Las Balsas reserve expansion

Fundación Jocotoco, together with the support of the American Bird Conservancy and Rainforest Trust, acquired a total of 46 long-term lease agreements with Ecuadors Las Balsas community to protect the largest known population of the Lilacine Amazon Amazona lilacina.

Fundación Jocotoco, together with the support of the American Bird Conservancy and Rainforest Trust, acquired a total of 46 long-term lease agreements with Ecuador's Las Balsas community to protect the largest known population of the Lilacine Amazon Amazona lilacina. As a result, a total of 246 acres of crucial roosting habitat is protected. This newly described species is endemic to southwest Ecuador and currently classified as Endangered by the IUCN.

A count of up to 2,570 individuals has been recorded within the reserve, exceeding the estimated total of the world population! In addition, Las Balsas also protects the very rare endemic subspecies of Great Green Macaw Ara ambiguus guayaquilensis another Endangered species that nests in the reserve.

Fundación Jocotoco is planning to use radiometry techniques to study the movements of the Lilacine Amazons at Las Balsas. The roosting areas of the parrots are being monitored, but little is known about where they nest. Telemetry data will hopefully shed light on nest site information and help expand our knowledge of the species' breeding ecology and habitat use.