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Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata)

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The Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata), also known as the Puerto Rican Parrot or Iguaca, is the only bird endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico belonging to the Neotropical genus Amazona.

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Although they once could be found throughout Puerto Rico, they are now confined to two main areas – Rio Abajo Forest and El Yunque (green highlights).  I saw these parrots just outside the gate of Rio Abajo Aviary (I was there because I had an appointment).  With less than 100 in the wild (not including breeding population), I was especially honoured to see them!

prparrot

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUERTO RICAN PARROTS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

Parrots International

Parrots Daily News

VIDEOS

These are very informative about the breeding projects to save this critically endangered bird and repopulate the species.

 

Rio Abajo Forest, Puerto Rico

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Rio Abajo Forest is one of the Caribbean’s top birding hotspots due to the Puerto Rican Parrots.  It’s a huge forest with many hiking trails and if you had the time and energy you could spend a day or two here.  But I was not only limited by time, I was exhausted and running on empty due to lack of sleep, so all I wanted to so was find the parrots.  I had been in contact with Ricardo Valentin prior to our visit and he was going to show us around the aviary and breeding project but when we arrived at the gate, we couldn’t find anyone around.

Road leading to Rio Abajo.

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First gate, we just went through as we had an appointment.  There was no one around anyway.DSCN4417

This is the 2nd gate which is outside the breeding project.  We parked here and waited for someone to approach us.  We were early so thought maybe they didn’t show up until 9am which was when our appointment was.DSCN4409 DSCN4412

I tried the call box but no one answered.

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Signage about the aviary.DSCN4410 DSCN4411

A jogger did eventually show up and said his brother worked there.  He called out to his brother but no one answered so he left.  We waited while the trees cam alive around us.DSCN4413

They blend in quite well but this time (as opposed to other islands we had visited) we were close enough to see the parrots frolicking in the trees.IMG_8352 IMG_8355 IMG_8356 IMG_8362 IMG_8369 IMG_8377 IMG_8380 IMG_8382 IMG_8386 IMG_8392 IMG_8394 IMG_8402 IMG_8405 IMG_8406 IMG_8413 IMG_8415 IMG_8420 IMG_8457 IMG_8468

We actually had a good quality visit with the parrots as they hung around the area for awhile foraging in the branches.  They took off around 10am.  No humans ever showed up so at that point, we were starving and left to go forage for ourselves.  I later found out via email that Mr Valentin had taken ill and didn’t work that day.

Parrot Lover’s Cruise Shore Excursions

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The Parrot Lovers Cruise which I blogged about a couple of months ago have posted details of two of their shore excursions but I was unable to post while I was in West Papua due to poor internet so better late than never!

PUERTO RICO

October 26 – Discover how scientists and aviculturists are working together to save the critically endangered Puerto Rican Amazon Parrot with this exclusive tour available only to guests aboard the Parrot Lover’s Cruise. Departing at 8:30am local time, attendees will get a chance to visit the Vivaldi (or Rio Abajo) Aviary, a research station which is closed to the general public and located in the 5,000 acre Rio Abajo Forest Reserve.

While on site, you will meet with members of the PR Amazon Recovery team. During a tour of facilities and surrounding area, you will learn about the captive breeding and release program and may be able to glimpse one of the parrots that have recently been returned to the wild. A small donation is included in your excursion price and will assist with efforts to save this critically endangered species. With a stop at the mall for some lunch and shopping, then back to the cruiseship to find your luggage awaiting your arrival, there’s no better way to start your trip!

