OUR AVIARIES
In search of always improving the rehabilitation techniques and making it possible to release an ever growing number of individuals, BMATA has been throughout the years making large investments for enhancing the facilities, that now comprise approximately 2.500 m2. In 2009 BMATA asked permission to change its 2003 license to be classified as the newly created CRAS – Center for Rehabilitation of Wild Animals, accordingly to the IBAMA directive 169, 02/20/2008.
In addition to the aviaries with a capacity of up to 1000 birds, an ambulatory was built, an infirmary, necropsy room, trial room, office and a space for meetings and training. We are also developing a growing number of strategic partnerships to develop husbandry techniques with the objective of increasing the number of birds available for each release.
Get to know some more about the methodologies for bird releases:
Reception, trial and quarantine areas
All aspects related to releases should necessarily start during the reception of the bird and not only it involves the clinical aspects but also legal issues. Consequently every bird that is received at BMATA should come with a document that clearly states that it was delivered by an environmental authority for rehabilitation and release. Creating this way the mechanisms of legal protection, since it is not clear in the Brazilian legislation all factors involved about animal ownership and its destination after it was confiscated.
After the legal procedures the next step includes filling an entry formulary, with the animal’s history, whether it is obtained by observing the hygienic conditions of the cages and food residues or by reports about the bird’s conditions when the confiscation took place and why it was confiscated. In this phase clinical exams are also made checking the feather conditions for ectoparasites, endoparasites among others exams such as sampling for laboratorial tests when necessary. The bird will remain for a period of up to seven days in the trial area, after that it will be taken to one of the quarantines or hospitalized depending on its health condition.
Rehabilitation phase
During this process it is necessary to start a diet conversion in order that the bird has the conditions to have a better adaptation in the next phase which is the rehabilitation and selection for release. Only with this adaptation the animal can be installed in a flight cage to develop flight skills. Aviaries and perches are cleaned with proper disinfectant solution to eliminate parasites. Besides that all birds pass through more pathogenic infectious diseases such as Pacheco’s disease, Salmonella and Chlamydophila to prevent the proliferation of these diseases.
Release methods
In this phase the bird would have already been through a clinical and health evaluation and will be accepting the food being offered, it will be interacting with the group of its own species and will not be dependent of humans (less imprinting with humans). Then it will be fit to the final training for the actual release.
During this phase birds are put in large flight cages in order to develop breast muscles and will be integrated to a larger group, of 30 birds or more. They will be periodically examined checking ectoparasites, hemoparasites and endoparasites, and dewormed according to veterinarian protocol employed at BMATA.
Being ready to be released the release area will be contacted for scheduling the dates of embarking birds and all documents required by IBAMA will be ready.
Release areas
Definitely the selection of the release area is one of the most important steps for the project. By working exclusively with the soft release method, choosing the appropriate release area demands that not only the species is within this range but also requires building flight cages for the acclimatization period as well as maintenance of a minimal infrastructure to guarantee the survival after the release by supplying supplemental feeding in troughs next to the flight cages during a minimum time or even permanently.
Besides that we seek to select areas whose owners have a vision directed towards conservation in its complete sense and that they promote actions aimed at maintaining protection of the area to avoid new captures and also promote environmental awareness. It is also necessary that there is a concern about setting up nest boxes to increase population growth.
And obviously we cannot forget the main issue which is that the species should have its historical range in the area and if the area is able to sustain the number of individuals to be released.
Bird transportation
A careful transportation is also essential for maintaining the individual in its optimal health and consequently being fit to be released. Thus even for short distances, transportation should be carried on appropriate transportation boxes, made of wood or comparable material, ventilated and with enough room so the birds can feel comfortable. For longer distances it is advisable offering food that can be easily provided by attaching them to wire on the side of the box.
Bird releases
At the arrival of the release area, all birds should be smoothly settled in their new acclimatization cages, where they will be supplied with the food which they are used to added of natural food sources found in the area so they get used more easily to these available items in the wild.
During this step they should be permanently observed to check their health status.
The amount of time which they stay in the release area varies with each species and the release areas conditions, accordingly to what was foreseen in the project.
Post release (monitoring)
It is important that birds can be monitored after the release, especially after the first days post-release. Although they have been prepared, they will need to adapt themselves to this new situation. Inside the flight cages they already learned how to socialize with each other. Birds will need to do that too after the release. As a result it is important to maintain careful monitoring soon after the release.
Monitoring birds will also be important to determine if the work has been done properly and if there is the establishment of a resident population. Through observation of the released birds one can check if all methods involved in the husbandry have been properly done.
BMATA also certifies that all area will continue to be monitored and that all birds will have access to supplemental food for at least 6 months to a year after the release.
