Category Archives: Conservation

Reminder: Only One Month Until The Parrot Lover’s Cruise

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If you have been thinking about joining this fantastic cruise, don’t delay as it’s only a month away!  It’s pretty easy to get to Puerto Rico using airline miles and spend a few extra days pre or post cruise as well!

If you are a dedicated conservationist, eco-tourist or birder who has been looking for an excuse to ease your spouse/partner into the adventure; this is soft ecotourism at its best!  What could be easier than boarding a luxurious cruise ship in San Juan and relaxing at sea while you cruise to a different Caribbean island just about every day.  Many of these islands have native parrot populations and there will be other bird species too.  And best of all, your participation benefits the World Parrot Trust’s conservation efforts!

Parrot Lovers Cruise

In order to participate in the seminars and dedicated birding excursions, you must book with the official travel agency, Carol’s Travel Time.

Orange- Bellied Parrots’ Recovery Funding In Doubt, & How You Can See Them For Yourself

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The Orange-bellied Parrot is one of Australia’s endangered birds being categorized as critically endangered. Every summer, these colorful parrots arrive in south-west Tasmania for breeding.

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It has been said that not even 50 parrots are there in the wild. There is an urgent need for the funding so that recovery process of these birds can be initiated. Experts were of the view that it is doubted that the three states will provide funding for the same.

The full article can be read here.

If you would like to see these beautiful, endangered parrots, Par Avion operates daily tours from Hobart.

Birding In Hogsback, South Africa

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Hogsback is one of the top birding destinations in South Africa and can easily be reached with a domestic flight to Port Elizabeth, then a 3 hour drive.

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The most sought after bird here is the Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robustus) one of two subspecies of Cape Parrot.  The other subspecies, (Poicephalus fuscicollis) can be found in the Magoebaskloof area.  Cape Parrots are highly endangered and there are several people working hard in this area to try to save them.  Cape Parrot Project, World Parrot Trust.

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Hogsback has accommodation to suit every budget.  Since I have not yet been here (it’s on my 2015 Africa trip) I can’t recommend any particular eco-lodge but there is a good selection on this website.

There are several birding tour operators in the area and links can be found on Fat Birder.  You could try Aves or Graham Russell.  The whole area is rich in birdlife and species you will want to look for include:  Cape Parrot, Orange Ground Thrush, Bush Blackcap, Narina Trogon, Knysna Woodpecker, White Starred Robin, Olive Woodpecker, Chorister Robin-Chat, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler, Olive Bush-shrike, Cape Batis, African Emerald Cuckoo, Klaas’ Cuckoo, African Olive Pigeon, Red Chested Cuckoo, Brown Scrub Robin, Dark Backed Weaver,Drakensberg Prinia, Barrats Warbler, Dark Capped Yellow Warbler, Common Quail, Lazy Cisticola, Yellow Bishop, Red-necked Spurfowl, Thick-billed Weaver, Blue Crane, Grey Crowned Crane, Secretary Bird, Ground Woodpecker, Jackal Buzzard, Steppe Buzzard, Forest Buzzard, Long Crested Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Martial Eagle, Rufous Chested, Black and Little Sparrowhawks , Rock Kestrels, Amur Kestrels as well as Yellow Billed Kites,and more.

Birding guides in the Hogsback area are welcome to leave their contact details in the comments section of this post.

Meet David Letsoalo, Top South African Birding Guide

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When you are looking for rare bird species, especially in terrain where they can be easily camouflaged, it is essential to have a birding guide who knows the area well and is familiar with the nesting spots and sounds of the targeted species.  If you are birding in the Woodbush Forest of Magoebaskloof, you are in luck as this is the home of the amazing David Letsoalo.

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David Letsoalo, BirdLife South Africa-accredited Bird Guide won the Eagle Award for being the best local guide in South Africa.   David is a living legend in the birding world. He has been the focus of numerous magazine and newspaper articles including Die Beeld, Africa Birds and Birding Magazine, Limpopo Living Magazine, The Star Newspaper and Country Life Magazine.  He has also been interviewed for television slots including Kaelo, Miracle Stories on SABC 2, 50/50, Supersports and for BBC3. David is on the BirdLife SA Council, representing the Bird Guides countrywide. He also mentors the Limpopo Guides and assists in training workshops.

The best way to arrange a birding excursion with David is at Kurisa Moya, a stunningly beautiful lodge in Magoebaskloof.  He’s a really nice guy and we greatly enjoyed our birding excursion with him.  We never would have found the Cape Parrots without him!

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This is a video interview I did with David back in April 2009.  It’s only a home-made video so the quality isn’t the best but you do get to know more about David, his dedication to conservation, Cape Parrots and even how to pronounce “Magoebaskloof”!

Jane Goodall Releases Grey Parrots In Uganda After Three Year Rescue Saga

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Jane Goodall released 17 African Grey parrots back into the wild in an emotional ceremony Friday on Ngamba Island, Uganda in Africa. The World Parrot Trust and Fly Free announced that the well-known chimpanzee expert and conservation leader pulled the string to open the cage door that finally allowed the greys to fly free three years after they were originally smuggled out of Africa.  The full story is available here.  The video below shows what happens when wild parrots are stolen out of the wild.  THESE birds are the lucky ones, they get to go home!  By supporting organizations such as World Parrot Trust and engaging in eco-tourism to see these birds in the wild, you encourage the locals to leave the birds alone so they can remain free.

