One Earth Conservation works to protect the hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) in Paraguay. This parrot, which is the largest parrot (by size) in the world, is more popularly known in that country by its Guaraní name, “Gua’a hovy.”
This species is on the list of native birds in danger of extinction in Paraguay according to the country’s Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (Resolution No. 254/19) and the IUCN Redlist rates the species as vulnerable worldwide. Currently, it is estimated that there are only a few individuals residing in Paraguay, mainly due to the illegal trafficking of the species and loss of habitat.
The hyacinth macaw is mostly found in Paraguay in the Cerrados del Chaco and Pantanal regions of the north and east in the Department of Alto and the Cerrado region of the northwest in the Department of Concepción (Rodríguez et al., 2019). During our work with our local partners in the country, we have recorded nesting events in dry and hollow palm trees of the species Acrocomia aculeata. In 2022, thanks to the local One Earth Conservation team, we were able to document the first successful hyacinth macaw nest in Paraguay in no small part due to the team members' intense parrot monitoring and protection activities.
