Update, February, 2009
Thank you for continuing to visit our web site and participating in the update to the Wild Parrots of Santa Barbara. Many of you have forwarded observations and photos of your own. This information greatly helps us determine the status of our flock, thank you. We have included photos from our field spotters and very much appreciate their efforts in documenting the exploits of this fascinating flock.
Our update is long over due but outside circumstances have greatly affected our ability to work on this update. Last year was very challenging for both the wild parrots and the Santa Barbara Bird Farm. Together we endured two fires, the GAP fire, July 1 and the TEA fire, November 13. We prepared to evacuate for the GAP fire and actually had to evacuate for the TEA fire. Safely removing the bird farm flock during the quickly advancing flames is a story of preparation, team work and survival which will be posted separately.
The wild flock count remains at ten birds but has been substantially changed since our July update. The flock gained two Lilac Crowned fledglings but has lost two primary members, the nearly 30 year old breeding hen and the 12 year old male Hybrid. Both disappeared in August. The first indications that two individuals had been lost came from photos sent in by an outside observer. One photo showed the hybrid hen preening the breeding Lilac Crowned male. A very unusual behavior even with the Lilac hen absent. We believe the Lilac hen was lost defending her nest. Somehow two fledglings were able to survive.This change to the flock will present major challenges to the leadership dynamics and survival.
During this flock transition we witnessed some very interesting and unexpected behaviors. After more than thirty years of consistent foraging in close proximity to the bird farm the flock has moved to a new area about 5 miles west. It could be due to the fires, losses or both. We have been fortunate to have dedicated field observers who have kept us up to date on the flock’s activities. The flock does return each evening to roost nearby and spend the early mornings around their normal habitat before heading west. Most surprising is what occurred during the fledgling of this year’s babies. The flock, with the tragic loss of two individuals yet with two fledglings in tow arrived at the preferred Walnut tree. The fledglings were both begging to be fed while the other members took up foraging positions in favorite fruit trees. One of the fledglings landed close to the hybrid female and began begging. To our surprise she fed the baby, which was not hers. Not only did she feed the baby but her action also demonstrated a major change from this flock’s tradition where only the males feed the babies after fledging. This behavior of a flock member filling a void and feeding the new fledglings has also been demonstrated by older, male siblings. During our more than thirty years of observation the flock and family interactions has yielded many surprises and significantly affected our views as to how important the family support structure is. Captured parrots removed from the wild must have substantial negative impacts on the families and flocks ability to survive.
The loss of the beautiful hybrid male could have a long term, beneficial impact on the flock. He was mated to the hybrid female and they would nest every year but have never produced offspring. The female was obviously laying eggs but they were not fertile. We suspect that the male, as so many hybrids are to be infertile. His loss may mean another male, obviously a Lilac Crowned will take his place. The replacement male could very well be the now mate less flock leader. The coming breeding season should prove very intriguing as the new flock dynamics play out. We will post our observations.
Food
Oranges, lemon and strawberry guavas plus an early batch of loquats make up the majority of foraged fruit.
History
We continue to receive inquiries about the origins of this flock of parrots so will keep this history available for every future update.
Where did the SB parrots come from? Over the years we have entertained several explanations, they are escaped pets, smugglers released their captives while being pursued by law enforcement and that the Santa Barbara Bird Farm released them in the 1977 Sycamore Canyon fire. It is interesting that these same stories with different characters are used to explain the wild parrots found in most California locations. The Conures of Telegraph Hill have been confirmed as escapees mostly through sightings of leg bands and the Nanday Conures found in Malibu are surely from escaped or released pets.
The fire and release story for the Santa Barbara flock is not correct, we did not release any birds during the fire and also did not have amazons at that time. The wild parrots, primarily Lilac Crowned were here and well established when in 1975 we relocated the bird farm to its current location. At that time there were seven members to the flock. This number increased to a maximum of seventeen and now down to ten. The challenge to their existence has been demonstrated through the years. Escapees have joined the flock but their survival is relatively short. The one exception was a Double Yellow Headed Amazon that joined the flock in the late 80s. He paired with a Lilac Crowned hen after her mate was captured. The flock was in disarray without their leader. The Double Yellow established order and the flock grew in numbers. Until his disappearance in 1999 he produced offspring for approximately 14 years. It should be noted that of perhaps three-dozen offspring over thirty years from all pairs only eight are still accounted for. Even with the now wild savvy flock providing training and monitoring very few individuals have made it to adults.
These birds that have in some cases benefited from increased human introduction of additional food and water sources. The SB flock has acquired an appetite for the local, abundantly available fruit.
The suggestion that these birds originated from escapees who learned to survive is difficult to support. None of the birds with the exception of the Double Yellow Head has ever demonstrated prior human contact. The smuggler release is improbable. Smugglers will immediately clip the wings of the captured birds to prevent escape.
After studying these wild parrots we are considering another possible explanation, they were always here. Santa Barbara hosts the northernmost and smallest flock of these LC Amazons. Larger flocks can be found further south with San Diego supporting the largest. But these flocks have been substantially altered by random escapees and released pets. Unlike our isolated flock they cannot be studied as a homogeneous flock. We have also noted that the Santa Barbara LCs have a much deeper maroon coloring than the birds that have been imported from Mexico suggesting a possible variation from the dominant region just south of the border.
Enjoy the photos below and as always your comments and questions are greatly appreciated.
Please visit: http://www.araproject.nl/ for updates on the Scarlet Macaw pair in the Netherlands.
