Military Macaws (Ara militaris)Â have disappeared from many areas, particularly in Mexico where habitat loss is over 30%. In Argentina, the only sightings since 1991 are of approximately 50 individuals and in Bolivia a total of 37 individuals in 8 of 21 known locations. Populations in Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia face continuing threats from domestic trade, destruction of nest cavities by poachers and forest destruction.
The WPT has funded several project activities throughout the macaws’ range, including population surveys along the Jalisco coast of Mexico, breeding ecology and food use studies, surveys that identified priority breeding areas and availability of nest cavities, and educational programs for landowners in areas where birds are known to nest and roost.
In Cabo Corrientes Mexico, a population of Military Macaws faces multiple threats, such as heavy trapping. As a result of the unchecked harvest of the birds, the Ibarra family has created a refuge for species on one of their properties. The Macaw Sanctuary was born of a discovery that a tree had been felled to extract a macaw chick for trade illegally. Nearly a decade later, the Macaw Sanctuary became a registered Management Unit for the Conservation of Wildlife (UMA). The Ibarra family builds, installs and maintains artificial nests for the Military Macaws living in the area. To date, 30 nest boxes have been installed and 70 chicks have hatched and successfully fledged. They have also provided a lookout tower and blinds for visitors to view the macaws, tours and educational talks.
Status: IUCN Vulnerable / CITES Appendix I
Population:Â 3000-10,000 individuals
Range: A.m. militaris: Tropics of Colombia and NW Venezuela, south to the E Ecuador and Urubamba region, SE Peru; rarely to Pacific slope of Andes in Peru.
A.m. mexicana: Pacific slope in Mexico from Sonora south to Jalisco.
A.m. boliviana: East slope of Andes in Bolivia, south from Beni, also NW Argentina in Jujuy and Salta.
A.m. mexicana: Pacific slope in Mexico from S Sonora south to Jalisco, formerly to W Chiapas and Atlantic slope from E Nuevo Leon to San Luis Potosi.
Natural history: These macaws are found in foothills in wooded country with valleys; also at sea level on the Pacific coast. In Mexico, seen in dry, secluded woodland; also in lowland humid and riparian forests. In the Colombian Andes they are found in humid forest; in Venezuela rainforest. Diet includes fruits and nuts. Are found in pairs or small flocks, with roosts in greater numbers. Breeding is from March to July in Mexico; nest is in a tree cavity.