The use of Passeriformes in the eastern Amazonia of Brazil: culture encourages hunting and profit encourages trade (original) (raw)
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Fernandes-Ferreira et al 2012.. Hunting, use and conservation of birds in Northeast Brazil
Brazil has one of the highest avifauna diversities in the world, and many species are used by human populations in many different ways. Capturing wild birds for food, or to raise as pets, or for commercial purposes, together with the loss of habitat, have been the principal causes of population reductions among many species. The present work provides new information about the diversity of wild bird species used in Ceará State (Northeast Brazil) and the techniques used for capturing them, as well as the forces motivating this hunting, the commercial relationships involved, the maintenance of captive species, and the legal and conservation implications of the use of the regional avifauna. A total of 92 wild bird species belonging to 26 families were found to be used as food (39 spp.), for medicinal (3 spp.) and magic-religious (1 spp.) purposes, for commercial ends (46 spp.), or raised as pets (44 spp.), or killed to control their predation on domestic animals (5 spp.). Raising or selling birds is motivated by their singing and/or their natural beauty, with Thraupidae, Icteridae and Emberizidae being the principal families sought after for those purposes. The Family Columbidae has the greatest importance as a food source. Eleven traditional capture techniques (both active and passive) were identified. The commercial value of the birds varied depending on both intra-and inter-specific factors, and the trade in these animals involved both dealers who sold large numbers of individuals at low prices and specialists (''passarinheiros'') who sold just a few domesticated individuals of greater value. Our evaluations of transactions taking place in public markets indicated the probable over-exploitation of a number of species, and these were often imported from other states and countries. In addition to being illegal, the capture of wild birds can cause serious environmental problems that can only be addressed through public policies directed towards education, monitoring and control, alternative sources of income, wildlife management, and ecosystem conservation.
Hunting, use and conservation of birds in Northeast Brazil
Biodiversity and …, 2011
Brazil has one of the highest avifauna diversities in the world, and many species are used by human populations in many different ways. Capturing wild birds for food, or to raise as pets, or for commercial purposes, together with the loss of habitat, have been the principal causes of population reductions among many species. The present work provides new information about the diversity of wild bird species used in Ceará State (Northeast Brazil) and the techniques used for capturing them, as well as the forces motivating this hunting, the commercial relationships involved, the maintenance of captive species, and the legal and conservation implications of the use of the regional avifauna. A total of 92 wild bird species belonging to 26 families were found to be used as food (39 spp.), for medicinal (3 spp.) and magic-religious (1 spp.) purposes, for commercial ends (46 spp.), or raised as pets (44 spp.), or killed to control their predation on domestic animals (5 spp.). Raising or selling birds is motivated by their singing and/or their natural beauty, with Thraupidae, Icteridae and Emberizidae being the principal families sought after for those purposes. The Family Columbidae has the greatest importance as a food source. Eleven traditional capture techniques (both active and passive) were identified. The commercial value of the birds varied depending on both intra-and inter-specific factors, and the trade in these animals involved both dealers who sold large numbers of individuals at low prices and specialists (''passarinheiros'') who sold just a few domesticated individuals of greater value. Our evaluations of transactions taking place in public markets indicated the probable over-exploitation of a number of species, and these were often imported from other states and countries. In addition to being illegal, the capture of wild birds can cause serious environmental problems that can only be addressed through public policies directed towards education, monitoring and control, alternative sources of income, wildlife management, and ecosystem conservation.
The live bird trade in Brazil and its conservation implications: an overview
Bird Conservation International, 2013
Brazil's rich biological and cultural diversity makes it an exceptional location for examining the commerce in live wild birds and its implications for conservation. This paper catalogues the live bird species being traded in Brazil, characterises the trade in these animals, and discusses the implications for avian conservation. In spite of being illegal, capturing and selling birds is still a very common practice in Brazil and involves many actors who make up part of a large commercial network that distributes wild animals to every corner of the country. Our survey revealed that at least 295 bird species are illegally sold as pets in Brazil, with estimates derived from this data pointing to a total of more than 400 species -about 23% of the number of extant bird species in the country. Of the bird species recorded, two were classified as "Critically Endangered", nine as "Endangered", six as "Vulnerable", and 19 as "Near Threatened" according to the most recent IUCN Red List. Most of the species recorded in this study as being widely bought and sold (including on the international market) are not listed by CITES even though many of them are in fact threatened. In light of the widespread illegal trade in wild birds in Brazil and the conservation implications for the species involved, there is an urgent need for actions that can control these activities. Steps should be taken to address the illegal traffic directly and these must include monitoring, law enforcement, effective sentencing (including deterrent sentences), targeting end-users, captive breeding, and education at all levels, taking into account the cultural, economic, social, and ecological aspects of the human populations involved.
