Cambaquara Release Area

Who we are?

We are residents of Ilhabela (North Shore of São Paulo) who voluntarily dedicate part of our property and our time to contribute to the preservation of local biodiversity, with attention to the native birds, some of them threatened with extinction, as is the case of the Amazona farinosa (Mealy parrot) that is in "critically endangered" status in the State of São Paulo.

Since 2014, we have been working in partnership with the São Paulo State Environment Department (SIMA/SP), through the approval of the Fauna Department to operate as a 'Release Area for Monitoring of Rescued Birds', whose abbreviations in Portuguese are "ASM - Área de Soltura Monitorada".

What we do?

We received native bird species from the psittacidae and rhamphasid families of the Ilhabela archipelago to rehabilitate them and return them to wild life.

The birds undergo clinical evaluation, quarantine and examinations when necessary. They are ringed and housed in special aviaries. Once the birds are in good condition, they move to large aviaries to train in flight and gain muscle, interact with pairs of the same species, forming groups that will be prepared for release.

We offer a diet similar to what they will find in the wild after being released.

Once a successful adaptation is verified, we carry out the release and monitoring.

Monitoring consists of observing, identifying and recording birds in the vicinity. It is performed intensively in the first week after release and regularly thereafter.

For each release, we carry out publicity work in the neighborhood that is complemented with environmental education activities.

All our actions are registered in the SIGAM system of the São Paulo State Department of the Environment, in databases for the preparation of reports and statistics.

We are not open to public visitation.

What species can we receive?

Psittacidae:

- Amazona farinosa (Mealy parrot);

- Brotogeris tirica (Plain Parakeet);

- Forpus xanthopterygius (Blue-winged Parrotlet);

- Pionopsitta pileata (Red-capped / Cuiú-cuiú);

- Pionus Maximiliani (Scaly-headed Parrot);

- Pyhrrura frontalis(Maroon-bellied Parakeet)

Ranfastídeos:

- Ramphastos dicolorus(Red-breasted Toucan);

- Ramphastos toco (Toco Toucan);

- Selenidera maculirostris (Spot-billed Toucanet).

Amazona farinosa (Mealy parrot)

Pyrrhura frontalis (Maroon-bellied Parakeet)

Pionus maximiliani (Scaly-headed Parrot)

Forpus xanthopterygius (Blue-winged Parrotlet)

Ramphastos dicolorus (Red-breasted Toucan)

Records of our work...

Mealy Parrots (Amazona Farinosa) feeding in a pre-release aviary, donated by Evet Lowen from NGO World Parrot Trust.

Watch our institutional videos:

short video (teaser)

15' video (subtitles in English)

Our partners:

We rely on partnerships and essential volunteers to carry out our operation:

The Veterinary Clinic of Dr. Denis Prado Amorosino, in Ilhabela, which receives, evaluates and stabilizes the birds before sending them to our Release Area;

The Wildvet Veterinary Clinic, in São Paulo, commanded by Dr. André Grespan and his team. Specialized in wild animals, they attend the birds that we send in critical condition;
Veterinarian Dr. André Becker Saidenberg, specialist in pathology of wild birds, who guides with the care and rehabilitation of birds, with protocols and training of our team;
Volunteer Sandra Tellefsen Pietzschke, who has been helping us since 2016 with the care and feeding of small chicks, removed or fallen from the nests;
Ilhabela State Park (PEIb), that receives the birds that send us and work an important partnership in environmental education activities in schools and public events;
The NGO World Parrot Trust (WPT) that donated our largest aviary (pre-release training) with a volume of 192m³ (6,780 cubic ft) and sponsorship with payments for laboratory test, equipment, construction of our kitchen and other aviaries maintenance;
Notts Parrot Club, from England, through Rosemary Low who donated equipment for environmental education, aviary mesh, leg bands and published our work for Parrot Society Magazine;
Ilhabela Magazine, with a bimonthly edition where we published an article on the environment and wild animals section since 2014 until 2021;
Many people who make periodic donations and believe in our work;
The Municipality of Ilhabela, which participated in the environmental education campaign “Conures inside the roof” with the production and distribution of leaflets from house to house in 2016 and between March/2019 and Dec/2021, subsidized our basic operation.