Pfrimer’s Conure Project

Central Brazil

Pyrrhura pfrimeri
Also known as the Maroon-faced Conure

Parrots International provided funding for the field scientific research headed by Carlos Bianchi and Dr. Susan Haig, Ph.D. for the study of the Pfrimer’s Conure, Pyrrhura pfrimeri,

in Central Brazil.

The Pfrimer’s Conure, listed as “Endangered” by IUCN, is an endemic parrot with an extremely restricted distribution that is strongly associated with the disappearing tropical dry forests in central Brazil. Wild populations are drastically declining as their habitats have been deforested and changed into pastures or agricultural land.

This projects collected a broad amount of information about the Pfrimer’s Parakeet, from modeling its distribution and evaluating spatial-temporal changes in landscape to understanding bird movements and population structure within its native range.

The overall research goals included (1) estimatation of population size for major forest fragments within the species range; (2) evaluation of use of habitat and movements among forest fragments throughout the annual cycle using radio telemetry; (3) evaluatation of population structure from a spatial and genetic perspective to determine whether a healthy population exists.

The project provided a broad amount of information about a species with a phenomenally limited distribution. Knowledge was gained about patterns of movements in the habitat throughout the annual cycle and how habitat loss and fragmentation have affected population spatial and genetic structure.

From a broader conservation perspective, information attained will be used to plan appropriate conservation measures for other similar species of Parakeets in Brazil.