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Total eclipse as seen from Missouri in the USA on April 8, 2024 Driving through Missouri this week, my spouse and I were in search of a restful place to watch the total eclipse. We ended up on a rural hilltop cemetery and church with a handful of people. Watching the darkening of the day together, most of us started as strangers and ended as much more than a transitory gathering, but something stronger -- bonded in awe and love of this life and earth. Cemetery view of eclipse April 8, 2024 I needed this unfathomable celestial event because the shadows of parrot conservation seems to be growing longer and deeper these past weeks. I recently wrote of our nests in Honduras that were poached and the confiscation of 240 eggs in Panama. But it is not just Central America that is being rocked by the international, illegal parrot trade, but South America as well. Suriname has especially been in the news recently. In July 2023, 29 Lear’s macaws were confiscated in Paramaribo. These are endangered parrots from Brazil, and they are not supposed to be trapped or traded in or out of Brazil or Suriname. In December, 330 birds left Suriname and arrived in Sri Lanka, prompting a coalition of organizations to protest this illegal movement of birds. In February, more animals, including Lear’s macaws, were confiscated in the African country of Togo, having originated in Suriname. Also in February, Ukrainian women were detained for trying to smuggle Lear’s macaw eggs into Suriname from Brazil. One journalist wrote, "Suriname and Guyana, apparently, are the main routes for these animals to leave South America. Europe and Asia are the main destinations. Togo was probably just on the transit route. “ We have projects in both Suriname and Guyana and we experience the constant loss and harm caused by the international trade with a range of emotions, as expressed in the words from Bonnie Tyler in the song, “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” Every now and then, I get a little bit angry And I know I've got to get out and cry Every now and then, I get a little bit tired Of listening to the sound of my tears Every now and then, I get a little bit restless And I dream of something wild My wild dream is that our global cultures no longer accept the domination of any being under the guise of care. The world and its beings, including humans, have seen enough of this lack of freedom. I truly believe there are much better ways to organize human societies, though I alone cannot discern the how and why for any other peoples or places. It will take a group of us to form something stronger bonded in awe and love of this life and earth. This is what we are trying to do at One Earth Conservation and with our Parrot Conservation Corps. As we did on the hilltop under the eclipse, where the horizon’s light looked like the sun setting in a circle surrounding us, let us keep turning around in amazement. May we be vigilant to see the beauty and tragedy ever with us, in sky and in feather, and perhaps we might just one day turn this whole mess around. And we need each other now And we need each other more than ever (Turn around) We'll only be making it right 'Cause we'll never be wrong Together, we can take it to the end of the line (Turn around) (paraphrased from "Total Eclipse of the Heart") Counting parrots in our project area in January 2024 - Kalebaskreek Village, Suriname Concretely, what can we do now? Changing our relationship to others and being in solidarity with all of life is important work for transformative conservation. It is no small thing to step out of our routines and invite wonder into our days. Finding ways to experience the beauty around us and taking moments to express gratitude is a conservation activity. One Earth Conservation leads Birding for Life Walks and is in the process of publishing a book, "Birding for Life," that guides people in how to connect and conserve. We invite you also to NOT buy parrots, adopt instead, and donate time and resources where you can. We'd love your support for our project with indigenous villages in Suriname. We are working with partners there to see what they need to help Suriname reduce the harm caused by their wildlife trade. You can also read and distribute this guide that addresses how to reduce the harm of the trade in Suriname. This is the new logo for Kalebaskreek featuring a blue-and-yellow macaw Please pass on information and news about the wildlife trade and get involved with campaigns that expressly aim to diminish the harm caused by keeping birds in cages (more information is available at the website for the International Alliance for the Protection of Parrots).

