# Wild bird captivity in the Brazilian semiarid region: practices, conflicts, and species richness in a protected area buffer zone

## TL;DR

This study explores how rural communities in Brazil's semiarid region keep wild birds, blending cultural traditions with conservation concerns.

## Contribution

The study introduces an emic ethno-ornithological approach to document bird use and perceptions in a protected area buffer zone.

## Key findings

- Eight typological categories of bird use were identified, including affection-based captivity.
- Species like Sicalis columbiana and Brotogeris chiriri are commonly kept in captivity.
- Ara ararauna showed high cultural significance, while others were linked to hunting practices.

## Abstract

Keeping wild birds in captivity by rural communities in the Brazilian semiarid region represents a complex blend of cultural heritage and conservation challenges, with birds playing a central role in local traditions and belief systems. Ethno-ornithological approaches offer essential insights into local knowledge systems, including the symbolic meanings attributed to birds and the impact of these practices on wild populations. Such research can inform biocultural conservation strategies that reconcile cultural valuation with biodiversity protection.

This study examined human–bird interactions in a rural community located in the buffer zone Parnaíba Headwaters National Park in Piauí. Using an emic ethno-ornithological approach, we analyzed the typological categories of bird use, with particular emphasis on captivity by affection. We employed a mixed-method approach to categorize bird use and document participants’ perceptions of human-bird relationships. We compiled a list of species reported by participants, supplemented by rapid sampling.

We identified eight typological categories of bird use, including species commonly captive such as Sicalis columbiana and Brotogeris chiriri. Historically, local participants reported certain parrot species as food resources. Species from Tinamidae, Icteridae, and Thraupidae were frequently associated with “capture/hunting” practices. Ethnobiological indices indicated high cultural significance for Ara ararauna, while several other species showed strong associations with intensity of use. The results reveal how affective, symbolic, and ecological values shape local practices, generating both cultural continuity and conservation tensions.

The Santa Rosa community demonstrates a deep ecocultural connection with local birdlife. The practice of affectionate captivity influences the community’s daily life and underscores the richness of local ethnoecological knowledge. Although primarily driven by emotional motivations, this practice generates critical tension that may jeopardize wild bird population stability and the intergenerational transmission of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) within the community. These findings contribute to current debates on biocultural conservation, particularly regarding the complex role of TEK in human–avian relationships.