Program: Blue-throated Macaw Conservation
Blue-throated Macaws (Ara glaucogularis) are native to north-central Bolivia and are found only in seasonally flooded savannahs and elevated palm islands.
They are highly endangered: their already restricted wild population nearly disappeared by the end of the 1980s and when it was found again in 1992 the birds were trapped to near-extinction. Currently, parasite infestations in chicks, severe weather events, and competition for limited nest cavities with other macaws, ducks, bees, and other wildlife. Uncontrolled brushfires are an emerging hazard.
Since 2002, the World Parrot Trust has led research to understand the macaws’ population recovery issues and put into place protective measures:
- Identifying causes of nest failure
Investigated factors contributing to nesting losses, including poaching, predation, and environmental threats. - Supporting surveys and fieldwork
Funded and facilitated research across the species’ range, leading to the discovery of previously unrecorded macaw populations and nesting sites. - Conducting census work and developing monitoring tools
Carried out population counts in the southern portion of the range and created innovative tools such as mobile apps and social surveys to document sightings and behaviours. - Providing breeding support for wild macaws
Installed artificial nest boxes, safeguarded natural nesting cavities, and provided hands-on care for underdeveloped or at-risk chicks. - Tracking fledglings to monitor survival
Monitored young macaws after they leave the nest to understand survival rates and inform long-term conservation strategies. - Establishing and managing protected habitats
Helped create and maintain protected areas, while also supporting habitat restoration, fire mitigation efforts, and local capacity building in land stewardship. - Supporting reintroduction and repatriation efforts
Partnered with international and Bolivian organisations to return captive-bred macaws to the wild, enhancing genetic diversity and population recovery. - Engaging local communities in conservation
Trained residents to monitor nests, protect habitat, reduce local threats, and take an active role in conserving macaws through community-led efforts.
These projects have helped inform regional conservation strategies and develop practical tools to protect the Blue-throated Macaw.
Make a difference in the lives of parrots.
Learn how the World Parrot Trust is supporting Blue-throated Macaw conservation.
