Release Sites

Palo Verde National Park consists of wetlands, primary, secondary rainforest and mangroves. It is felt that the numbers of scarlet macaws, which are indigenous to the park, have dwindled to only 8 - 12 wild individuals.

Finca Las Palomas Rosario is a privately owned working property on the Nicoya Peninsula, in the north-west of the country. Edward Drew is of Jamaican origin, born in Costa Rica and is the owner of the successful company Salicsa, which produces liqueurs and chocolates in Costa Rica. The finca borders the Tempisque River and Palo Verde National Park.

We currently have a flock of twelve birds (six male; six female - ages 3 & 5) in a private aviary on this property, being tended by the owner. This flock of birds have their freedom on the property, and whilst they have been observed flying some distances, they tend to fly 'home' to roost at night. Mr. Drew has placed nestboxes all around his property and one pair of birds has been noted nesting. It has recently been reported (June 2004) that a pair of these birds have produced young. The parents did not tended the chick and it was being hand reared.

Amigos de las Aves has implemented a study in Palo Verde, whereby it may be possible to integrate our birds with the local population, and thus create a more stable future for this current wild group of scarlet macaws. We have had a biologist, Brian Smith and a botanist Linda van Alem, MSc, carrying out research in Palo Verde for two months, and we hope to obtain more detailed and quantifiable information about the status of the scarlet macaw population and their future. (see Brians report in Reports and Quotations)

There are nest-sites available in Palo Verde, but poaching tends to be rife, and there are currently not enough funds to supply guards.

Our regente is currently in discussion with Minae and other officials, with regard to the possibility of a program to help repopulate the park. The work involved is a huge task - not only in man-hours, but also in political policy, environmental issues and practicalities of the vastness of the area. Amigos de las Aves, however, will be proud to be a part of it should it be feasible.

Further success was noted in March 2006 by Dale Forbes. (See Reports Section) The macaws released in the program in Palo Verde appear to be fairing quite well and having good breeding success. Having birds actively breeding in the area appears to stimulate other pairs to form and attempt breeding. Unfortunately Mr. Drew has continued to hand feed birds at his farm and therefore three or four birds are super tame!

Whilst this detracts from a 'correct release program' it is interesting to note that the birds are well and surviving within the area of the National Parks and further study by Amigos de las Aves is being carried out to provide further informative data.

During 2006, Mr. Drew established his farm as a "zoo" and has opened his property to the public. Sadly for us, this again, ensures that some of the birds are still, "super tame", especially as some are enjoying the publics attention. For the birds part, they are all free but being fed on the property, except for one or two in the main flight. The birds can be seen on a regular basis flying around the property and enjoying their freedom.

It is our understanding that several of the original twelve birds have migrated to live in Palo Verde National Park, with the wild indiginous birds, as the numbers have increased from approximately 12 - 20 over the past couple of years.

Unfortunately, there is no data to support any of the birds activities which we sadly regret, however, we do have regular updates from Minae. (see Reports section).

Reports from MINAE (see Reports section) suggest that our birds have successfully bred in wild, with one fledgling being reported as seen with two rung birds on the edge of the Palo Verde National Park.

Amigos de las Aves and the official Release Programs of Amigos de las Aves in Costa Rica, www.amigosdelasavescostarica.org and www.hatchedtoflyfree.org are not affiliated or associated with any other company, organisation or association, by name or in any other country.