Birdwatching

Asociacion Armonia in Bolivia, with the support of American Bird Consevancy and World Land Trust US, has created the world's first protected area for the Critically Endangered Blue Throated Macaw, a species with an estimted global population of 300 individuals.

The group purchased a 3.555 hectare ranch in the grasslands of eastern Bolivia, a site with 20 Blie throated Macaws during the breeding season.
Blua Throated Macaw is endemic to savannas in the Beni province of Bolivia, an
depends on motucu palms for nesting. These palms occur in palm islands embedded
in the extensive seasonally flooded grasslands.

The entire known undergo yearly burning and heavy grazing by cattle.

The new Barba Azul Nature Reserve also protects excellent Beni savanna habitat with good populations of vulnerable species, such as Sharp tailed Tyrant, Cock tailed Tyrant, and Black masked Finch.


Healthy populations of the near Threatened Greater Rhea and Orinoco Goose are common in the aera.
Research in the aera of the new reserve found the highest known density of Blua Throated Macaw with a roosting site in the dry season holding 70 individuals and 20 during the rainy season.





The birds inhabit a remote aera with poor access, and the large group roosts in the forest islands, Armonia Loro Parque Fundacion have indentified a further five ranches for sale that are at risk of being developed and that are essential for the expansion of the new private reserve, to protect 41% of the known Blue Throated Macaw population...






Raising public awareness to build local support for the Macaw is our most potent tool to halt the illegal taking of these rare birds for pet trade....