On my way back from La Moskita, Honduras a few days ago I visited my good friend who is a professor of English at a university in Tegucigalpa.  She invited me to visit her English class where I could not only help the students practice their English, but I could also tell them about their parrots in Honduras. I told them that it had been legal until 1990 to trap and export parrots from Honduras, where over ten thousand birds were removed every year for the wildlife trade. Despite it being now illegal to do this, the parrots of Honduras continue to be trapped and exported anyway, resulting in much harm and loss of life – not just to the parrots but to the people and ecosystems over which the birds fly. Authorities in Panama confiscated hundreds of parrot eggs in March 2024 (photo by Panorma Económica Panamá) The students learned that just this past week 240 parrot eggs were confiscated in Panama (photo above) that came from Nicaragua, where the parrots from our project area in Honduras are often taken after they are forcibly removed from their nests. This is the fourth time in a year that couriers from Taiwan have been detained in American airports from the USA to Paraguay. How many more eggs make it through undetected? Heartbreakingly, the first of the nests from our project were also poached this same week. There is a criminal ring of Taiwanese people whose couriers keep getting captured with eggs, but they do not desist. I imagine their organization must be large and organized and I often feel despair about what can be done to stop them. The students then began to tell me stories of the parrots in their lives and how they did not know that such harm was happening to their country's birds. This includes the most trafficked and sought after species, the scarlet macaw, which is the National Bird of Honduras. One student, Yeny, told us how her grandmother, with whom she grew up, trafficked in wild animals throughout Yeny's childhood. She then went on to share.... "In my innocence I always believed that it was a form of work and it was not bad. I never thought that it was a crime, but I didn't like seeing animals behind a cage anyway. I am currently 40 years old and I do not like having birds as pets. I think it was all due to what I experienced as a child. I always felt that birds were born to fly and be free. I do not share the idea of having a bird caged or deprived of freedom. God made nature with the intention that we would be good stewards and not dedicate ourselves to destroying it." Now back home in the USA and receiving daily news of our project's nests in Honduras being poached, I offer a prayer of gratitude to Yeny and the citizens of her country. There are many who dedicate themselves to preserving and cherishing the wild parrots of their homelands. I especially appreciate our teams in Honduras who work 24/7 camping and patrolling to protect what is theirs so it won’t become someone else’s in a far away place. Thank you! As part of the International Alliance for the Protection of Parrots you can learn more and discover what you can do to stop the demand that is depleting the wild earth of parrots.

We started as a disparate group of people seeking to connect to and protect nature, coming from the broad expanse of North America to join the communities of Ometepe Island, Nicaragua. Our theme for the four-day walking pilgrimage was “Transformational Parrot Conservation.” I didn't know how we might be changed, but that we would be. Approaching the island of Ometepe, we each arrived under the storm clouds of a world full of woe, but as the pilgrimage progressed, those clouds lifted. My hope was that we would see that as we walked in beauty with vistas full of flying parrots and towering volcanoes, we would more deeply affirm that beauty never leaves us alone in this world. We would become more resilient and aware of the inherent tragedies of life on this planet. This and so much more happened. We left as a family, each wiser and more whole. It wasn't all serious, we also had a lot of fun! Let me offer you now the words of those along the way who gave us wisdom and hope: A farmer who joined us for conversation as we passed his ranch: “We are all part of nature. We just come from different places.” “I never felt so much love. It was magic.” “It felt like coming home to a known family, a family that cares.” “I go home empowered.” “I want a sustainable level of suffering.” “Everyone found a place where they were comfortable, and if help was needed, it was there.” “When I saw the wild parrot in the tree, I never knew such beauty and love. I am committed to these species, for as in these words from The Little Prince, “You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.” (This saying is preceded by, in the same book, these words, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”) Along the way we chanted, “Sí se puede, sí se puede, loros vuelen libres.” Then as we ended where we began, coming full circle, the chant shifted to Sí se puede, sí se puede, loros vuelen libres. Sí se pudo y se podrá los loros libres volar Yes, you can, yes you can, parrots fly free. Yes, it was possible and it will be possible for parrots to fly free. For my closing words, I added..."Seeing how you all love and walk in beauty, helps me love more and to envision what the heart can see rightly. I don’t know how to get there from here exactly but knowing that it was possible for four days affirms that will be possible for us all to fly free." If you'd like the chance to soar on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua, join us from December 13-17, 2024. We will also be leading another pilgrimage in Guatemala in 2024. Though the days are long and hard, there is always the chance to be refreshed with purpose.

