Burrowing parakeet  (Cyanoliseus patagonus)

Although the burrowing parakeet is not considered to be globally threatened, it faces a number of serious threats, and there is good evidence that its population is in decline (4) (5). Heavy hunting for the cage bird trade has had a significant impact on this species, and while legislation is in place to limit international trade, over 120,000 individuals have been traded legally since 1981, along with numerous others on the black market (2) (4). It is also persecuted as a crop pest by farmers who have converted this species’ grassland habitat to crops, and now blame its foraging activity for crop failures or poor yields. However, it has been argued by conservationists that this species causes only minor damage to crops, and that the attempt to convert the relatively infertile, unsuitable land is the real problem (6) (7). As a result of the dual threat of habitat loss, which is claiming as much as 3.7 percent of the native vegetation that supports this species, and lethal methods of control used by farmers, the burrowing parakeet population in Argentina—where it was formerly common—has become fragmented and some local populations have even been driven to extinction (4).

A further threat to this species comes from tourism, which claims habitat and causes disturbance to the nesting grounds, such as the use of four-wheeled vehicles on beaches by the colony at El Condor, which is killing many of the flightless chicks (4) (6). It has been suggested that while the current population of the burrowing parakeet seems relatively high, this species may have a critical global population threshold below which it will undergo a rapid decline towards extinction (7).

The burrowing parakeet is listed on the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species, which means that all international trade is controlled by annual quotas. These quotas were, encouragingly, reduced in 2007 from 7,500 to 3,000 individuals per year (3).

Currently only the Chilean subspecies, Cyanoliseus patagonus bloxami, receives formal protection, although Cyanoliseus patagonus patagonus is located in two very small nature reserves. Increased protection is of paramount importance, especially for the largest colony at El Condor. Fortunately, several researchers and NGOs are working diligently to ensure that this protection is provided by raising awareness of the bird’s plight, providing educational materials to mitigate persecution, working towards limiting tourist disturbance and carrying out research into the burrowing parakeet’s biology and ecology. An act has also been submitted to the provincial parliament of Río Negro to designate El Condor as a Nature Reserve. If it is successful it will represent a huge step towards ensuring the future of this remarkable bird (4).