Ticket Price: USD $110 per guest (excludes lunch.) Each ticket includes a $36 donation to aid parrot conservation. Contact Carol to book your spot »

ST THOMAS

November 1 – Departing at 10:00 am local time, you’ll be met at the cruise ship pier and taken to the famous Coral World, where you’ll be fascinated by the many species of underwater life represented here. You’ll experience what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to touch a shark, hand-feed a stingray, or watch newborn seahorses learn to swim! As you explore Coral World, you’ll be surrounded by native trees and plants, as well as fabulous views of the ocean, the shoreline of St. Thomas, and neighboring islands. Enjoy the Caribbean reef encounter, shark shallows, lagoon, turtle pool, nature trail, touch pool, stingrays, and much more! You’ll stay dry while watching non-captive fish and other marine life from the Undersea Observatory, which takes you 100 feet offshore and 15 feet beneath the sea in the middle of a living coral reef. You’ll also visit the Lorikeet Aviary, where you’ll have the opportunity to feed the many exotic birds and observe them playing. In addition to all of this, Coral World also has shops, bars, restaurants, restrooms, and a nature trail. We will then head over to the Butterfly Farm, where Daily bird shows are offered on The Butterfly Garden entrance porch. Let Troy, Miss Priss, Coral, Elvis & Ginger entertain you with their antics and skills. They are great showoffs!

This tour includes:

      • Round trip transportation from the cruise ship pier
      • Coral World
      • Lorikeet Aviary
      • Undersea Observatory
      • Closeup views of aquatic life
      • Bird feeding
      • Shop/snack/restroom opportunities
             • Butterfly Farm and Bird Show

Ticket Price: USD $87.00 per guest (excludes lunch.)
Contact Carol to book your spot »

Excursion schedule subject to change.

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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!

El Yunque Rainforest, Puerto Rico

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El Yunque National Forest aka the Caribbean National Forest  is the only tropical rain forest in the United States National Forest System.  It is home to the highly endangered Puerto Rican Parrot, but actually finding them in the vast forest will be quite a challenge.  First, you will need to get to El Yunque.  I recommend hiring a car so you can get there as early as possible.  If you are staying in San Juan at one of the hotels on points, it will be about an hour’s drive, 58 km.

San Juan to El Yunque

A better idea would be to stay in an eco-lodge in the rainforest.   Since I haven’t been there (yet) personally, I looked at Trip Advisor to see which lodges were getting good reviews, 3 of them were all rated very highly.

Villa Sevilla

Rainforest Inn

La Paloma (no website found)

I highly recommend using a specialist bird guide.  I like the looks of Adventours who also have the Birding Puerto Rico site and seem to have years of experience, locally owned and operated and dedicated to conservation.   Parrots are most vocal in the early morning and late afternoon and tracking them by sound is your best bet.  Since the population of parrots is so small, you will need a local guide who is familiar with the habits of the parrots but as always with birding, there is no guarantees.  Birding Puerto Rico recommends the Arecibo area for your best odds to see the Puerto Rican Amazon.   Also worth noting is that they have special permission to enter the national park early and leave later than you normally can.

El Yunque National Forest – Only 45 minute drive from
San Juan, El Yunque is a must see nature wonder.  We
have special permits to go birding to the Forest before
and after the gates are open/close to the general public.
On previous full-day birding trips we have spotted 16 of
our 17 endemic species.

Be sure to support the local conservation projects while you are there.

This group in the video below only got to see the nest boxes put up by research scientists, although to be fair it looks more like a generic rainforest tour than a group of birders.

Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata)

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The Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata), also known as the Puerto Rican Parrot or Iguaca, is the only bird endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico belonging to the Neotropical genus Amazona.  The species is the only remaining native parrot in Puerto Rico and has been listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union since 1994. Once widespread and abundant, the population declined drastically in the 19th and early 20th centuries with the removal of most of its native habitat; the species completely vanished from Vieques and Mona Island, nearby to the main island of Puerto Rico. Conservation efforts commenced in 1968 to save the bird from extinction. In 2006, the total estimated population was 34 to 40 individuals in the wild and 143 individuals in captivity.

Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata)

They can only be seen in El Yunque Rainforest on the island of Puerto Rico.   You can use miles to get to Puerto Rico and stay in various hotels around the island.

Range of Puerto Rican Amazon

They are one of the world’s rarest parrot species with only 60-70 in the wild, about 269 (2011) in captive breeding programme, for a total of 320+.  See the Puerto Rican Parrot Project (Rio Abajo aviary) website for more details.

Nesting Pair

And finally a short video about them.