Numbers of Once-thought Extinct Parrot Reach 12-Year High in Colombia

[Judi Lynn]

January 13, 2011
Numbers of Once-thought Extinct Parrot Reach 12-Year High in Colombia

The numbers of the once-thought extinct, Yellow-eared Parrot have increased to their highest levels since the species was found on the brink of extinction in 1998, when just 81 birds were found in one flock surviving in a remote mountainous area of Colombia.

A recent survey count shows that, thanks to conservation actions by the Colombian conservation group Fundación ProAves, in partnership with American Bird Conservancy (ABC), Conservation International-Colombia and Loro Parque Fundación of Spain, the bird has reached historically high population levels. The bird has just experienced the most successful breeding season on record, with 291 chicks fledged from 131 nests, bringing the global population to 1,076 individuals.

http://www.surfbirds.com.nyud.net:8090/media/gallery_photos/20090924064044.jpg

Yellow-eared Parrot © Pete Morris/Birdquest, from the surfbirds galleries.

“We take great pride in being a continuing part of this amazing recovery effort. The Yellow-eared Parrot is one of many birds in South America that is in need of help. In this case, the partners have done an outstanding job with the many on-the-ground projects that are a key to this bird’s long term survival. This is the kind of partnership effort that serves as a model for the conservation of endangered birds around the world,” said Sara Lara, International Division Director for ABC.

~snip~
Another important effort has involved the wax palm, Colombia's national tree, which provides critical habitat for the Yellow-eared Parrot, and which is itself in danger of extinction. Use of wax palm fronds for Palm Sunday celebrations was placing additional stress on the tree and parrot populations. ProAves successfully instituted a campaign, supported by Conservation International – Colombia and the Colombian Catholic Church, to educate local Catholic celebrants to the problem and to substitute the fronds of a plentiful, introduced palm.

More:
http://www.surfbirds.com/sbirdsnews/archives/2011/01/numbers_of_once.html

http://www.ventbird.com.nyud.net:8090/system/photo/image/2165/standard/Yellow-eared_Parrots_tree_trunk_Colombia_resz.jpg

http://images.travelpod.com.nyud.net:8090/users/supertramps/1.1229353200.1_wax-palm-trees.jpg

Wax Palm trees in Colombia

http://www.noteme.com.nyud.net:8090/images/ss/icon/dancing%20banana.gif http://www.noteme.com.nyud.net:8090/images/ss/icon/dancing%20banana.gif http://www.noteme.com.nyud.net:8090/images/ss/icon/dancing%20banana.gif http://www.noteme.com.nyud.net:8090/images/ss/icon/dancing%20banana.gif

[xchrom]

1. Bravo! Nt

[tanyev]

2. They were just pining for the fjords.

[Esse Quam Videri]

3. Nice story

It is refreshing to read about something that is actually going in a positive direction when it comes to the globe.

[callous taoboy]

4. I love a story like this.

[Odin2005]

5. A very pretty bird!

[arachadillo]

6. Endangered Parrots

The numbers of the once-thought extinct, Yellow-eared Parrot have increased to their highest levels since the species was found on the brink of extinction in 1998, when just 81 birds were found in one flock surviving in a remote mountainous area of Colombia.

A recent survey count shows that, thanks to conservation actions by the Colombian conservation group Fundación ProAves, in partnership with American Bird Conservancy (ABC), Conservation International-Colombia and Loro Parque Fundación of Spain, the bird has reached historically high population levels. The bird has just experienced the most successful breeding season on record, with 291 chicks fledged from 131 nests, bringing the global population to 1,076 individuals.

It's good to hear that perhaps one parrot species may not soon join the already nineteen extinct parrot species.

Reading posts such as this one gets me to thinking that advertising endangered parrot breeding success stories might also encourage the parrot pirates to begin looking for the species in the wild. Let's hope not.