Parrot populations and habitat use in and around two lowland Atlantic forest reserves, Brazil

We estimated population sizes of parrots in a large (Sooretama/Linhares) an d a small (Porto Seguro) lowland Atlantic forest reserve, and examined thei r habitat associations within the reserves, and their use of forest fragmen ts. In Sooretama, most species had estimated populations between 1000 and 2 0,000 individuals, but in the smaller reserve population densities were low and all but one species had population estimates < 500. Two Amazons, inclu ding the 'Endangered' Amazona rhodocorytha, were strongly linked to primary forests whereas the 'Vulnerable' Pyrrhura cruentata was associated with no n-pristine forest. There was considerable movement of parrots between the S ooretama reserve and the surrounding country with Amazona species tending t o fly into the reserve during the mornings, and the macaw Propyrrhura marac ana flying out. Other species, notably P. cruentata and P. leucotis, were n ever recorded away from the reserve. Most parrot populations in the region are likely to be small, and the substantial populations around Sooretama ma ke this reserve a parrot stronghold. It is crucial that fire, illegal loggi ng and parrot capture are adequately controlled within Sooretama, and there is a strong argument for extending conservation management efforts to area s immediately outside the reserve. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.