The wild parrots of Abaco are very special birds. Uniquely they nest underground in limestone holes which provides protection, not least from forest fires. Thanks to a program of intensive research over the last few years, far more is now known about these birds and their breeding habits. Investigations into predation have led to effective predator controls. The evidence this year is that the population numbers, having stabilised, are gradually rising to a sustainable level of some 4000 birds.
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Result! Were the predators natural ones or introduced by humans?
I believe they were feral cats, originally introduced by humans.
Hi, yes, their main vulnerability is to predation by feral cats, of which there are a great many on the island, even (especially?) in the pine forests. They hang around the nests waiting for their chance and kill adults, chicks and fledglings in the nest. Rodents the other (though lesser) problem… RH