Amazona o. auropalliata
Nicaragua
Parrots International contributes funds to the ongoing Paso Pacifico Yellow-naped Amazon Project incentive program directed by Sarah Otterstrom, PhD.
In addition to monitoring parrot populations in Nicaragua, Paso Pacifico has established an incentive program, providing financial rewards for each successfully fledged parrot. This new project , supported in part by Parrots International, establishes incentive payments to landowners and farmers who protect parrot nests from poachers. Whenever the field staff of Paso Pacifico can document that juvenile parrots are able to successfully leave their nests, Paso Pacifico makes a cash award.
Paso Pacifico has also begun a pilot study for the use of artificial nest boxes for parrots in areas where field staff have observed loss of nesting trees due to coastal development.
The nest boxes (pictured below) are camouflaged with paint, branches, and leaves. Once they've been disguised, the former poachers (who have been recruited to become conservationists) climb high into the trees to place the nest boxes where they'll be safe from predators. Once the nests are secured, the Paso Pacifico forest rangers watch over them.
As with Paso Pacifico’s other integrative conservation programs, the parrot project advances parrot education programs, and incorporates community workshops and film nights.
Dr. Tom White (USFWS) volunteering to teach artificial nest box construction to the Paso Pacifico field team. Dr. White refined his nest boxes over years with the Puerto Rican Parrot Project. Nicaragua. Photo courtesy of Tom White, PhD.