That's Cristian on the right with the camera and baseball cap We at One Earth Conservation are so excited that our 2024 bilingual Parrot Conservation Corps (PCC), which has 51 participants registered, just started this month! To celebrate, we’re going to occasionally spotlight some of the amazing people from around the world who are coming together online for a full year to learn all they can about parrots, the challenges these birds are facing, and how everyone can help. We’re starting this series with an interview with Cristian, who is a graduate of the 2023 Spanish PCC (known as CCP in Spanish) and is serving as a Group Leader in this year’s cohort. GK: Can you speak a bit about where you live and how you are involved with parrots there? CDTM: I live in southern Paraguay in a place called Pilar. The environment around Pilar includes a lot of lowlands and wetlands, and many aquatic birds call this place their home. I’m not directly involved with parrots at this time, but I have worked with birds in general. Currently, I’m working with the Hugo Foundation and my responsibilities include helping local communities to understand the importance of biodiversity both for the environment and their local economies. So, although I currently don’t work directly with nature, I know this work is important and will help nature more indirectly. Cristian leading a group in Paraguay GK: Do you know the general status of parrots in Paraguay? CDTM: I follow some organizations that work on parrot conservation (including One Earth Conservation), so I have some knowledge about their status. I’ve heard that macaws in Paraguay are all endangered. For example, there are very few pairs of adult hyacinth macaws mating locally. Other birds I’ve learned about that are in trouble include vinaceous-breasted amazons and blue-and-yellow macaws. GK: What is your favorite parrot and why? CDTM: I really don’t have one favorite because they are all so beautiful! I guess I lean towards macaws, since they are so large and crazily beautiful. I also love how their brains work. The only type of macaw that I’ve seen in the wild is the red-and-green macaw. It was so amazing to see that bird and I felt very emotional. But I really think all parrots are beautiful. Wild red-and-green macaws flying free. Photo by João D'Andretta on Wikimedia Commons GK: Do you have a story you’d like to share about yourself and parrots? CDTM: When I was about 12 years old, I had a monk parakeet as a pet, named Coto, and he was probably a poached bird. I never learned the bird’s gender but was told he was likely a male due to his larger size. Coto was very smart and would speak and he lived with us for about 4-5 years. Then, one day I went outside with him on my shoulder (which I did pretty often) during a celebration and there were fireworks. Coto was startled and so he flew away. We were able to find him but something seemed wrong and he died a few days later. I was devastated, so much so that I decided that I never wanted to have a bird as a pet again. This experience totally changed my view of having birds as pets in general. I realized that keeping birds as pets was affecting individual beings and I thought about how they must feel. This idea inspired me to work with birds as much as I can. I eventually realized that Paraguay is not making enough of an effort to conserve wildlife and I hope to have an impact on that in my own way. GK: What has been the impact of the Parrot Conservation Corps on your life and/or field of work? CDTM: I remember the amazing people I met last year and the work they are doing. For example, I particularly remember the incredible work of one woman who is focusing on burrowing parrots in Argentina! I am also especially inspired by the anecdotes that LoraKim shares about One Earth Conservation’s projects. My favorite is the story of the little girl in Honduras who grew up with a scarlet macaw. I found it very moving. Child in Honduras who grew up with a rescued wild scarlet macaw GK: Have you implemented anything you learned from the course in your life or work with parrots? CDTM: Last year I started working with teens and young adults to connect them with their surroundings. I liked the PCC’s emphasis on connecting with people and going beyond just doing conservation and also the emphasis on local communities. This has impacted my life’s work a lot. Although, I’ve learned that it’s hard to work with people from different backgrounds, as they don’t understand how the connections in nature and between people are fragile. I have improved my skills in this area, though. I am now more aware of the differences between people and their different circumstances. They are not bad people; they just don’t know any better. I can connect to LoraKim’s frustrations in these areas. I always debate with myself about how I should speak to people and what to say to them about keeping parrots as pets. GK: Thanks so much for speaking with me, Cristian, and for the good work you are doing!

