Behavioral Adaptation to Neck Radio-Collars and Its Relations with Temperament in Two Neotropical Psittacid Species

Track devices can cause behavioral, physical, and physiological adverse effects, with individuals varying in how quickly they adapt to them. We examined behavioral effects of replica radio-collars on two captive psittacid species, Scaly-headed Parrot (17 Pionus maximiliani) and Blue-winged Macaw (12 Primolius maracana), and whether temperament influences adaptation to the device. Five temperament dimensions were identified: Activity, Boldness, Anxiety, Neophobia/Neophilia, and Proximity to Humans. Behavioral observations were conducted in two conditions: baseline (no collars) and with collars. With collars, parrots spent less time in “movement,” “locomotion,” “preening,” “environment interaction,” “feeding,” and “negative social interaction” (p < 0.05), and more time at “rest” and in “inactivity” (p < 0.05) than their baseline measure. “rest” and “inactivity” decreased, while “preening,” “environment interaction,” “feeding,” “movement,” and “locomotion” increased (p < 0.05) as days passed. “Interaction with collar” did not change over time (p > 0.05). Temperament did not influence the adaptation to neck collars (p > 0.05). These behavioral changes may hinder the adaptation and survival of released birds by reducing exploration and increasing stationary behaviors. Such effects can lead to starvation and troublesome social interactions, posing risks for radiotelemetry conservation efforts.