CONSERVATION

Protecting a severely endangered species requires massive amounts of time, energy and resources. It demands thinking outside the box and possibly taking drastic measures to ensure their survival. Continuing to do what has always been done and expecting a different outcome is nonsensical. Many species have already been lost forever and a record number of others are heading the way of the Great auk, the Passenger pigeon and so many other birds across the globe.

As with so many species, forest destruction and fragmentation in the lowlands is the largest threat to the Bare-necked Umbrellabird. As part of UCAN’s conservation approach to the umbrellabird, thousands of seeds that have been regurgitated from both males and females have been collected, cataloged and replanted in an attempt to positively identify each species of tree in which that seed came from. Over time it has come to light which species will germinate and grow well after being processed by the birds. Those seeds are then planted in test boxes in a controlled setting to give them a better chance at survival. Once these seeds start to grow in the test boxes, they are removed to be transplanted in strategically located areas and forest edges that are critical for the birds. Creating corridors and forested islands of food source species could play a partial, yet crucial part in reducing the threat of lowland deforestation. UCAN’s planting of young trees is a much needed effort, but so much more needs to be done, especially in the lowlands where habitat has been destroyed at alarming rates in the last few decades. The data collected by UCAN researchers will assist them as they continue to find effective methods to increase the success of the Bare-necked umbrellabird.