Sun parakeets, like the sun, move across landscapes from east to west. There is a small population of them left in Guyana, though their historical range was much greater before trapping for the wildlife trade mostly wiped them out in that country. None were seen for years but they began appearing again in the 1980s, and based upon our monthly counts, they move frequently to and from Brazil, which is to the west of Guyana. The larger resident population of this endangered bird appears to be in Brazil, and to protect the birds that move freely over the human-made national boundary, both countries need to have conservation programs protecting this species. Sunrise over the purple plains of West Virginia as Dr. Joyner wings her way first east and then south to Brazil. There is a strong conservation program in Karasabai, Guyana and to help Brazil take their next step in sun parakeet conservation, I journeyed with the Parakeet Rangers of Karasabai to Boa Vista, Brazil to be part of a four-day training, conference, in-the-field teaching, and conservation planning. Presentations were part of the bi-national conference where we heard about research findings and conservation efforts in both Brazil and Guyana (speaking are Dr. Whaldener Endo and Willington Millington) The first evening's parrot count in Brazil. We knew we couldn’t visit the majority of the communities where sun parakeets fly free because these communities are located in Indigenous territory and permission to enter must be obtained first, and is not easy to procure. We did hope to see the resident population of parakeets in Boa Vista, but alas, it was not to be. First morning's parrot count Some of the many people we met during the workshop, and during the in-the-field trainings, including J. Pavani of Birding Roraima in the video below, told us that they regularly used to see the birds, but not for the last several months. I was surprised to hear about how many people sought the birds out to count them, and to bask in their sunny orange and yellow colors. They told us they were worried and sad about the birds. No one knows where they have gone, and speculations included the hypotheses that the current drought was responsible and the birds moved off to another location, or that the birds had been trapped (illegally). Before returning to Guyana, a bi-national working group was formed, committed to helping with sun parakeet conservation on both sides of the border. A crucial component will be the engagement and leadership of the Indigenous communities where the birds currently exist. The work conducted at the Federal University of Roraima by Dr. Whaldner Endo (pictured above) in partnership with the American Bird Conservancy suggests that community members feel that there are more sun parakeets than decades before. So maybe they are already being protected by the people in these communities, in ways that conform to their traditional land use. But there has also been a severe loss of habitat and intensification of agriculture, and there is conflict with the species because they are reported to eat the corn the communities plant. Birds are trapped and shot to reduce loss of their crops. Parakeet rangers teach their counterparts in Brazil how to climb up to parakeet nests. What we learned on this trip is that there is ongoing love and threats on both sides of the border. There are also tremendous human resources to keep this bird flying free wherever they need to go, hopefully throughout their historical range once again. May it be so. The last evening's parrot count.

The day before we began our parrot pilgrimage in Nicaragua in December 2023, someone sent to me these words: In order for me to write poetry that isn’t political I must listen to the birds and in order to hear the birds the warplanes must be silent. – Marwan Makhoul The pilgrims ready to march for the day. This poem seems appropriate for what we came to do which was to reach a lively presence with birds that was beyond words that could constrain.  With this in mind, I offered opening words to the pilgrims gathered who were about to begin a 4.5 day walk around a volcanic island honoring the people and parrots of Ometepe Island. “In order to depoliticize our lives, we have come here to listen to the birds. In order to hear birds though, the guns of war must be stilled. So we take refuge here with one another to listen to the birds and to one another, to still our lives, and to be immersed in the beauty that is ever present, so that when we leave this isle, we take with us an inner transformation to bless the world with the outer work of transforming our societies. Perhaps in this way one day wars will end." To enter into the process of transformation we open our lives to the beauty and lives of others, so that we get beyond how our lives have been politicized. By politicized I mean how the media, authorities, and those who have and confer privilege in this world have spun a false narrative about how life is simply comprised of one group against another, or that all humans can be characterized as either oppressors or the oppressed.  