Release protocol

So along with two parrot experts from the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center in Texas, we created a protocol that would give them the best chance to survive in the wild. The protocol consisted of feeding them as many wild fruits, flowers and berries as we could find, to prepare them for foraging.

We also started blowing a whistle every time we were about to feed them. The idea behind this was that once they were free, the sound of the whistle would lead them back to the feeding platforms placed outside their enclosure, where we could feed them during the initial first months of the release.

Liberation

A few days before the release, the parrots were divided into two groups, separating the couples. Parrots mate for life, and this method would ensure us that the first group would have the opportunity to explore the surroundings, while keeping them close to the enclosure to see their partners. This technique prevents them from flying away instantly and getting lost. When the second group was released a few days later, group one was able to show them the ropes of life outside.

Keeping the birds around Merazonia provides them with a safe environment to start a life back in the wild and gives us the chance to monitor them. All birds have a chip to identify them with, but two of them - one from each group - also had a radio tracker on their tail so we could gather data on their movements and make sure the group was doing all right.

Partners

All in all, we are happy with the result. A special thanks goes out top Alex Girard who initiated this project; parrot experts Janice D. Boyd and Donald J. Brightsmith from the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center at Texas A&M, who provided us with vital information for the release plan; The Ministry of environment, Pastaza for their collaboration and assistance; our intern Victor Grivegnée-Dumoulin from the University of Sherbrooke, Canada who devoted himself to the post release monitoring along with fellow ornithologist Normand Fleury.