[BCNnet] ABC's Great Rediscovery

Mon, 26 Aug 2002 16:56:41 -0500

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Here is wonderful bird conservation news from the American Bird Conservancy,
www.abcbirds.org <http://www.abcbirds.org/> .

Donald R. Dann
Highland Park/Lake County

For Immediate Release
22 August 2002
Dateline: Washington, D.C.

 "Missing" South American Parrot Rediscovered After 90 years, Photographed
For the First Time

This July 28, researchers with ProAves Colombia, supported by American Bird
Conservancy (ABC) and the World Parrot Trust (WPT), photographed one of the
world's rarest parrots in the high Andes of Colombia confirming the survival
of this long lost species. Colombian ornithologists Jorge Velasquez and
Alonso Quevedo found a flock of 14 Fuertes's Parrots in a remote area of the
central Andes close to Los Nevados National Park.

Ninety one years ago, in August 1911, two bird collectors from the American
Museum of Natural History in New York - Leo Miller and Arthur Allen -
visited the same volcano as Jorge and Alonso to explore its birdlife. They
spent several months in the desolate high Andean wilderness, and discovered
a "distinct and interesting" parrot that was previously unknown to science.
The birds were described the following year and named Hapalopsittaca
fuertesi, or Fuertes's Parrot, also called the 'Multicolored Parrot' by
local farmers.

Between the original discovery and this July, the continued existence of
this intriguing species has remained a mystery with no confirmed sightings
of the bird. Last year, ProAves Colombia, a Colombian bird conservation
group, decided to mount a determined search for the species to see whether
it could be located and protected. The group was supported by Dr. Paul
Salaman, an expert in Colombian ornithology from the British Museum of
Natural History, and received initial funding from American Bird Conservancy
and the World Parrot Trust. The project, which also studied another rare
Andean parrot, the Rusty-faced Parrot,  has subsequently attracted
additional support from Fundación Natura, Conservation International, The
British Natural History Museum, and Instituto de Ciencias Naturales -
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and recently won the Gold Award at this
year's prestigious British Petroleum International Conservation Awards.

To date, just 14 Fuertes's Parrots, including 3 juveniles, have been
discovered, surviving in just a few dozen hectares of forest. The critical
requirements of the species appear to be tall mature trees, where they feed
on berries amongst the epiphyte-laden canopy branches and find vital nesting
cavities. Jorge Velasquez has stated "my team's task has only just begun, as
we must commence the vital job of protecting the species with great
urgency." Now the researchers know the specific habitat preferences and diet
of the parrot, it is hoped that they can locate and protect other surviving
flocks in the region.

"From our experience with the critically endangered Yellow-eared Parrot,
another species restricted to the Colombian Andes, we know that conservation
efforts for these rare birds can succeed. We now need to gain the support of
as many people as possible to help fund and implement a comprehensive
conservation effort" said Mike Parr, Vice President for Program Development
at American Bird Conservancy, and author of Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of
the World.

"The re-discovery of the long-lost Fuertes's Parrot is a great achievement
for ornithologists and conservationists in Colombia, and underscores the
fact that so many parrots linger on the brink of extinction.  ProAves'
accomplishment will inspire desperately needed conservation work in the
Andes, promoting the recovery of this parrot and many other species unique
to the region," said James Gilardi, Ph.D., Director of the World Parrot
Trust.

For reproducible photographs visit
www.abcbirds.org/media/releases/fuertes_parrot_release.htm
<http://www.abcbirds.org/media/releases/fuertes_parrot_release.htm>

For more information, or to express interest to help, please contact Mike
Parr, ABC, 202 452 1535 ext. 204, or James Gilardi, WPT, 530 756 6340.

