic affects. However, this habituation could have negative affects as well that
have yet to be investigated, such as increased predation on the less-frightened birds when
they feed at other clay licks.
This research is important because macaws, parrots, and parakeets are important for the
rainforest ecosystem. Feeding at clay licks is thought to be essential for their health and
disturbances to this behavior must be minimized, especially because they are timid and
vulnerable when feeding. Therefore, understanding, and quantifying, how humans could
be negatively affecting this behavior is essential for minimizing the worst of these
anthropogenic threats and maintaining the intricate balance of this tropical ecosystem.
In addition, observing the colorful birds at their licks, has become a very popular activity
with ecotourists. Ecotourism has the potential to help develop this poor region while
conserving the environment. It is important to understand how this could be affecting the
macaw, parrot, and parakeet behavior not only in terms of ecological importance, but to
ensure that the tourists’ own activities are not potentially degrading their experience and
satisfaction.
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Figures:
Days of Observed Feeding
16
14
12
10
Number of Days
8
Total days feeding
June feeding
July Feeding
August feeding
6
4
2
0
Cobalt
Dusky- OrangeBluewinged headed cheeked Headed
parakeet parakeet parrot
parrot
Scarlet Red and Blue and
Macaw
Green
Gold
Macaw Macaw
Mealy
Parrot
Blackcapped
parakeet
Species
Percentage of Observed days With Feeding
90
80
70
60
Percentage of Days
50
40
Secreta
30
Hermosa
20
10
0
Co balt
winged
parakeet
Duskyheaded
parakeet
Orangecheeked
parro t
B lueHeaded
parro t
Scarlet
M acaw
Red and
Green
M acaw
B lue and
Go ld
M acaw
M ealy
P arro t
B lackcapped
parakeet
Species
Time for Feeding by Species
70
Average
Feeding Time
60
50
Lowest
observed
feeding
increment
Highest
observed
increment
40
Minutes
30
20
10
0
Cobalt
Dus ky- OrangeBluewinged headed cheeked Headed
parakeet parakeet
parrot
parrot
Scarlet
Macaw
Red and Blue and
Green
Gold
Macaw
Macaw
Mealy
Parrot
Blackcapped
parakeet
Species
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Percentage of Times Flushed Birds Returned
90
80
70
60
Percentage of 50
Returns
40
Secreta
30
Hermosa
20
10
0
Co balt
winged
parakeet
Duskyheaded
parakeet
Orangecheeked
parro t
B lueHeaded
parro t
Scarlet
M acaw
Red and
Green
M acaw
B lue and
Go ld
M acaw
M ealy
P arro t
B lackcapped
parakeet
Species
Percentage of Times Flushed Birds Returned
90
80
70
60
Percentage of 50
Returns
40
Secreta
30
Hermosa
20
10
0
Co balt
winged
parakeet
Duskyheaded
parakeet
Orangecheeked
parro t
B lueHeaded
parro t
Scarlet
M acaw
Red and
Green
M acaw
B lue and
Go ld
M acaw
M ealy
P arro t
B lackcapped
parakeet
Species
References:
Brightsmith D.J. (2004) Effects of weather on avian geophagy in
Tambopata, Peru. Wilson Bulletin 116:134 -145.
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