But no matter who we are or where we are, beauty is the ground of experience where these polarizing stories can fall away. The parrot festival for the pilgrimage, postponed by almost a week. But it was grand all the same! Of course, this is easier said then done, especially in times such as these and in lands such as Nicaragua. In November 2023, Ms. Nicaragua won the Ms. Universe pageant and the people took to the streets to celebrate. Then came the critics and the political fall out against these gatherings and popular support for Ms. Universe.  Out of caution, our opening day parrot festival had to be postponed. Beauty had become politicized. Our work is to see beyond what divides us and meet one another in a place of beauty, such as Sufi poet Rumi wrote, "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." And so, we met on Ometepe Island, to live and love in beauty. (And we will again next year, please join us!) Birds beyond words - the yellow-naped parrots of Ometepe Island

This commentary was published in the October 20, 2023 online magazine, Mongabay. I have worked as a grant writing professional for about 24 years and am also the part-time co-director of a small, U.S.-based wildlife conservation nonprofit called One Earth Conservation (OEC) that focuses on the conservation of wild parrots in the Americas. As a grant writing consultant, I serve nonprofit clients in a variety of fields, such as animal welfare, the environment, arts, youth education and development, health, and serving people with disabilities. With this unique perspective, and at a time of massive biodiversity loss, I believe it’s urgent that small and nimble wildlife conservation nonprofits receive more support. Yet, I have noted many striking things about the wildlife conservation field. It is, arguably, one of the most important issues needing attention in a world where a sixth mass extinction event is already underway. Yet, funding in this sector is pathetically paltry, with limited numbers of foundations and corporations supporting conservation as a way to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. Even government funding is mostly restricted to grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and small departments within local state environmental agencies, with very few exceptions. The silver lining is that government grants can provide substantial funding that most other funders do not offer. In addition, Allison Smith of Neon One wrote the following about how much individuals in the U.S. donated to environmental and animal welfare organizations in 2021: “Giving USA found that just 3% of all giving went to environmental and animal welfare organizations in 2021. Other research suggests that environmental nonprofits — which include land conservation, land trusts, and wildlife protection organizations — received about 2% of charitable donations.” This is the second lowest percentage of giving of all categories (just above giving to individuals) that includes arts, culture, and humanities; international affairs; health; public-society benefit; grant making foundations; human services; education; and religion. I have also noticed that there is little to no capacity building support for smaller wildlife conservation organizations, which is in sharp contrast to, for example, small arts organizations. Throughout the U.S. there are many local arts councils that provide small grants, training, and other capacity building resources in support of small arts and culture nonprofits. This type of support, whether financial or not, can help small arts groups to grow and become self-sustaining. Unfortunately, I have encountered nothing of the sort for wildlife conservation organizations such as OEC. When funders do provide financial support for wildlife conservation, the vast majority of that funding goes to larger, more established organizations. Small groups barely stand a chance of getting even a meager grant from many funders. And government applications require a great deal of sweat and tears to complete and administer, which is more difficult for small organizations with few staff members. Smaller wildlife conservation organizations can often be more nimble than larger organizations that usually have larger bureaucratic structures. Our impact relative to the lesser dollars we have to work with can be greater. Investing more funding into smaller wildlife conservation organizations can result in a greater “bang for the buck.” Steve Oldenstam (left) who runs Steve-o Suriname also works with One Earth Conservation monitoring parrots along the rivers and in the forests of Suriname. Using OEC as an example, it is important to know that wild parrots are native to five continents and they even live wild in Europe and the U.S. as introduced species. If expanded, OEC’s community conservation work could positively impact biodiversity loss globally. Our projects not only help reduce the illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss, but also improve animal welfare and empower Indigenous and other marginalized communities. With an annual budget of about $240,000, OEC currently partners with local people in six countries in the Americas. Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, the other co-director of OEC, says, “It doesn’t take much capital to invest in social capital. It’s an infinite resource that keeps giving across generations, cultures, and species.” Our emotional, social, and organizational intelligence trainings are infused with conservation theory. Implementation of what they learn inspires participants to not only want to protect their parrots, but also other wildlife and their environment, and poachers are transforming into protectors. We have been testing for three years novel, online Parrot Conservation Corps (PCC) trainings in English and Spanish to teach our conservation methods and create mini teams to sprout new projects. Our most recent PCC engaged new leaders in eight countries and provided them with small grants for their projects and stipends when their work was completed. We have found the PCC to be a very nimble way to influence large swaths of people and seed new conservationists and projects. These activities can be replicated by reaching out to more communities, co-organizing new PCC cohorts, and training other NGOs on our process. We often dream about what we could do with a larger budget, as many small nonprofits do, and I know we would benefit greatly from capacity building support in areas such as tracking financial transactions in the field where there is erratic internet access. If humanity wants to preserve and restore biodiversity globally, then looking to and supporting wildlife conservation organizations of all sizes is a large part of the answer. It remains an open question how to best change the global funding paradigm for nonprofits in general, as it isn’t working well in many fields, not only in wildlife conservation. I don’t claim to have the answer, but at least I can encourage more of us to discuss the possibilities. In the meantime, the simplest and most immediate way concerned parties with some resources, whether an individual or institution, can help is to donate more to small wildlife conservation organizations and volunteer when and where it is logistically possible. OEC is doing our part by working daily to increase the capacity of our partners on the ground in the countries in which we work. As we support them financially, we also regularly provide guidance and training to strengthen their ability to eventually continue their community conservation work on their own. Ultimately, that is the best hope for staunching the open wound of mass extinctions on Earth.

This is a guest blog from Paola Carias, Coordinator of Projects, Macaw Mountain Bird Park (Español abajo) It was the 80’s and I was about eight years old. My father worked as a civil engineer contractor for the government and would be wherever work would take him. Because of this, his time at home would be limited to either weekends or once a month. He landed a project in “La Moskitia,” the area in Honduras most known for its exuberant nature and because it's a world natural site. Paola, Lalo, and father in the 1980's One day, he arrived with a box, excitement in his eyes. As he unveiled its contents, my eyes fell upon the strangest creature. I asked him what it was, because I couldn’t understand the excitement over something so strange looking. “This is a scarlet macaw,” he said, “I bought it for 20 lempiras from a guy at the at the work site, he is still a chick.” Mom wasn't pleased; another mouth to feed and a new responsibility added to her already full plate. While my siblings and I celebrated the new member of the family, my dad explained that he could see a lot of macaws where he worked and he figured that he could bring one to our home. No matter, I was a child and didn’t bother with details, so perhaps that’s why I can't remember why we named it what we did, but we decided that “Lalo” was a good name. This is how “Lalo” became part of our family. Every day, I would run home from school and go play with Lalo. He eventually got all his feathers, and I understood what amazing and beautiful birds scarlet macaws are. He would eat fruits, but he would also eat everything that would be put on front of him. I specifically remember feeding him spaghetti and teaching him new tricks. Particularly fun was putting Lalo in the back of my brother’s and my shared bike so that we would race up and down the street and Lalo would spread his wings and pretend to fly. I loved that bird. One day, when I came home from school, tragedy struck. Lalo’s lifeless body was in the living room. My siblings and I were devastated. I was beyond heartbroken, to the point that I swore off pets, believing to be protecting myself from further loss. Little did I know this loss would shape my future in ways unimaginable. Fast forward to 2010, and I stumbled upon the Macaw Mountain bird park in Copan—a sanctuary for macaws and parrots. Inspired, I embarked on a journey to advocate for the ones still in captivity. I learned a lot, especially that despite my good intentions, I had made many mistakes while caring for Lalo. I needed to make up for them. My mission