Abaco Island, Bahamas:

During 2005, RSCF began collaborating with parrot specialists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program, and researchers studying the Bahamian parrot, Amazona leucocephala, to develop a novel research and conservation strategy for the Abaco parrot population. During 2006, RSCF staff and colleagues constructed and installed ten artificial, tree-mounted nest cavities to supplement natural, subterranean nesting within Abaco National Park, on Great Abaco Island. Also during 2006, RSCF provided a field vehicle to the Bahamas National Trust, for use in parrot surveys and monitoring and other field conservation efforts on Great Abaco Island. As with all Amazon parrots, A. leucocephala once nested exclusively in natural tree hollows, but became a subterranean nester as Abaco's mature forest was cleared. Today, feral cats and introduced predators threaten the population's viability, devouring flightless young and nesting pairs as they enter and exit underground burrows. The project complements other, ongoing conservation measures (e.g., predator control, environmental education), and is a product of RSCF's recent partnership with the Bahamas National Trust, Department of Agriculture, and local Bahamian NGO's (e.g., Friends of the Environment). During 2007-08, the initial set of artificial nest cavities-each equipped with infrared cameras- was monitored, and birds' interest identified in several areas. Ongoing monitoring has revealed potential to expand the cavity supplementation effort, and illustrated subtle design changes that may increase utilization. A primary objective is to evaluate nest-site use and recruitment over several years, from which a long-term nest-supplementation strategy and habitat restoration program can evolve. During 2008, RSCF staff and Research Associate Caroline Stahala designed a new, simpler nest box to supplement parrot breeding in established areas. These boxes will be deployed in advance of the 2009 nesting season. Stahala's research includes documenting habitat use, quantifying parrot populations and distributions, evaluating predator-control and recovery measures, and developing a long-term protected-area policy for coppice, old growth and nesting habitat in the Bahamas.

Inagua, Bahamas:

During 2008, RSCF, in collaboration with Research Associate Caroline Stahala and Mike Coan (EROS Data Center, U.S. Geologic Survey) and with support from the World Parrot Trust, developed a satellite GIS map interface for conducting a post-hurricane-Ike assessment of Inagua's wild parrot population. The base image, a co-registered, cloud-free composite image of Inagua island, facilitates accurate ground surveys for parrots and habitat and enables accurate distance and area calculations for estimating parrot abundance and distributions.