Nest-site characteristics and aspects of the breeding biology of the endangered Timneh Parrot Psittacus timneh in Guinea-Bissau

A critical finding is that the endangered Timneh Parrot's breeding population may be limited by the availability of suitable nest cavities, with nests predominantly found in secondary cavities within 17 tree species, often aggregated at densities up to 14 nests per hectare. This suggests that protecting mature trees and potentially installing artificial nest cavities could significantly boost reproductive success. The study, conducted in Guinea-Bissau's Bijagós Archipelago—a known hotspot for the species—revealed nesting efforts span from January to late March, with fledgling chicks most vulnerable during February to May. Researchers analyzed nest-site characteristics, breeding phenology, and reproductive productivity across two islands, employing field observations and data collection to inform targeted conservation strategies, particularly in mitigating poaching and habitat loss.

Lopes, D. C., Martin, R. O., Henriques, M., Monteiro, H., Regalla, A., Tchantchalam, Q., Indjai, B., Cardoso, S., Manuel, C., Cunha, M., Cunha, D., & Catry, P. (2017). Nest-site characteristics and aspects of the breeding biology of the endangered Timneh Parrot Psittacus timneh in Guinea-Bissau. Ostrich, 89(1), 33–40. https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2017.1369467