In 1998, Dr. Stuart Taylor conducted a comprehensive study of the ecology and vocalizations of the Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus at Ponta Malongane, southern Mozambique. At that time the population was healthy, in spite of the civil war that was just ending. I have just recently returned from a 10 day trip through southern Mozambique, looking for, what turned out to be, non-existent parrots. With no sightings or calls I turned to interviewing the local community at Ponta Malongane, but very few people has seen the parrots for at least three years. They did, however, report that the parrots were caught for food and sale to tourists. This was done predominantly at the nest, but there was also a story of line snares made of fishing line put near water points where the parrots were known to drink. I am currently networking with conservationists further north to ascertain the status of the Brown-headed Parrot north of Maputo. It seems that the Brown-headed Parrot has experienced massive range reduction over the past ten years, and its status in Mozambique needs to be re-evaluated. African parrot metapopulation sources are often located in remote areas, in which local and international NGO's, conservation authorities, researchers, and ornithologists cannot easily assess their population status. Many of these species are heavily traded. For example, the Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus is the most traded bird on CITES Appendix II. Trade in African Grey Parrots out of central and western Africa is consistently in the news, but these busts are a fraction of the unsustainable trade in the species. We need to get to these countries, invest time researching these far away populations. As soon as a researcher comes into an area and invests his or her life in the conservation of a parrot, this suddenly elevates the status of this species in the eyes of the local community. This apparently successful and important individual cares enough to commit his time to this parrot. This parrot must be important...we should be proud! Researchers do make a difference and we need to ensure that society supports them wherever possible.
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