Amazona barbadensis

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	PSITTACIFORMES	PSITTACIDAE

Scientific Name:

Amazona barbadensis

Species Authority:

(Gmelin, 1788)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Yellow-shouldered Amazon, Yellow-shouldered Parrot
Spanish	–	Amazona de Espalda Amarilla, Amazona Hombrogualda, Cotorra Cabeciamarilla

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable B1ab(i,ii,iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Symes, A., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Rodríguez, J., Rojas-Suárez, F., Sharpe, C J

Justification:
This species has a small range within which trade and habitat loss and possibly introduced mammalian predators are likely to be causing declines. This combination qualifies it as Vulnerable.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Amazona barbadensis has a disjunct range in northern coastal Venezuela (Falcón, Lara, Anzoátegui and Sucre) and the islands of Margarita, La Blanquilla and Bonaire (this last in the Netherlands Antilles). It is now extinct on Aruba (to Netherlands). Although never proven to naturally occur on Curaçao, an 18^th century historical source reports the former presence of a wild parrot population⁶. The mainland population seems low, while numbers on the islands (1,900 on Margarita and 80-100 on Blanquilla in 1996⁵, 650 on Bonaire in 2007⁹) appear to fluctuate, but have increased on Margarita from 750 birds in 1989⁴. In 1992, 12 captive-reared birds were reintroduced to Margarita, with some success⁴.
Countries:	Native: Netherlands Antilles; Venezuela
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits xerophytic vegetation, frequenting desert shrublands dominated by cacti and low thorn-bushes or trees. Nesting takes place in cavities in trees, cacti or cliffs, generally from March to September but varies depending on weather conditions¹. It tends to roost communally in tall trees, with groups of up to 700 birds recorded².
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It is widely exploited for trade, which serves a strong internal pet market (many chicks taken in Bonaire are believed to end up in Curaçao⁹). Tourist and associated developments are destroying habitat, especially on Margarita, where the principal breeding, roosting and feeding-sites are threatened by unregulated mining for construction materials^1,5. In some areas, it is hunted for allegedly damaging crops^3,5. On Bonaire, natural vegetation has been heavily degraded for charcoal production, and through intensive grazing by goats, drastically reducing natural food species diversity and availability⁶. Introduced mammalian predators and the destruction of nest sites resulting from poaching activity also appear to limit its reproductive potential on Bonaire⁹.

Major Threat(s):

It is widely exploited for trade, which serves a strong internal pet market (many chicks taken in Bonaire are believed to end up in Curaçao⁹). Tourist and associated developments are destroying habitat, especially on Margarita, where the principal breeding, roosting and feeding-sites are threatened by unregulated mining for construction materials^1,5. In some areas, it is hunted for allegedly damaging crops^3,5. On Bonaire, natural vegetation has been heavily degraded for charcoal production, and through intensive grazing by goats, drastically reducing natural food species diversity and availability⁶. Introduced mammalian predators and the destruction of nest sites resulting from poaching activity also appear to limit its reproductive potential on Bonaire⁹.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I and II, but legal protection in Venezuela is not enforced⁷. It occurs in Morrocoy, Cerro El Copey, Laguna de la Restinga and Washington-Slagbaai National Parks. In 2006 and 2007 reforestation of the Washington-Slagbaai park began by successful reintroduction of rare native drought resistant berry and fruit bearing tree species. In 2007 the fence to exclude goats from a large section of the park was restored and in 2008 goat removal will commence to foster natural woodland recovery⁶. There is a conservation and awareness-raising campaign on Margarita and La Blanquilla⁵. The reintroduction programme on Margarita was preceded by five years of environmental education, public awareness and ecological studies⁴. On Bonaire, awareness campaigns began in 1998-1999 and are ongoing, in combination with ecological research activity. An amnesty of captive birds took place in 2002, with all declared birds identified using a numbered ring on the leg to aid in future anti-poaching law enforcement⁹. Supplemental feeding has also been carried out during extreme droughts⁶. On Margarita artificial nests were introduced but suffered higher rates of poaching. The repair of natural nesting cavities has proved more successful⁸. Genetic studies are being carried out to resolve the taxonomic status of subpopulations⁹. Conservation Actions Proposed Survey to determine distribution and status throughout range. Monitor key populations. Regulate captive populations and reduce poaching incentives⁶. Deploy anti-poaching measures in known breeding areas⁶. Restore habitat on Bonaire⁶.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II, but legal protection in Venezuela is not enforced⁷. It occurs in Morrocoy, Cerro El Copey, Laguna de la Restinga and Washington-Slagbaai National Parks. In 2006 and 2007 reforestation of the Washington-Slagbaai park began by successful reintroduction of rare native drought resistant berry and fruit bearing tree species. In 2007 the fence to exclude goats from a large section of the park was restored and in 2008 goat removal will commence to foster natural woodland recovery⁶. There is a conservation and awareness-raising campaign on Margarita and La Blanquilla⁵. The reintroduction programme on Margarita was preceded by five years of environmental education, public awareness and ecological studies⁴. On Bonaire, awareness campaigns began in 1998-1999 and are ongoing, in combination with ecological research activity. An amnesty of captive birds took place in 2002, with all declared birds identified using a numbered ring on the leg to aid in future anti-poaching law enforcement⁹. Supplemental feeding has also been carried out during extreme droughts⁶. On Margarita artificial nests were introduced but suffered higher rates of poaching. The repair of natural nesting cavities has proved more successful⁸. Genetic studies are being carried out to resolve the taxonomic status of subpopulations⁹.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey to determine distribution and status throughout range. Monitor key populations. Regulate captive populations and reduce poaching incentives⁶. Deploy anti-poaching measures in known breeding areas⁶. Restore habitat on Bonaire⁶.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Amazona barbadensis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2012.
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