Bird-keeping in the Caatinga, NE Brazil
Human Ecology, 2010
Brazil has one of the greatest bird diversities in the world, with around 1,800 species. However, many species are now threatened by illegal capture and trade that is largely driven by the culture of keeping wild birds as pets. This study documents the nature and purpose of bird capture and trade in the semi-arid Caatinga biome in northeastern Brazil, which has around 510 bird species and a population of around 25 million people. Data were obtained through observation in the homes of bird keepers and at open air markets, as well as through semi-structured and open-ended interviews and informal conversations with 52 wild bird keepers. We recorded 38 species of birds kept as pets in this study. The family with the largest number of species recorded was the Emberizidae (29%), followed by the Columbidae (16%) and the Psittacidae (16%). The most frequently kept species were: Paroaria dominicana, Aratinga cactorum, Icterus jamacaii, Sporophila albogularis, Turdus rufiventris and Cyanocompsa brissonii, which are all native to this region. Among the recorded species, only Pintassilgo (Carduelis yarrellii) is listed as an endangered species in Brazil. Of the people interviewed, 32% observed a reduction in abundance, or disappearance, of several bird species in the region. The need for measures aimed at the sustainability of wild avifauna use is therefore evident. These include law enforcement, commercial breeding and environmental education, of which the last is considered the most likely to be effective.
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2018
Background: The use of wild birds, for several purposes, is directly associated with cultural, ecological, and conservation issues. This study aimed to inventory the wild birds known and used in three communities in Paraíba state, northeast Brazil, and to investigate the sociocultural context in which these activities occur. Methods: A total of 179 people (98 women and 81 men) were interviewed. Data were collected through free interviews, using semi-structured forms, and posing questions about the use of local wild birds. The species were identified by direct observation of the birds, analysis of photographic records, and the use of a scientific guide. Results: Each species' use value (UV) was calculated in three different ways: UV general , UV current , and UV potential. These UVs ranged from 0.01 to 1.15 for UV g , 0 to 0.21 for UV c , and 0.01 to 1.02 for UV p. A total of 99 species, 81 genera, and 40 families were recorded and classified into the use categories of food, breeding, and medicinal. Thraupidae (12 species), Columbidae, Accipitridae, and Icteridae (8 species each) were the most diverse families. Conclusions: The use of wild birds is a widespread activity in the studied areas, where many species are used. This demonstrates the need to conduct studies to assess the pressure suffered by these bird species, as well as the need to create public policies that intervene in the use and conservation of wild birds.
Understanding the drivers of the live bird trade in Brazil
Ethnobiology and Conservation, 2024
In this work we sought to evaluate the factors that influence the public's interest in wild birds sold as pets in Brazil, and the relationship of those factors with new occurrences of birds outside their natural range. We compiled the richness of bird species traded in Brazil and obtained comparative data of public interest directed to these species through the Google Trends tool. In addition, we gathered data on biological attributes and the sale price of the species in the trade, to analyze which factors would be related to public interest. Then, factors related to public interest were used to assess whether there was a relationship with these new occurrences. The main founds indicated that the public interest is greater for songbirds, omnivore, which live in more open environments, and are sold at lower prices. All those factors also showed to be related to the birds that presented new occurrences. The public's preference for birds more generalist and from more open environments are important results, as such factors generally indicate greater environmental tolerance, which may favor the establishment of these birds in new environments. Therefore, it is likely that species releases or escape from captivity, combined with their life history attributes, may favor the establishment of isolates in new environments. Thus, the present results demonstrate that actions aimed at the conservation of commercialized species are essential to reduce the interregional trade of species, and consequently reduce the impact on natural populations and reduce the potential for new biological introductions.
Understanding the motivations for keeping wild birds in the semi-arid region of Brazil
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2018
Background: Birds are kept as pets around the world, and bird-keeping is an ancient and widespread practice, constituting one of the main reasons for the decline of some species. In the semi-arid region of Brazil, this practice is very common and continues despite being designated as illegal in recent decades. This study aimed to identify the species and families of songbirds used as pets in the semi-arid region of Brazil, characterize the maintenance of the exploited species in captivity, and evaluate the sociocultural context associated with this practice.
2009
Full text of . Knowledge gaps, research priorities, and future perspectives on bird conservation in the Brazilian Amazon <em>In</em> Important Bird Areas in Brazil, Part II - Amazonia, Cerrado, and Pantanal, edited by A. C. De Luca; P. E. Develey; G. A. Bencke; J. M. Goerck, pp. 55-69. São Paulo: SAVE, Brazil. A complete PDF of the book can be found in: https://savebr-site.s3.amazonaws.com/areas\_importantes\_para\_conservacao\_das\_aves\_parte\_2\_1.pdf
Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine, 2014
The present study examined the exploitation of bird species by the residents of a rural community in the Brazilian semi-arid zone, and their preferences for species with different characteristics. The 24 informants were identified using the "snowball" approach, and were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and check-sheets for the collection of data on their relationship with the bird species that occur in the region. The characteristics that most attract the attention of the interviewees were the song and the coloration of the plumage of a bird, as well as its body size, which determines its potential as a game species, given that hunting is an important activity in the region. A total of 98 species representing 32 families (50.7% of the species known to occur in the region) were reported during interviews, being used for meat, pets, and medicinal purposes. Three species were used as zootherapeutics - White-naped Jay was eaten whole as a cure for speech proble...
Illegal trade of songbirds: an analysis of the activity in an area of northeast Brazil
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2020
Background: This study aimed to analyze the chain and dynamics of the trade of wild birds between keepers and traders in an area of northeast Brazil. Profit from the purchase and sale of these animals in the trade chain was also estimated. Methods: The information was obtained through interviews with direct participants in the wild bird trade chain.