Crax alberti

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	GALLIFORMES	CRACIDAE

Scientific Name:

Crax alberti

Species Authority:

Fraser, 1852

Common Name/s:

English	–	Blue-billed Curassow, Blue-knobbed Curassow
Spanish	–	Pavón Piquiazul

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered A3bcd+4bcd ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Calvert, R., Symes, A., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Olarte, L., Renjifo, L., Cuervo, A., Dávalos, L., Salaman, P., González, J., Williams, R., Ochoa, J.

Justification:
The rate of deforestation in this species's range has been very rapid over the past decade, such that little habitat remains. It is projected that it could undergo an extremely rapid population reduction given increased access and hunting, and therefore qualifies as Critically Endangered.

History:

2009	–	Critically Endangered
2008	–	Critically Endangered
2004	–	Critically Endangered
2000	–	Critically Endangered
1996	–	Critically Endangered
1994	–	Critically Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species historically occurred in northern Colombia, from the base of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta west to the Sinú valley and south in the Magdalena valley to northern Tolima. Two of the few large lowland forest areas remaining in its range have produced recent records: two sites on the west slope of the Serranía de San Lucas, Antioquia^1,2,3,7 and the Serranía de las Quinchas, Boyacá⁸. Few individuals are thought to remain at Serranía de San Lucas¹⁹, and surveys conducted in 2003 suggest that the latter area holds the population stronghold of this species which contributed to the establishment of El Paujíl Bird Reserve¹¹. Numbers within this reserve have increased and the density of individuals has increased from 2.1 individuals/km² to 4.7 individuals/km²in 2009¹⁹ but remains far below the projected carrying capacity of 1 in 10 acres. Anecdotal observations in 2009 are also indicative of a continued localised increase²³. In 1993, sightings were reported at La Terretera near Alto Sinú and in the Serranía de San Jacinto, Bolívar¹⁰. The population in the El Paujíl Bird Reserve was estimated at 254 individuals in 2009, and based on the same density estimate the population in the surrounding area (including the reserve) is thought to be 509 individuals¹⁹. Local reports indicate that there has been a recent and rapid decline throughout its range^1,2,3,7,19.
Countries:	Native: Colombia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The population in the El Paujíl Bird Reserve was estimated a maximum of 254 individuals in 2009, whilst surrounding area (including the reserve) may hold up to 509 individuals. There are several populations elsewhere, but these are thought to be severely declining or already locally extinct (D. Caro in litt. 2010), hence a populations band of 250-999 individuals is appropriate.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits humid forest up to 1,200 m, but there is at least one record from tropical dry forest²⁴. It breeds in the dry season, nesting in December-March, with parties of adults and chicks observed in March-August^1,2,7. Two breeding seasons have been recorded in the El Paujíl Bird Reserve, one from December to March and another from July to September²¹. It feeds on fruit, shoots, invertebrates, and perhaps even carrion^1,2,7,11. One recent survey recorded the consumption of seeds from a total of 15 different plant species. A terrestrial crab was also consumed. The species forages directly on the forest floor, and has never been observed foraging in a tree²⁰. Roost sites, situated in foliage in trees, are near feeding areas and are used for several days¹⁶.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It inhabits humid forest up to 1,200 m, but there is at least one record from tropical dry forest²⁴. It breeds in the dry season, nesting in December-March, with parties of adults and chicks observed in March-August^1,2,7. Two breeding seasons have been recorded in the El Paujíl Bird Reserve, one from December to March and another from July to September²¹. It feeds on fruit, shoots, invertebrates, and perhaps even carrion^1,2,7,11. One recent survey recorded the consumption of seeds from a total of 15 different plant species. A terrestrial crab was also consumed. The species forages directly on the forest floor, and has never been observed foraging in a tree²⁰. Roost sites, situated in foliage in trees, are near feeding areas and are used for several days¹⁶.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species may be tolerant of low levels of habitat degradation²⁴; however, its range is affected by outright habitat loss and severe degradation. Vast areas of forest have been cleared since the 17th century, and are used for livestock-farming, arable cultivation, cotton and illegal drug plantations, oil extraction and mining^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,13,14,24}. Deforestation outside of the El Paujíl Bird Reserve is accelerating at an annual rate of 2.1-7%²². Cultivation (notably of coffee), logging and marijuana-plantation expansion and subsequent government spraying with non-specific herbicides affect the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta^4,5,6,24. Colonisation and deforestation for coca farming are the principal threats acting around the El Paujíl Bird Reserve¹¹. In 1996, there was a gold rush in the Serranía de San Lucas and most of the eastern slopes have since been settled, logged and converted to agriculture and coca production^2,3,7. Few individuals are thought to remain in this area due to hunting¹⁹. Hunting and egg-collecting for food have contributed to past and present declines, and a recent survey of villages surrounding the Paramillo National Park suggests these activities will continue into the future unless the economic situation of the villagers improves^2,7,18. The species is also threatened by infrastructure development, as exemplified by the Santa Marta-Riohacha Highway, which acts as a barrier between populations in Tayrona National Park and the foothills of the Sierra Marta de Santa Marta²⁴.