has since then evolved into educating others about proper parrot care, and I found myself working with these magnificent birds. My father became my biggest supporter. In our daily phone calls, he would occasionally ponder the what ifs of not bringing Lalo home, and wondered how different my life would be. Paola's father at Macaw Mountain On June 1st, 2022, I kissed my bedridden dad goodbye. Duty was calling me back to Copan for the ninth macaw release. I asked him if he could wait for me to be back, to please do. I would make sure that eight more macaws got their freedom and promised to come back and tell him all about it. On June 25th, 2022, merely hours after finishing the ninth macaw release, I got the call. My dad was leaving us, and I wouldn’t be back in time. Over the phone, I was able to tell him how much I loved him, thanked him for his guidance and education. And then he was free, just like the macaws. And so, this is how 20 lempiras changed my life—a journey from childhood loss to a purposeful adulthood, advocating for the scarlet macaws of Honduras, honoring the memory of a feathery friend named Lalo, and fulfilling a promise made to a proud father. ******************************************************************************************** Eran los años 80 y yo tenía unos ocho años. Mi papa trabajaba como ingeniero civil contratista para el gobierno y estaría dondequiera que lo llevara su trabajo. Debido a esto, su tiempo en casa se limitaría a los fines de semana o una vez al mes. Consiguió un proyecto en “La Mosquitia”, la zona de Honduras más conocida por su exuberante naturaleza y por ser un sitio patrimonio natural mundial. Un día, mi papá llegó con una caja y la emoción visible en los ojos. Mientras desvelaba su contenido, mis ojos se posaron en la criatura más extraña, le pregunté qué era, porque no podía entender la emoción por algo de aspecto tan extraño. “Esta es una guacamaya roja”, dijo, “se la compré por 20 lempiras a un señor en el proyecto, todavía es un polluelo”. A mi Mamá no le gustó mucho la sorpresa, era otra boca que alimentar y una nueva responsabilidad añadida a su plato ya lleno. Mientras mis hermanos y yo celebrábamos al nuevo miembro de la familia, mi papá me explicó que podía ver muchas guacamayas donde trabajaba y que sería buena idea traernos uno a la casa. No lo sé, yo era una niña y no me preocupaba por los detalles, así que quizás por eso no recuerdo por qué le pusimos ese nombre, pero decidimos que “Lalo” era un buen nombre. Y así fue como “Lalo” pasó a ser parte de nuestra familia. Todos los días, yo c orría de la escuela a casa y me iba a jugar con Lalo. Finalmente le crecieron todas sus plumas y entendí lo asombrosas y hermosas que son las guacamayas rojas. Comia frutas pero también comia todo lo que se le pusiera delante. Recuerdo específicamente darle de comer espaguetis y enseñarle nuevos trucos. Particularmente divertido era poner a Lalo en la parte trasera de la bicicleta que compartíamos con mi hermano para que corriéramos por la calle y Lalo extendiera sus alas y fingiera volar. Amaba a ese pájaro. Un día, cuando volví a casa de la escuela, ocurrió una tragedia. El cuerpo sin vida de Lalo estaba en la sala. Mis hermanos y yo estábamos devastados. Yo estaba más que desconsolada, hasta el punto de que renuncié a las mascotas, creyendo que me estaba protegiendo de más pérdidas. Lo que no pude anticipar era que esta pérdida moldearía mi futuro de maneras inimaginables. Llegamos al 2010, y me enontré con el parque de aves Macaw Mountain en Copán, un santuario para guacamayas y loros. Inspirada, me embarqué en un viaje para defender a los Lalos que aún están en cautiverio. Aprendí mucho, sobre todo que a pesar de mis buenas intenciones, había cometido muchos errores al cuidar a Lalo, necesitaba resarcir el daño que habia hecho Desde entonces, mi misión ha evolucionado a educar a otros sobre el cuidado adecuado de los loros, y encontré mi propósito trabajando con estas magníficas aves. Mi papá se convirtió en mi mayor apoyo. En nuestras llamadas telefónicas diarias, de vez en cuando reflexionaba sobre qué hubiera pasado si no llevaba a Lalo a casa y se preguntaba qué tan diferente sería mi vida. El 1 de junio de 2022, me despedí con un beso de mi papa, el estaba postrado en cama, muy enfermo. El deber me llamaba de regreso a Copán para la novena liberación de guacamayas. Le implore que si podía esperar a que volviera, que por favor lo hiciera. Solo me aseguraría de que ocho guacamayas más obtuvieran su libertad y le prometí volver y contarle todo. El 25 de junio de 2022, apenas unas horas después de finalizar la novena liberación de guacamayas, recibí la llamada. Mi papá nos iba a dejar y yo no regresaría a tiempo. Por teléfono pude decirle cuánto lo amaba y le agradecí por su orientación y educación. Y entonces quedó libre, como las guacamayas. Y fue así como 20 lempiras cambiaron mi vida: un viaje desde una pérdida en la niñez hasta una edad adulta con propósito, abogando por las guacamayas rojas de Honduras, honrando la memoria de un amigo emplumado llamado Lalo y cumpliendo una promesa hecha a un padre orgulloso.

