Parrot Lover’s Cruise – Belize Bird Rescue Excursion‏

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Tara

This email came in a couple weeks ago but I was traveling with very limited access to the internet so I am just getting around to blogging about it. I must say, it makes me very happy to see Belize Bird Rescue offering visits to cruise ship passengers! The dedicated volunteers are so caring about birds and deserving of more attention……not to mention funds to carry on their work! This shore excursion provides you with an excellent opportunity to see the rescued wild parrots up close and personal as many of the released parrots hang around the grounds, so you can be assured of great photo ops as well!

I was lucky enough to visit this very worthy conservation-minded organization last year, it was an amazing experience!

I have more details about the Parrot Lover’s Cruise here.

Remember to book your cruise with the official organizer:

CAROL CIPRIANO
Carol’s Travel Time
570.470.0034
Email

Have you booked your ticket yet for the Parrot Lover’s Cruise?

If not, we’ve another exciting shore excursion to tempt you with!

We are excited to announce the opportunity to visit the wondrous Belize Bird Rescue, a non-profit Avian Rehabilitation Centre and Sanctuary owned by Belizean residents Jerry Larder and Nikki Buxton.

While there you’ll have the exclusive opportunity to meet the Yellow-headed Amazon (A.o. belizensis), a subspecies unique to Belize and the focus of conservation at the sanctuary. Parrots are a particular concern for Belize Bird Rescue, as the local pet trade and ever-increasing human encroachment on nesting sites reduces population numbers of several of Belize’s parrot species to potentially unsustainable levels.

Along with a buffet luncheon served on site and time to stroll the amazing grounds of the facility, guests will have the opportunity for some shopping at the Art Box, a venue for local artists to show and sell their works.

A fun-filled day awaits – book your excursion today!

White-fronted Parrot (Amazona albifrons)

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Tara

The White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons) also known as the White-fronted Parrot, or adopted slang term Spectacled Amazon is found throughout most of Central America.

We saw them in Belize at Belize Bird Rescue, Tikal National Park and Laguna del Lagarto in Costa Rica.

The White-fronted Amazon, at about 25 cm (10 in) long, is the smallest of the Amazon parrots. This species is named for the bright white patch of feathers on their foreheads, although the amount of white varies from individual to individual. They have mostly green plumage with some blue colouring on their outspread wings. They have bright red coloring around their eyes (in some individuals almost like spectacles) and blue coloring behind the patch of white on their foreheads.

They can be found in a variety of wooded areas and open country with trees such as moist, seasonal semi-evergreen and deciduous forest, pine woodlands, gallery forest, ranchland with stands of open woodland, savanna and arid tropical scrub with cacti. Up to 1850m (6068 ft).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PARROT

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

VIDEO

I had a hard time finding footage of this bird in the wild, this one is short but you can hear what they sound like.

Belize Bird Rescue

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Tara

One of the best things about eco-tourism is the chance to show local communities the value of keeping wild birds wild. In a perfect world, no bird would leave his home except as an image in a digital camera, the locals would have secure jobs in lodges, restaurants and as guides. But we all know this world isn’t perfect and many birds do end up being captured by poachers. Some of these poor birds will die in tiny cages, some will be shipped around the world and some will be recovered by the authorities before the poacher gets too far with them. Thanks to places like Belize Bird Rescue, these birds have a 2nd chance to go home, be free and hopefully tell all the other birds what happened so they can avoid capture.

Belize Bird Rescue goals for 2012 education campaigns

• To emphasise the link between Belize’s tourism industry and its wildlife

• To diminish or halt the trade in wild-caught parrots

• To improve living conditions and thereby prolong the lifespan of captive parrots

• To open the hearts and minds of young Belizeans to the plight of their indigenous avian species

Belize Bird Rescue is located on the outskirts of Belmopan, about an hour’s bus ride from Belize City or San Ignacio. They are not currently open to the public but as a fellow conservationist networking on social media, my husband and I were invited for a private visit to the facility. Nikki Buxton showed us around the facility, let me take photos of the birds, then we sat on the verandah chatting and watching some playful Amazon parrots frolic in the bushes. Rehabiliating a rescued bird isn’t as simple as just letting it go. The whole procedure is outlined on their website. Don’t miss this heart-wrenching video! Some birds are injured to the point where they can never be released and Belize Bird Rescue cares for them in lovely spacious aviaries with healthy diets and plenty of enrichment. If I were a few years younger and single, I would seriously think about being a volunteer there! Please help them with a donation if you can!

Here are some of the photos of our visit!

If you are ever in Belmopan, please consider staying at the Hibiscus Hotel and eating at their restaurant, it supports the rescue!