Crimson-fronted parrot.
A couple of weeks ago I went to one of my favorite viveros (nurseries). It's owned by a wonderful couple and, while waiting for help from the husband, I noticed a parrot tucked away in a cage. I asked if it could fly (yes!), how old it was (still young!), and if they wanted it to be released (yes!). When I left, I had the parrot and cage in my van.
Constructing an aviary is on our short "To Do" list since we're approved to rehabilitate primates and birds, but I expected to start with hatchlings in the incubator and have time to build.
Long story short, our neighbors Dave and Valentina put the crimson-fronted parrot in the large habitat with their African Gray so it could build up strength in its wing muscles. And then they introduced me to Rodolfo at The Macaw Sanctuary in Puntarenas (an hour-and-a-half away), where they rehabilitate and release macaws...as well as other native parrots! http://www.santuariolapas.com/index.html
Constructing an aviary is on our short "To Do" list since we're approved to rehabilitate primates and birds, but I expected to start with hatchlings in the incubator and have time to build.
Long story short, our neighbors Dave and Valentina put the crimson-fronted parrot in the large habitat with their African Gray so it could build up strength in its wing muscles. And then they introduced me to Rodolfo at The Macaw Sanctuary in Puntarenas (an hour-and-a-half away), where they rehabilitate and release macaws...as well as other native parrots! http://www.santuariolapas.com/index.html
Scarlet macaws.
Yesterday Valentina and I drove the parrot to Sanctuario Lapas el Manantial. It's a magical place (tours are available in English for $15...and be sure to pack a lunch if you don't mind macaws on the picnic table) and they have several mammal species including sloths, tapirs...and spider monkeys!
I spoke with Rodolfo about their three spider monkeys, and he said that while there are general monkey rules, each one is an individual. I was shocked when he said their male loves him but is vicious with other men, and likes women. He was equally surprised to hear that Chiquito likes all men, but that I'm the only female he's comfortable with. Their male is three and Chiquito is two, so neither of them is sexually mature. Different life experiences have shaped who they trust.
I spoke with Rodolfo about their three spider monkeys, and he said that while there are general monkey rules, each one is an individual. I was shocked when he said their male loves him but is vicious with other men, and likes women. He was equally surprised to hear that Chiquito likes all men, but that I'm the only female he's comfortable with. Their male is three and Chiquito is two, so neither of them is sexually mature. Different life experiences have shaped who they trust.
 Male A. geoffroyi frontatus |  Two females. (Left) A. geoffroyi ornatus and (right) A. geoffroyi frontatus. Lolita and Chiquito belong to the subspecies A. geoffroyi geoffroyi. |  Female A. geoffroyi ornatus |
"The original Ateles taxonomy of Kellogg and Goldman (1944) is based primarily on variations in pelage augmented by cranial and body size measurements. As initially described by Kellogg and Goldman, the possession of dark black heads, hands and wrists unites the subspecies of A. geoffroyi. A. g. geoffroyi is silvery to brownish - gray on the back and chest, while the abdomen may be somehwhat golden (Konstant et al., 1985). A. g. frontatus is very similar to A. g. geoffroyi, but slightly darker (Konstant et al., 1985). A. g. ornatus has a golden back and underside with dark black head, face, forearms, and outer legs (Konstant et al., 1985)." Spider Monkeys; Behavior, Ecology and Evolution of the Genus Ateles, ed Christina J. Campbell, 2008)
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