Three rare Blue-eyed Ground Doves chicks, hatched through artificial incubation, are the result of a joint effort by national and international conservation institutions

In April, Parque das Aves welcomed three new Blue-eyed Ground Doves (Columbina cyanopis), one of the most endangered species in the world. The birds were hatched after artificial incubation, the result of integrated work between biologists and veterinarians from SAVE Brasil (BirdLife International in Brazil), Parque das Aves, Toledo Zoo in the United States, and Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom, with additional collaboration from the Bronx Zoo, also in the United States.

The Blue-eyed Ground Dove is one of the most endangered species in the world, with a population of just 11 known adults in the wild at the last count. Its conservation depends on the efforts of many people and institutions, so that its song can be heard in the Cerrado for many years to come.

Artificial incubation and early care

The three chicks were hatched under the supervision of animal reproduction specialists, in a process that involved artificial incubation and specialized feeding techniques. The incubation was carried out with the support of the SAVE Brasil team (Brazilian Society for the Conservation of Birds), Parque das Aves and Chester Zoo, consolidating international cooperation aimed at the survival of the species.



The doves, which are not on display at Parque das Aves, are still young and will only reach reproductive age next year. They hatched from eggs taken carefully from wild nests, leaving time for the adults to lay a new clutch, with minimal impact on the wild population.

Paloma Bosso, technical director of Parque das Aves, followed the process closely and spoke about the emotional impact of the work. “Seeing these chicks is exciting. Each hatching represents a real chance to reverse the fate of this species. It is a joy and also a great responsibility.”

Adult blue eyed ground dove. Taken Feb 2018 in Brazil. Copyright Silvia Linhares

The Blue-eyed Ground Dove is a critically endangered species that previously occurred across a wide distribution in the Cerrado biome (Brazilian savanna). It has declined because of habitat loss in the Cerrado associated with livestock, crop farming and timber plantations, and is also threatened by human-caused fires and climate change. Currently, the bird is known only in Botumirim in the state of Minas Gerais, with a population of fewer than twenty individuals.