title: Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) (Psitaciformes: Psittacidae) parental nest visitation in Costa Rica: implications for research and conservation.
abstract: We studied temporal parental visitation of Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao) to six active nests in the Central Pacific Conservation Region of Costa Rica. Total parental time in the nest decreased significantly as the nestlings aged. Results provide guidelines to scientists for planning invasive activities to nestlings, such as placement of radio collars, or biological sample collection. These activities should be performed close to the end of the nesting period for minimal disturbance of parents and nestlings. Our results also provide information to aid wildlife guards in protecting active nests from poachers when chicks are close to fledging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA. cvaughan@wisc.co.edu
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dear
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003364:Costa Rica; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009425:Nesting Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D010311:Parrots / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D010332:Paternal Behavior; D013997:Time Factors