If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words is this video worth? Sorry, they don’t allow embedding but click on the link below to watch it on Vimeo.
The enigmatic Macaws of Tambopata from Christian Declercq on Vimeo.
Every time I watch this I want to book the next flight back to Peru. If you are inspired, check out the other posts I have on how to see the Enigmatic Macaws of Tambopata for yourself!
Review of Refugio Amazonas and Tambopata Research Center
This is one of my favourite parrot species and I have made two trips to see them in the wild in Atiu, Cook Islands. The first time was in 2008 and they had only been released less than a year and everyone was caught up in the excitement about having the beautiful little birds back on the island after so many years. The actual name of the species is Kuhl’s Lorikeet or Kuhl’s Lory but they are much better known as Rimatara Lorikeets. In their native lands, they are called “Ura in French Polynesia and Kura in the Cook Islands.
UPDATE: I have also been to see them in their original native land, Rimatara! I have been blogging about this trip taken in June 2014.
Young Rimatara Lorikeet
New photos taken in Rimatara.
There are only four places where these highly endangered little parrots can be seen in the wild. Of course one is their original homeland of Rimatara, French Polynesia and there are a few in Kritimati Island. Then there is their new home of Atiu, Cook Islands and a few of the Atiu lorikeets flew off to Mitiaro, Cook Islands and have been breeding so there is a small population there. Out of all these places, the easiest to get to on airline miles is the Cook Islands, then you need to fly on Air Rarotonga to Atiu. You can also fly from Papeete to Rimatara on Air Tahiti.
Word Parrot Trust & Magazine Article
This is where I get to sit back and take it easy because to tell you the background of the Rimatara Lorikeets and their story is much easier to do with a collection of videos. So sit back, relax and enjoy!
A much less professional production is my own visit to see them in 2008. It does give an idea of what to expect from your own eco-tourism experience if you go to see these birds in the wild!
Orange-bellied Parrots (Neophema chrysogaster) are one of the rarest parrots species in the world; and unless something is done, we risk losing them from the planet forever.
I took the photos below on my trip to see them at Melaleuca, Tasmania in March 2014.
Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster)
Orange-bellied Parrots eating
According to this video report, there are only 20 at the traditional breeding grounds at Melalueca, Tasmania. They are one of only two species of parrot which migrate. OBPs breed in Tasmania and spend the winter in coastal grasslands on southern mainland Australia. With only 36 wild birds known to be alive after the summer 2011/12 breeding season, it is regarded as a critically endangered species. This map shows their range.
OBP range
There is extensive information on the species on the Australian Biodiversity site, but I do want to point out the major threats.
The main current threat to the Orange-bellied Parrot is the loss and fragmentation of its non-breeding saltmarsh habitat. Suitable habitat has been lost to the construction of farmland, industrial sites and saltworks (Ashby 1924b; Brown & Wilson 1982; Loyn et al. 1986; Menkhorst et al. 1990; Starks 1995b; Stephenson 1991; Yugovic 1984). The main factors contributing to the loss of Orange-bellied Parrot habitat are:
- drainage of wetlands for grazing
- alteration and destruction of saltmarsh for industrial and urban development
- grazing of native vegetation
- vegetation clearance for agricultural purposes
- changes to land use practices
- recreational activities (OBPRT 2006a).
Potential threats to the Orange-bellied Parrot population include loss of unknown breeding sites, competition from introduced species, predation, Psittacine Circoviral Disease (PCD), collision with structures, ingestion of toxic weeds and reduced availability of food due to the changed species composition at feeding sites (OBPRT 2006a).
Threat Abatement and Recovery
The current Recovery Plan includes the following objectives:
- To monitor the population size, productivity, survival and life history of the Orange-bellied Parrot.
- To identify all sites used by Orange-bellied Parrots and better understand migration.
- To increase the carrying capacity of habitat by actively managing sites throughout the species’ range.
- To identify, measure and ameliorate threats, particularly in migratory and winter habitats.
- To increase the number of breeding sub-populations /groups.
- To maintain a viable captive population.
How can you help?
Zoos Australia have a captive breeding program and you can help by virtually “adopting” an Orange-bellied Parrot.
Visit their website to learn more about this.
Orange-bellied Parrots are also represented on Facebook and I recommend you like these pages to keep up to date with what is happening with them.
Orange-bellied Parrot Project
Save the Orange-bellied Parrot
In spite of their rarity, it is still possible to see Orange-bellied Parrots in the wild at Melaleuca, Tasmania. In this post I show you how to get there on airline miles and organize a visit. They can also be seen in coastal Victoria while they spend the winter there but they are more spread out and more difficult to spot. I recommend making the trip to Tasmania to see them between January-early March when there are both adults and newly hatched babies around.
Polytelis Media has a superb clip from their excellent series on Australian parrots on Youtube.
Don’t you just love when big corporations such as United Airlines want to give something back? They have 38 charities listed HERE and you can vote once per day who you want to win. They are all very worthy causes but since this blog is about conservation and eco-travel, I want to draw your attention to Conservation International.
