Browsing by Autor "A. Bennett Hennessey"

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Catorce nuevos registros altitudinales de aves del bosque húmedo montano, Parque Nacional Madidi, Bolivia
(2003) A. Bennett Hennessey
Nests, vocalizations, and conservation status of endangered Cochabamba Mountain-Finches (Compsospiza garleppi)
(Association of Field Ornithologists, 2009) Noemí Huanca; Peter A. Hosner; A. Bennett Hennessey
ABSTRACT Cochabamba Mountain-Finches (Compsospiza garleppi) are endangered residents of semihumid shrublands in the high Andes, with a range restricted to a few high valleys surrounding the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia. We examined the breeding behavior, feeding ecology, habitat requirements, vocalizations, and conservation status of Cochabamba Mountain-Finches from November 2006 to April 2007. We observed 10 nests of eight pairs, with nests found in a variety of small woody shrubs as well as bunchgrass and a ground bromeliad. Clutches (N= 2) consisted of one or two eggs, and all broods (N= 4) included one or two young. Our observations suggest that Cochabamba Mountain-Finches are not Polylepis specialists as previously thought, and use a diversity of native shrubs often associated with Polylepis woodlands for foraging and nesting. Pairs inhabited modified habitats where native vegetation and woodland edge persisted, but were not observed in closed canopy woodlands. Cochabamba Mountain-Finches frequently foraged on the edges of potato fields in a rural community and, at least occasionally, consumed parts of unearthed tubers. We recorded two previously unknown song types and three types of calls, and one song type was found to be useful for playback surveys. We recommend that future research and conservation actions include thorough surveys using playback to determine population sizes, and that habitat restoration projects focus on maintaining a diversity of native shrubs rather than only Polylepis trees. Compsospiza garleppi es una especie residente en peligro de las tierras arbustivas semihúmedas de los altos Andes, con un rango restringido a unos pocos valles en los alrededores de la ciudad de Cochabamba, Bolivia. Nosotros examinamos el comportamiento reproductivo, la ecología alimentaria, los requerimientos de hábitat, vocalizaciones y estado de conservación de Compsospiza garleppi desde Noviembre 2006 hasta Abril 2007. Observamos 10 nidos de ocho parejas, los nidos fueron encontrados en una variedad de pequeños arbustos al igual que en montones de pastos y bromelias de suelo. La nidadas (N= 2) consistieron de uno o dos huevos y uno o dos polluelos (N= 4). Nuestras observaciones sugieren que Compsospiza garleppi no es un especialista de Polylepis como se había pensado anteriormente, y usa una diversidad de arbustos nativos asociados con bosques de Polylepis para buscar alimento y anidar. Se encontraron parejas en hábitat modificado en donde la vegetación nativa y los bordes de bosque persistieron, pero no fueron observadas en bosques con un dosel cerrado. Compsospiza garlepp busco alimento frecuentemente en los bordes de plantaciones de papa en una comunidad rural y, ocasionalmente, consumió partes de tubérculos desenterrados. Nosotros grabamos dos cantos no descritos anteriormente y tres tipos de llamados, un tipo de los cantos fue beneficioso para estudios de playback. Nosotros recomendamos que futuros estudios y acciones de conservación usen playback como herramienta para realizar censos minuciosos para determinar tamaños poblacionales, y que proyectos de restauración de hábitat se enfoquen en el mantenimiento de la diversidad de arbustos nativos en vez de únicamente mantener árboles de Polylepis.
Satellite Telemetry of Blue-Throated Macaws in Barba Azul Nature Reserve (Beni, Bolivia) Reveals Likely Breeding Areas
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2021) L. Davenport; Tjalle Boorsma; Lucas A. Carrara; Paulo de Tarso Zuquim Antas; Luciene Carrara Paula Faria; Donald J. Brightsmith; Sebastián K. Herzog; Rodrigo Wilber Soria-Auza; A. Bennett Hennessey
The Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis) is a Critically Endangered species endemic to the Llanos de Moxos ecosystem of Beni, Bolivia. To aid conservation of the northwestern population that utilizes the Barba Azul Nature Reserve during the non-breeding season, we set out to learn the sites where these birds breed using satellite telemetry. We describe preliminary tests conducted on captive birds (at Loro Parque Foundation, Tenerife, Spain) that resulted in choosing Geotrak Parrot Collars, a metal, battery-operated unit that provides data through the Argos satellite system. In September 2019, we tagged three birds in Barba Azul with Geotrak collars, and received migration data for two birds, until battery depletion in November and December 2019. Our two migrant birds were tracked leaving Barba Azul on the same date (27 September), but departed in divergent directions (approximately 90 degrees in separation). They settled in two sites approximately 50–100 km from Barba Azul. Some details of the work are restricted out of conservation concern as the species still faces poaching pressures. Knowing their likely breeding grounds, reserve managers conducted site visits to where the birds were tracked, resulting in the discovery of breeding birds, although no birds still carrying a transmitter were seen then. A single individual still carrying its collar was spotted 13 August 2021 at Barba Azul. The work suggests that the Blue-throated Macaws of Barba Azul use breeding sites that are scattered across the Llanos de Moxos region, although within the recognized boundaries of the northwestern subpopulation. We conclude that the use of satellite collars is a feasible option for research with the species and could provide further conservation insights.
Species Rank of Phibalura ( flavirostris ) boliviana Based on Plumage, Soft Part Color, Vocalizations, and Seasonal Movements
(Wilson Ornithological Society, 2011) A. Bennett Hennessey
The Swallow-tailed Cotinga (Phibalura flavirostris) has traditionally been considered to consist of two subspecies, P. f. flavirostris of southeastern Brazil's foothill forest and, isolated by ∼2,500 km, a population of P. f. boliviana in central-western Bolivia. The plumage of the two taxa is distinctly different; boliviana males have a longer tail, and body plumage is significantly less sexually dimorphic. The iris of boliviana is mustard yellow, distinct from the blood red iris of flavirostris. P. f. boliviana has dull to bright orange-yellow feet whereas flavirostris has pink feet. Only one vocalization type is recorded for P. f. flavirostris, whereas at least five calls and a song are known for P. f. boliviana, which vocalizes significantly more often. The Brazilian P. f. flavirostris has strong seasonal movements, whereas P. f. boliviana has no seasonal movements. Given the diagnosable differences between the two taxa, it is highly probable they are separate lineages. P. boliviana qualifies as critically endangered for its declining small population due to continual habitat loss.