Schubot Center researchers pioneer an integrative remote monitoring method in wild Scarlet Macaw nests
The Schubot Center’s Dr. Don Brightsmith, Dr. Gaby Vigo-Trauco and doctoral researcher Adam Bower are leading an innovative project to study wild Scarlet Macaws in the rainforests of southeast Peru. In collaboration with Dr. Connie Woodman and Doug Bonham, their team is deploying state-of-the-art cameras and egg data loggers inside artificial nest boxes, opening new possibilities for understanding wild macaw breeding behavior.
At the heart of this work are the Science Ready Smart Cameras™, designed by technology developers at Field Data Services. These innovative devices use LiDAR to measure activity inside the nest and capture motion-triggered images, all while logging nest temperatures and taking time-lapse images. Complementing the cameras are data loggers within 3D-printed artificial eggs. These egg data loggers are placed within natural clutches and log fine-scale incubation temperatures and egg movements.
Together, these remote monitoring tools will provide researchers with an integrative view into the nesting behavior of Scarlet Macaws. This project promises to answer important questions about parrot reproduction that have been difficult to study through older field methods and will help guide conservation strategies to support the survival of these remarkable birds.