Conservation International (CI) empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature, global biodiversity, and the long-term wellness of humanity by using a foundation of science, partnership, and field demonstration. Founded in 1987, CI has over 900 biologists, social scientists, economists, policy experts, communicators, educators, and other professionals working in more than 40 countries on 4 continents with over 1,000 international partners.
Winning a large number of frequent flyer miles would allow them to send more biologists and researchers to projects to help conserve the local wildlife.
Even if you find yourself drawn to one of the other charities, just please vote! It feels good to help worthy causes!
Spix’s Macaw
Believe me, there is nothing I would love more than to be able to post my usual map of where you can see the enigmatic Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) flying free in the wild and tell you how to get there. Unfortunately, they are extinct in the wild and the species survives only to this day due to a handful of conservation efforts. They had a very small range in the Brazilian state of Bahia near Curaca. This map show the rough idea of where they were last seen in the wild back in October, 2000.
A single survivor, the last of his species tried to pair with an Illiger’s Macaw out of loneliness. No one knows exactly what happened to him, whether he died of natural causes or was trapped and sold to the highest bidder. The heartbreaking story is told in the excellent book by Tony Juniper, “Spix’s Macaw, The Race To Save The World’s Rarest Bird”.
As of Nov 2012, there are around 93 Spix’s Macaws in the entire world, all in captivity. The majority are in the Al Wabra Wildlife Preserve (60). There are 7 in Loro Parque’s breeding centre in Tenerife, Spain, 7 in Germany and 5 in Brazil. The others are probably in private collections.
Opportunities to see a Spix’s Macaw in person are very limited. Unlike most conservation projects, Al Wabra is privately owned and financed by Sheikh Saoud Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Al Thani so they do not require fundraising via ecotourism. I was lucky enough to pay them a visit in April, 2009; but this was a rare privilege afforded to me through private contacts. Their website states:
Located on a 2.5 square kilometer large area close to the town of Al Shahaniyah in central Qatar. The farm is not open to the public.
The easiest way to see Spix’s Macaws is to attend the World Parrot Congress held every 4 years at Loro Parque, Tenerife, Spain. Delegates who join the Loro Parque Fundación are given a tour of La Vera and a chance to see the Spix’s Macaws along with other rare parrot species.
The next conference is scheduled for 22-25 Sept, 2014 and you better believe I have miles earmarked to get there! The exact details aren’t available yet but I will be blogging about it once they are. In the meanwhile, you have almost 2 years to collect enough miles to get yourselves from your home to Spain!
Last year, the animated feature film “Rio” was based on the plight of the highly endangered Spix’s Macaw and would make a great gift for anyone in the family!
Although at present, the only Spix’s Macaws are in captivity, there is hope yet that they may once again fly freely in Brazil, in the land of their ancestors. AWWP has purchased the Concordia Farm in Curaca, where the last wild Spix’s Macaw was seen in hopes of restoring the land and implementing a release program in the not-too-distant future!
Tis the season to shop, so why not give some wonderful gifts that in turn give back to the environment? If you go to Peru to see the macaw clay lick in the Tambopata National Reserve, you will find these beautiful wall-hangings called arpilleras being sold at the airport gift shops and in some of the lodges. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t buy more of these when I was there and also some of the other crafts they have as they are absolutely gorgeous!
But even if you don’t have a trip planned, you can still get one of these gorgeous artworks for yourself or as a gift for someone!
These are handmade by indigenous artisans in the jungles of Peru. Each wall-hanging is an original; hand-sewn and unique. Your purchase will aid local communities and protect wild areas. These amazing one-of-a-kind fabric artworks support indigenous communities which in turn protect their local clay licks – an arrangement that benefits parrots and humans alike. Funds raised from each sale encourage this sustainable trade. There is more information here about how arpilleras support conservation and ecotourism.
OK, so now you want one (or 10) and you don’t plan to go to Peru in the near future? Don’t worry! They can be ordered from the World Parrot Trust and you have a choice of a USA based store and the UK/Worldwide based store. All profits go to support their conservation projects that save wild parrots around the world. I have seen many wild parrots rescued and returned to the wild because of World Parrot Trust over the years.
I have 4 arpilleras in my home and they are treasured featured artworks in my bird room. If you can’t go to the rainforest, why not bring the rainforest to you? (And then plan a trip there in the future!)
One of the most rewarding things you can do as an ecotourist is to volunteer with an organization that is studying wild birds. You get a much more in-depth experience than someone who can only visit for a few days, you will work with some of the world’s best conservationists and you get to do your share in helping to save the planet. What a great way to go Green!
When I do posts on ecolodges, I will also be mentioning any volunteer programs they may have. There are some great ones in Peru, Brazil and Costa Rica just to name a few.
Lonely Planet is currently offering their book “Volunteer – A Traveler’s Guide” for free as a pdf download. This book normally sells for $19.95 but if you use this link, you can download it for free! It is also available for free in the iBookstore – what a great way to pass time on a flight with no IFE (or with bad IFE)! I don’t know how long this will last so don’t delay, download it now!