Major Threat(s):

This species may be tolerant of low levels of habitat degradation²⁴; however, its range is affected by outright habitat loss and severe degradation. Vast areas of forest have been cleared since the 17th century, and are used for livestock-farming, arable cultivation, cotton and illegal drug plantations, oil extraction and mining^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,13,14,24}. Deforestation outside of the El Paujíl Bird Reserve is accelerating at an annual rate of 2.1-7%²². Cultivation (notably of coffee), logging and marijuana-plantation expansion and subsequent government spraying with non-specific herbicides affect the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta^4,5,6,24. Colonisation and deforestation for coca farming are the principal threats acting around the El Paujíl Bird Reserve¹¹. In 1996, there was a gold rush in the Serranía de San Lucas and most of the eastern slopes have since been settled, logged and converted to agriculture and coca production^2,3,7. Few individuals are thought to remain in this area due to hunting¹⁹. Hunting and egg-collecting for food have contributed to past and present declines, and a recent survey of villages surrounding the Paramillo National Park suggests these activities will continue into the future unless the economic situation of the villagers improves^2,7,18. The species is also threatened by infrastructure development, as exemplified by the Santa Marta-Riohacha Highway, which acts as a barrier between populations in Tayrona National Park and the foothills of the Sierra Marta de Santa Marta²⁴.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway El Paujíl Bird Reserve was established in 2004, covering 848 ha in the Magdelena Valley, Serranía de las Quinchas, and local authorities have introduced penalties for shooting or trapping the species¹¹. Fundación ProAves continue to purchase land to expand the reserve and are also engaging in habitat restoration within its boundaries¹⁹. ProAves aims to expand the reserve to c.6,000 ha in the next two years²². Paramillo National Park is vast and holds this species, but no protective measures have been implemented⁷. The large Bajo Cauca-Nechí Regional Reserve probably holds the species^2,7. Los Colorados Sanctuary protects part of the Serranía de San Jacinto¹⁰. It occurs in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Tayrona National Parks²³, and potentially in the Cañon del Río Alicante and Los Besotes reserves¹⁵. Of all of the reserves listed above, only El Paujíl Bird Reserve is thought to receive adequate protection to safeguard this species¹⁵. Since 2006, ProAves has been engaged in a variety of awareness-raising initiatives in three villages within the Serranía de las Quinchas buffer zone, including training courses on bird monitoring and for park rangers¹⁷. Studies of population density and structure, as well as habitat use and behaviour of the species have been ongoing at the El Paujíl Bird Reserve since 2004¹⁷. Further surveys are planned in the south-western limits of the species's range in order to delimit additional IBAs for its conservation. Fundación ALPEC is working to create a habitat corridor to connect protected areas in the lowlands to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta through a network of private reserves²⁴. Conservation Actions Proposed Determine its population and distribution more accurately and confirm its persistence in the serranías de San Jacinto and de las Quinchas, and the upper Sinú drainage^1,2,7,8. Protect forests on the serranías de San Lucas and de las Quinchas^2,7,8. Implement effective conservation measures in existing protected areas^3,7. Initiate educational campaigns to limit hunting, and provide resources to replace the need for habitat conversion².

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
El Paujíl Bird Reserve was established in 2004, covering 848 ha in the Magdelena Valley, Serranía de las Quinchas, and local authorities have introduced penalties for shooting or trapping the species¹¹. Fundación ProAves continue to purchase land to expand the reserve and are also engaging in habitat restoration within its boundaries¹⁹. ProAves aims to expand the reserve to c.6,000 ha in the next two years²². Paramillo National Park is vast and holds this species, but no protective measures have been implemented⁷. The large Bajo Cauca-Nechí Regional Reserve probably holds the species^2,7. Los Colorados Sanctuary protects part of the Serranía de San Jacinto¹⁰. It occurs in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Tayrona National Parks²³, and potentially in the Cañon del Río Alicante and Los Besotes reserves¹⁵. Of all of the reserves listed above, only El Paujíl Bird Reserve is thought to receive adequate protection to safeguard this species¹⁵. Since 2006, ProAves has been engaged in a variety of awareness-raising initiatives in three villages within the Serranía de las Quinchas buffer zone, including training courses on bird monitoring and for park rangers¹⁷. Studies of population density and structure, as well as habitat use and behaviour of the species have been ongoing at the El Paujíl Bird Reserve since 2004¹⁷. Further surveys are planned in the south-western limits of the species's range in order to delimit additional IBAs for its conservation. Fundación ALPEC is working to create a habitat corridor to connect protected areas in the lowlands to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta through a network of private reserves²⁴.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Determine its population and distribution more accurately and confirm its persistence in the serranías de San Jacinto and de las Quinchas, and the upper Sinú drainage^1,2,7,8. Protect forests on the serranías de San Lucas and de las Quinchas^2,7,8. Implement effective conservation measures in existing protected areas^3,7. Initiate educational campaigns to limit hunting, and provide resources to replace the need for habitat conversion².

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Crax alberti. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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