Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Rooth J. (1968) Over het voorkomen van de Geelvleugelamazone, Amazone barbadensis rothschildi, op Bonaire. ARDEA 56 (3-4): 281-283
On the occurrence of the Yellow-winged Parrot, Amazona barbadensis rothschildi on Bonaire This parrot is only known from the Venezuelan Island Blanquilla and from Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles (Voous 1957). Nothing is known about their reproduction, but it seems that they breed in April and May and that they have their nests in hollow trees, especially Spondias lutea L. and Capparis flexuosa L., and also in cavities in the rocky hills in the northern part of the island. Voous (1955) estimated the number in 1951 at 60-80 breeding pairs. During my stay on Bonaire in 1959 and 1960 I concluded that there were over 100 pairs. In the spring of 1966 I made another short survey, but counted only a few birds. During my visit in January 1968 I again searched intensively in large parts of the island. I observed only 23 birds, mostly in pairs, which was contrary to former experiences when I saw noisy flocks of tens .of birds. Presumably the favourable food situation as a result of two exceptionally good rainy years made it less necessary for the birds to make searching flights, so that most of them remained unobserved, making their preparations for the nesting season unobtrusively. Although a census was very difficult to make, I have got the impression, also thanks to local information, that the number of breeding pairs at the time of my visit was closer to 50 than to 100 pairs! Notwithstanding the protection by law since 1952, many birds are kept as pets and exported for this reason to neighbouring islands. Effective protection measures are necessary to safeguard the parrots for this island.


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