He went on to publish a 1995 study in Biological Conservation on the diet and habitat preferences of the Azores bullfinch, which became crucial for the bird's conservation.
" Hence, it is confined to the area with native vegetation." Based on Ramos' observations, habitat restoration emerged as the primary mode of preserving the Azores bullfinch.
As the first person to formally study the ecology of the Azores bullfinch, Ramos made many observations that helped shape the conservation plan of this highly endangered bird.
" It meant that the Azores bullfinch was nearby and it was de-husking the fruit to get to the seed, " says Ramos, of the University of Coimbra, in central Portugal.
Furthermore, introduced plant species like the Australian cheesewood and the Chilean rhubarb spread across large swaths of land, edging out native vegetation and reducing food and habitat for the Azores bullfinch.
During winter, Ramos placed bird feeders on the outskirts of the forest to see if the bird would eat from them, but the effort failed, as the bullfinch showed no interest.
And the comeback of the Azores bullfinch not only is a source of pride for the local community but also draws researchers and tourists from around the world who are interested in the bird and its conservation success.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the United Kingdom had also been monitoring the bird and estimated the population size of the Azores bullfinch to be at an alarmingly critical level of around 100 breeding pairs.