Abstract
Introduction
Birds have been playing major roles
in scientific fields such as evolution,
biogeography, taxonomy, ecology
and now in conservation. Their study
is giving us insights into the interplay
between organisms and their
environment and is helping us to
understand the role that they play.
However, we actually know very little
about them in this region, especially
the tropical species such as the
Ocellated Turkey, Agriocharis ocellata
(Ramos, 1985).
Their environment is being destroyed
at accelerated rates (Myers
1970). Moreover the birds in these
areas are commonly hunted, traded
or trafficked (Nilsson, 1981; Ramos,
1982) and their population is declining
at alarming rate (Ramos, 1985).
Long term research programs on
tropical birds including those already
vulnerable or in danger of extinction
is important to make clear that development
and conservation are not
conflicting processes. They actually
go hand in hand and we should not
abuse either one. If deforestation
progresses as fast as it is now, the
actual number of species in danger of
extinction would be increased
greatly (Ramos, 1985).
Some groups of birds might disappear
faster than others. Birds that live
under the forest canopy, are insectivorous
or have a territorial social
system, may be the first to go. They
are frequently highly specialized and
minor disturbances could have major
impacts (Ramos, 1985).
The future conservation of most
threatened species will require not
only the preservation and management
of critical habitats but also
scientifically managed propagation
programs.
Given the endangered status of the
Ocellated Turkey (Agriocharis ocellata)
and its bleak future in the wild,
it is of great importance establishing
breeding programs on behalf of this
magnificent vanishing species.
The objectives of this project are:
• To favor the incubation of Ocellated
Turkey (Agriocharis ocellata)
eggs and the survival and development
of a higher number of chicks
using a Common Turkey (Meleagris
gallopavo) as a foster mother.
The broader objectives are:
• To favor the introduction of the
new chicks of the Ocellated Turkey
(Agriocharis ocellata) into their
natural habitat.
• To learn more about the aspects
of artificial breeding and behavior of
this species.
• To promote general interest in
breeding and conservatiuon of this
endemic species to maintain a viable
genetic pool.
Project Localization
The aim of this project is to breed
Ocellated Turkeys (Agriocharis ocellata)
in their natural habitat, that is
why it will be developed in Tikal
National Park, located in the state of
Peten, north of Guatemala city (16°
55' 07" latitude and 89° 53' 05"
longitude).
Peten is the bigger state in Guatemala,
having an extension of 35,847
square kilometers, with less than
60% of forest cover and approximately
13% of its surface being
savanna. The annual average temperature
is 26.6°C and the annual rainfall
varies between 1 700 mm and
3000mm.
Tikal National Park supports a lush,
tropical forest characterized by very
seasonal rainfall, with most of the
precipitation falling from June to
September. The entire 576 square
kilometers of Tikal is a National Park
of Guatemala, a sanctuary for all
plants and wildlife. This protection
has allowed the Ocellated Turkey to
become very tame and readily
studied.
Here we could find characteristic
trees of the tall forest including Ficus
sp., Swietenia Sp. (Caoba), Brosimum
sp. (Ramon) and Achras sp.
(Zapote). This type of forest is relatively
unimportant as a feeding area
for the turkeys, but is very important
to the birds as a place of rest and
preening during mid-day. Grassy
plots constituted only about three to
six percent of the habitat, but is by
far the most important feeding area,
as well as the site of most reproductive
activity. The density and distribution
of Ocellated Turkeys in heavily
forested areas such as Tikal may be
largely controlled by the distribution
and size of grassy areas. However,
forests are important for roosting,
resting, general maintenance activities
and nesting. The scarcity of Ocellated
Turkeys noted by some observers
in heavily cleared areas also
argues for their need for forests. This
scarcity in disturbed areas is also
partly due to hunting pressure from
man which probably not only reduces
the actual density of turkeys,
but also makes them more wary and
therefore more difficult to observe.
Smithe (1976) reported the turkeys
at Tikal to be widespread but not
numerous, and according to Steadman
(1979) the density of Ocellated
Turkeys in Tikal is about one individual
per square kilometer.
Bibliographical Review
There are two species of turkeys,
the Common Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
and the Ocellated Turkey
(Agriocharis ocellata) forming the
family meleagridae.
They are large, powerful birds with
strong legs, spurred in the male, but
with rudimentary webs between the
toes and with non-vaulted tails.
The Common Turkey occurs from
eastern United States to Mexico and
the Ocellated Turkey lives in lowland
tropical forests from Peten, Guatemala
and adjacent central and northern
Belize, north through the
Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and
west into the eastern portions of
Chiapas and Tabasco. The distribution
of the Ocellated Turkey within
this area is somewhat patchy today
because of habitat destruction and
hunting pressure (Steadman, Stull
and Eaton, 1978). A more ominous
threat to the Ocellated's status is the
fear of domestic poultry diseases, to
which they are extremely susceptible
and regularly exposed through frequent
contact with free roaming village
flocks throughout their range
Oennings, 1987). This is a common
situation in Guatemala.