POST-FLEDGING SURVIVAL OF BLUE-FRONTED PARROTS (AMAZONA AESTIVA)

Blue-fronted Parrots (Amazona aestiva) are under intense pressure from habitat destruction and removal of adults and chicks for the pet trade. While estimates of nesting success and nestling survival of Blue-fronted Parrots have been produced in previous studies, the survival of fledglings is unknown. During January April 2007, we monitored 18 radio-collared Blue-fronted Parrots from eight wild nests. We monitored radio-collared birds for an average of 33 +/- 20.9 (SD) days (range: 11-87) post-fledging, until death, disappearance from the study area, or failure of the collar. Survival during this period was 94% (n = 18) and the single mortality, which occurred 11 days post-fledging, was due to pre-dation by a raptor. During February, we lost the signals for 15 of 17 surviving fledglings at an average of 27.3 +/- 7.3 (SD) days (range: 16-37) post-fledging. We lost the signals for siblings concurrently, indicating a dispersal of family groups from the study area. The lost signals could not be relocated during the remainder of the study period. Additional studies are needed to define the survival of juveniles over a longer period as well as to elucidate the direction and distance of travel for birds that leave the natal area after the breeding season.