Dire Message About Why We Need To Conserve Wild Birds

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Trafficking of wild-caught birds is devastating no matter how you look at it.  The birds lose their freedom at best, their lives at worst.  The eco-system loses valuable members.  Everyone loses the joy of seeing and hearing wild birds flying free in their native homes.  Trafficking happens because there are people who need to earn money to feed their families and people who are willing to pay them to capture wild birds.  To stop it, we need to offer these people other alternatives for gainful, honest employment so they leave the wild birds alone.  This is where eco-tourism can help.  When we spend our tourist $$ by supporting local communities, they no longer need to capture these birds.  The birds become more valuable left in the wild so they attract eco-tourists.

Let’s have a look at just how damaging the wild-caught bird trade is with this video found on the World Parrot Trust’s Fly Free page.

The fight to end rare-animal trafficking in Brazil
Biologist Juliana Machado Ferreira, a TED Senior Fellow, talks about her work helping to save birds and other animals stolen from the wild in Brazil. Once these animals are seized from smugglers, she asks, then what? – See more at: http://www.parrots.org/flyfree/about-the-wild-bird-trade.html#sthash.KrtmN54x.dpuf
If you are doing an eco-tour this year, thank you for doing your part to help save wild birds.  Please try to spend as much cash as possible within the local communities of the nature preserve you are visiting so they stay motivated to leave the birds flying free.
If you are not traveling or doing a city or resort type trip, please consider helping the World Parrot Trust with a donation so they may continue their work.

WPT’s Parrot Lover’s Cruise Announces Excursion In Dominica

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The Parrot Lovers Cruise which I have been blogging about have posted details of another one of their shore excursions in the beautiful island of Dominica.

Imperial Amazon

October 29 – Departing at 9:00 am local time, you’ll be met at the cruise ship pier and taken to Morne Diablotin National Park, where you will enjoy hiking on the trails through the rainforest to see the Imperial Amazon (Sisserou) and the Red-necked Amazon (Jaco). Hiking can involve moderate difficulty over exposed tree roots and rocks, mild incline, so be sure to bring some good hiking shoes. 12:30PM will see the group continuing on to the Parrot Conservation and Research Centre in the Botanical Gardens, where you will have a chance to see the Jaco and Sisserou parrots up close in the facility, as well as hear about the conservation efforts being done to save these rare parrots. Your group will head back to the pier 2:30PM to explore the interesting little shops set up by locals.

Ticket Price: USD $90.00 per guest (excludes lunch.)
Contact Carol to book your spot »

Excursion schedule subject to change.

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You can get to Puerto Rico using frequent flyer miles and spend a few days there using hotel points before and after the cruise.

Remember that although this cruise is on sale to the general public, in order to participate in the parrot lover’s programs, you must book through

CAROL CIPRIANO

Carol’s Travel Time
570.470.0034

carolstraveltime@gmail.com

And it’s all for a good cause as the funds raised go to the World Parrot Trust!

Book The Parrot Lover’s Cruise By 19 June For Extras!

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Just got this by email, I wish Puerto Rico wasn’t so far from Australia!  Remember, you can save heaps by using miles to get there which is pretty cheap from the USA and spend a few extra days in San Juan before and after the cruise on hotel points too!  To get the deal, you MUST book via the official travel agency.

CAROL CIPRIANO
Carol’s Travel Time
570-470-0034

carolstraveltime@gmail.com
www.parrotloverscruise.com

If you’ve been waiting to book your seat on the 5th annual Parrot Lover’s Cruise, the deal just got even better!

Discover some of the bluest waters and best sightseeing in the world as you cruise the Southern Caribbean.

Educate yourself with onboard parrot seminars featuring some of the top parrot experts in the world, and visit exotic ports of call where you’ll have a chance to see parrots in the wild.

Book before June 19, 2013
Choose from one of the following “extras” when you book now:

1. Classic Beverage Package (includes wine and spirits), or

2. Pre-paid gratuities for two, or

3. A $300 onboard credit, or

4. Up to $400 in credit if your airfare is booked with Celebrity!

Hurry, “extras” offer ENDS June 19!
 Go online to book now »

Parrots International’s Symposium 2013

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There are a number of parrot focused conventions held around the world every year.  This is one I would have loved to go to if I had had more advance notice.  No way I would get award seats in high season between Australia and LAX.  People based in the USA have a chance though and if you are interested in parrot conservation it looks like a great program!  For details, head over to Parrots International’s Symposium site. The Symposium creates a forum for parrot conservation, in situ field research, and companion parrots. We gather renowned experts and upcoming, dedicated, parrot researchers from around the globe, as well as students, donors and supporters, and conservation organizations.

Join us at our the eighth annual Symposium 2013 taking place at the

Queen Mary Hotel, Los Angeles (Long Beach), California

June 20-22, 2013

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A Magical Journey Awaits You

Welcome to the Queen Mary!

Once a world-class ocean liner, the Queen Mary Hotel offers guests unique accommodations and a wide array of attractions that simply cannot be found anywhere else.

Unique Long Beach Hotel Accommodations

Whether it’s the authentic polished wood paneling, the original 1930s artwork, the Art Deco style or the operable portholes, there’s no question that the Queen Mary Hotel is unlike any other Southern California hotel. Each stateroom is unique with its own personality and offers a real glimpse into what transatlantic travel was like during the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. With an impressive history and tradition of excellence, the Queen Mary Hotel is more than a place to rest one’s head – it’s an entire experience.

The Queen Mary Experience

From historic tours, to paranormal attractions, shops, spa and various events, there are a wide variety of things to do and see while aboard the ship. We hope you enjoy your stay aboard the Queen Mary and take advantage of all the wonderful sites, sounds and tastes, the ship has to offer.