Chick Checks - It's Parrot Nesting Season!

We currently have several conservationist teams within OEC busy protecting and monitoring parrot nests during the current parrot nesting season. In Central America and Guyana this generally ranges from December - June, while in Paraguay it ranges from June - December.

Conservationists protect nests because of poaching, which occurs due to the high demand for parrots as pets. They monitor nests to make sure they are healthy or to discover why a nest fails. To gather data, conservationists climb trees and take pictures and videos. Here are some examples of our current active nests, which number over 150!

Nicaragua: Below is a yellow-naped parrot nest in a hardwood tree cavity with two chicks just about ready to fledge at 8.5 weeks of age.

Guyana: Below is a sun parakeet nest with 4 chicks, 5 - 6.5 weeks of age, in a hardwood nest cavity. They will fledge in about 2-3 weeks at 8 weeks of age.

Honduras:  Below is a scarlet macaw nest in a pine tree with the  female adult, who refused to leave the nest despite the presence of a parrot ranger, and her three week-old chick. This species fledges at 13 weeks of age.

Guatemala:  Below is a yellow-headed parrot nest in an artificial nest box with a view of the surrounding countryside. The chicks are about 3-4 weeks of age and will fledge at 8.5 weeks of age. One of the chicks is panting, indicating that it is hot, and it will get hotter before they fledge in June.

 Our project in Suriname also has active nests now but we don’t have any pictures of them at this time. Our only other project is in Paraguay, but they are currently outside of the reproductive season there. We will begin to see eggs and chicks in June.

Stay tuned!