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Guacamayo ambiguo (Spanish) Ara ambiguus Class: Order: Family: Genus: Aves Psittaciformes Psittacidae Ara

Distribution Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama Habitat Humid lowland and foothill forests. It can inhabit edge habitats and crosses open areas. Food Chief food is the nut of the almendro tree (yellow almond). Reproduction In Costa Rica it nests in December and January. Females lay a clutch of up to three eggs. Incubation period lasts about three months. 60% of clutches produce at least one young to fledging stage.

Once abundant throughout Costa Ricas Atlantic coast, its range is now limited to the Northern zone - the area between the San Carlos, San Juan and Sarapiqui rivers to the northern foothills of the Central Volcanoes Range. This is an area of about 1,120 sq. km. It is found mainly below 600 m. The forest canopy is home to noisy, non-breeding flocks consisting of 50 or more individuals who congregate from a great distance. This sometimes gives the mistaken impression of an inflated population within a given area. Local migrations within Costa Rica result when the birds follow the six-month fruiting period of their main food source, the almendro tree (yellow almond). A close favourite is the nut of the titor tree. It will also feed from numerous other types of trees if its favourites are not available. The feeding range of a pair has been estimated to be as large as 20 sq. km. This bird nests almost exclusively in natural cavities of large, living trees usually favouring the almendro tree. It is estimated there may be as few as 25 to 30 reproductive pairs left in the wilds of Costa Rica, a figure experts say is insufficient to provide the genetic diversity needed to sustain the Costa Rican population. Breeding pairs are naturally monogamous, but do not necessarily occupy the same nesting cavity in consecutive years. The chicks beg for food with hoarse coos, inciting soft murmured exchanges from the parents when they arrive back at the nest with food. Parents will favour a larger chick, which has a better chance of survival, by feeding it more than its sibling.

Development Reaches breeding age at five to six years. Remains sexually productive until age 30. Lifespan of over 60 years. Characteristics Mostly olive green with reddish forehead and brownish-red tail. Pale blue lower back, rump and upper tail cover feathers. Adaptations Zygodactic feet for dexterity. A strong bill for splitting food.

Juveniles will separate from their parents at the start of the next breeding season. Once mature, these macaws reproduce every two to three years. If one member of a breeding pair is lost to capture, the remaining partner may have difficulty finding a new mate. They are often seen within small family groups of five or six birds. Also known in Costa Rica as Lapa Verde (green macaw), and elsewhere as Buffon's Macaw, it is largely olive green in colour. Its bare facial area features black lines with reddish facial lines more often observed in older, especially female, birds. There are two subspecies, the nominate Ara ambiguus and Ara guayaquilensis which has green tail feathers and a narrower bill. Adults reach 85-90 cm in length and will weigh approximately 1.3 kg. It has two toes facing forwards and two facing backwards (zygodactic feet), providing great dexterity while handling food and climbing around in the canopy. These naturally curious birds have multi-functional bills with the destructive powers of an ice pick, a chisel, a file and a vice. They vocalize loudly in the early morning hours with loud squawks and growls and a creaking aaa call. Although they are brightly coloured and are obviously very visible to predators, their sheer size make them unlikely to be targeted by anything except eagles and medium to large wild cats. Listed in the IUCN Red List 2006 as endangered, it may disappear entirely from Costa Rica within 10 years. They are very dependant on the almendro tree, which is logged extensively for its hardwood. A Costa Rican law passed in 1996 prohibits the felling of nesting and hollow almendro trees, but the law is difficult to enforce. Within Costa Rica, it is estimated the breeding habitat of this macaw has been reduced by almost 90% in the last decade. Releasing captive bred specimens into the wild most likely would not help the wild population due to inadequate feeding and nesting habitat to sustain them. The great greens are normally seen around Tortuguero in the winter months. Tom Mason reports that most of his sightings have been in November and December, with a one-time record sighting of thirteen in one day. At one time they used to wake people up in the compound as they very noisily fed in a large almendro tree that was on the canal beside our boathouse. Unfortunately, the tree fell and we haven't had the pleasure of their cacophony since. Most of the time, they are now seen flying high above our heads, usually in groups of two or three.

Status/ Threats Habitat loss due to deforestation. Illegally caught for the wild bird trade and sometimes hunted for food and feathers by the locals. Bans on poaching are also not well enforced, with nestlings fetching between $100 and $300 internally.

Sightings at Cao Palma Seen flying high above the compound.

References Rivera C., Mario (2007). The Parrot Society UK-Conservation Articles-Great-Green Macaw. Retrieved February 8, 2008 from http://www.theparrotsocietyuk.org/index.php/Conservation_Article_9/43 IUCN. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species-Ara ambiguus-Endangered. Retrieved February 8, 2008 from http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/40207/all

Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest Conservation www.coterc.org

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