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Establishing a New Population
Assisted Reproduction Program
Reproduction in the wild is a challenging endeavor for Great Green Macaws. Around five to six years of age, birds reach breeding maturity and begin seeking a lifelong mate. Their preferred nesting sites are natural cavities formed by broken branches high in mountain almond trees (Dipteryx panamensis). Successful reproduction is a critical component in establishing a healthy, self-sustaining population in the wild.
Mountain almond trees are themselves endangered, and decades of deforestation have drastically reduced their numbers. As a result, suitable nesting cavities are increasingly scarce, creating a significant bottleneck for successful breeding and limiting natural nesting opportunities for Great Green Macaws.
Because safe and adequate nesting sites are so difficult to find, Ara Manzanillo has developed a unique nesting program to support the reintroduced population. To date, we have installed 28 artificial nest boxes throughout the region, with 11 hosting annually returning breeding pairs.
The success of these nest boxes has been significant. Since the program began in 2015, more than 180 eggs have been laid, resulting in 90 successfully fledged chicks. Though not every egg hatches into a chick, we have an 80% success rate with each hatchling becoming a successful fledging.
In the wild, Great Green Macaw chicks have only a 20% chance of surviving from egg to fledging, and competition between siblings can further reduce those odds. Eggs and chicks are vulnerable to many rainforest predators, including toucans, aracaris, hawks, monkeys, snakes, weasels, and other carnivorous animals. Natural cavities are also susceptible to heavy rainfall, which can threaten nest success.
We continue to learn, experiment, and adapt nest box designs to better protect against predators and environmental challenges, while refining interior materials to ensure the health and well-being of parents, eggs, and chicks.
Nest boxes are placed at least 100 meters apart to minimize competition and territorial conflict between breeding pairs. The boxes are distributed across an eight-kilometer radius from the station, with most installed more than 25 meters high and securely attached to tree trunks. Installation is a demanding, three-person operation, and macaws typically take possession of new nest boxes within a few weeks. While we strive to minimize human interference and leave nests largely undisturbed, staff periodically climb the trees to inspect nest interiors and band each chick with an identification anklet.
Community Outreach Program
The survival of the Great Green Macaw in the region largely depends on human understanding of its ecological and cultural value. For this reason, Ara Manzanillo places a strong emphasis on community outreach and environmental education.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment (MINAE) and the Ministry of Education (MEP), we have developed an active education program that includes workshops, classroom activities, and site visits with local schools. To date, more than 5,000 children from across the Southern Caribbean Talamanca region have participated in our environmental education initiatives, learning not only about the importance of Great Green Macaws, but also about the habitats that support them and countless other species.
Beyond schools, Ara Manzanillo maintains a strong presence within the broader community. We regularly participate in local parades, festivals, conservation conventions, and public events, while also coordinating joint activities with other NGOs and key partners. Our involvement in national conservation and sustainable development initiatives helps build widespread support for the recovery of this emblematic species. To date, the organization has participated in more than 200 environmental protection activities and workshops at both community and national levels.
In order to continue to promote understanding of and support for the conservation of this magnificent bird, Ara Manzanillo has published a children’s book, Pewe, and a construction manual for building and installing nests for Great Greens in the wild, both publications are available in our News and Media link.
To request a higher resolution version of Pewe that is better suited for printing, please contact info@aramanzanillo.org.Reforestation and Rainforest Enrichment Program
Tropical rainforest are the Great Green Macaws natural habitat, thus it’s maintenance and conservation are of vital importance for the continued survival of the species. A contributing factor to the rapid decline of the species is loss of habitat due to deforestation and land-use changes. Ara Manzanillo has promoted reforestation activities as part of the Community Outreach Program for many years, however, as the free flying group continues to grow and expand, the health of the rainforest has become key.
In 2022, Ara Manzanillo has initiated a new program focused on enriching this valuable habitat. An area of 30 hectares contiguous to the biological station is the pilot sample habitat for designing a strategy to best manage the forest to increase the production of native food for the macaws and wildlife in general. To date, we have planted 500 selected species throughout our property. While the number is not staggering, this is because our property is already rich in biodiversity – the aim for us is adding more food for macaws and other wildlife.
Ten years of experience closely observing the Great Green Macaws feeding behavior, combined with the technical assistance of a local forestry engineer, should result in a replicable formula for effective rainforest enrichment. We began this initiative with Mountain Almond trees (Dipteryx panamensis), since this is the most nutritious wild food source for the Great Greens and many other animals.
Because Mountain Almond trees live up to 600 years and take 20 years to produce seed, we nurtured additional natural food sources, like Beach Almond trees (Terminalia catappa) to promote local reforestation and a more timely food supply.