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt'>Here is wonderful bird conservation news from the American Bird
Conservancy, <a =
href=3D"http://www.abcbirds.org/">www.abcbirds.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></span>=
</span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

Donald R. Dann<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt'>Highland Park/Lake County<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D4 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'=
><span
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>For Immediate Release<br>
22 August 2002</span></span></font></b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:win=
dowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><strong><b><font size=3D4 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times =
New Roman";
color:black'>Dateline: Washington, D.C.</span></font></b></strong><font =
size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><b><font =
size=3D4
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;font-weight:bold'><br>
<span style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;&quot;Missing&quot; =
South
American Parrot Rediscovered After 90 years, Photographed For the First =
Time</span></span></font></b><b><font
size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

This July 28, researchers with =
ProAves Colombia,
supported by American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and the World Parrot Trust =
(WPT),
photographed one of the world's rarest parrots in the high Andes of =
Colombia
confirming the survival of this long lost species. Colombian =
ornithologists
Jorge Velasquez and Alonso Quevedo found a flock of 14 Fuertes's Parrots =
in a
remote area of the central Andes close to Los Nevados National Park. 
 
Ninety one years ago, in August 1911, two bird collectors from the =
American
Museum of Natural History in New York - Leo Miller and Arthur Allen - =
visited
the same volcano as Jorge and Alonso to explore its birdlife. They spent
several months in the desolate high Andean wilderness, and discovered a
&quot;distinct and interesting&quot; parrot that was previously unknown =
to science.
The birds were described the following year and named Hapalopsittaca fuertesi, or Fuertes's Parrot, also =
called
the 'Multicolored Parrot' by local farmers.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

Between the original discovery and =
this
July, the continued existence of this intriguing species has remained a =
mystery
with no confirmed sightings of the bird. Last year, ProAves Colombia, a
Colombian bird conservation group, decided to mount a determined search =
for the
species to see whether it could be located and protected. The group was
supported by Dr. Paul Salaman, an expert in Colombian ornithology from =
the
British Museum of Natural History, and received initial funding from =
American
Bird Conservancy and the World Parrot Trust. The project, which also =
studied
another rare Andean parrot, the Rusty-faced Parrot,&nbsp; has =
subsequently
attracted additional support from Fundaci=F3n Natura, Conservation =
International,
The British Natural History Museum, and Instituto de Ciencias Naturales =
-
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and recently won the Gold Award at =
this
year's prestigious British Petroleum International Conservation
Awards.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&=
nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

To date, just 14 Fuertes's Parrots, =
including 3
juveniles, have been discovered, surviving in just a few dozen hectares =
of
forest. The critical requirements of the species appear to be tall =
mature
trees, where they feed on berries amongst the epiphyte-laden canopy =
branches
and find vital nesting cavities. Jorge Velasquez has stated &quot;my =
team's
task has only just begun, as we must commence the vital job of =
protecting the
species with great urgency.&quot; Now the researchers know the specific =
habitat
preferences and diet of the parrot, it is hoped that they can locate and
protect other surviving flocks in the region. 
 
&quot;From our experience with the critically endangered Yellow-eared =
Parrot,
another species restricted to the Colombian Andes, we know that =
conservation
efforts for these rare birds can succeed. We now need to gain the =
support of as
many people as possible to help fund and implement a comprehensive =
conservation
effort&quot; said Mike Parr, Vice President for Program Development at =
American
Bird Conservancy, and author of =
Parrots: A
Guide to Parrots of the World. 
 
&quot;The re-discovery of the long-lost Fuertes's Parrot is a great =
achievement
for ornithologists and conservationists in Colombia, and underscores the =
fact
that so many parrots linger on the brink of extinction.&nbsp; ProAves'
accomplishment will inspire desperately needed conservation work in the =
Andes,
promoting the recovery of this parrot and many other species unique to =
the
region,&quot; said James Gilardi, Ph.D., Director of the World Parrot =
Trust.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>For reproducible photographs visit =
<a
href=3D"http://www.abcbirds.org/media/releases/fuertes_parrot_release.htm=
">www.abcbirds.org/media/releases/fuertes_parrot_release.htm</a></span></=
font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>For more information, or to =
express
interest to help, please contact Mike Parr, ABC, 202 452 1535 ext. 204, =
or
James Gilardi, WPT, 530 756 6340.</span></font><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dblack
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;
mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

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