Liberated scarlet macaws in Gracias, Lempira, Honduras (photo by Byron Mejia) Driving through the rain, fog, and dark I left Tegucigalpa last week for the long ride to Gracias, Lempira, Honduras. Despite the weather delays, I was determined to visit the project, Guara Lenca, which is situated near the Celaque National Park, which covers a rugged cloud forest terrain. The nonprofit that manages the park, Mapance, had invited me and my colleagues from INCEBIO to share experiences about parrot conservation in this country, and in particular to advise them regarding their scarlet macaw reintroduction project in Gracias. Mapance, Celaque, and INCEBIO staff I have never been to the Department of Lempira before and it's towering mountains and cool fresh air was a delight. It is named for Lempira, who was a warrior and chieftain of the Lenca of western Honduras in Central America during the 1530's. He led his people to fight against Francisco de Montejo's attempts to conquer the region and make it part of Honduras, but he was killed and defeated. Though Lempira, whose name means Lord of the Mountain, no longer rules, his descendants and the macaws are now the lords of these misty mountains. Statue of Lempira in the town square of Gracias Macaws were first released here in 2017 through the efforts of an owner of a large estate. This owner is no longer present in the area and it was not clear if the project would continue into the future. The community and the employees of the nearby park Celaque were determined that the birds would remain free and flourishing, so they took over responsibility for caring for these birds. Scarlet macaws nesting in artificial nest boxes The birds need care because some people from the surrounding communities historically have been poachers and traders in parrots and also because the birds were liberated in a high-altitude area where much of the natural forest, and hence food and nesting areas, has been reduced. Volunteers and members of the community set out food for the birds on a daily basis and have installed nest boxes where they have successfully fledged chicks. The young flock is growing due to the impressive support of a network of land and business owners, volunteers, Mapance, and the National Park. Perhaps a large amount of financial resources got this project started, but now the greatest resource they have is the level of commitment and social capital in this inspiring group. One example of this is the family of Angela and Byron Mejia. They provide food for birds on a daily basis and guard over installed nest boxes where parents successfully raise their young. They appear to be captivated by birds who will not have to spend their lives in captivity, but instead will fly free over these mountains and valleys. Such is their enthusiasm, that they named their child Selva Maria Icelac, who was born on the same day as the first macaw chick hatched on their property. Selva means forest in Spanish and Icelac is a word of Lenca origin that evolved into the word Celaque. Celaque means goddess of time and also means caja de aguas (box of water) in the local, but now extinct, Indigenous Lenca language Their daughter will grow up with the macaws as her siblings, a testament to how one day all the children of Honduras will see these birds flourishing around them and know them as family and friends. Thank you to this family and to all the participants in this project, for as you save a parrot, you save a people and a planet. Staff and volunteers at Celaque not only care for the macaws, but also care for the children and future of Honduras (photo by Celaque staff)

A healthy red-and-green macaw chick in their nest ready to fledge. This is what we hope to find when inspecting nests. Recently in Paraguay we were facing a conundrum. We had been inspecting parrot nests and, in one, the red-and-green macaw chick was missing. The cavity floor in the palm tree was deep and we couldn’t remove samples of the puzzling material in the cavity to see if it contained evidence of the chick’s death. There were feathers but we weren’t sure what else we were seeing. It was getting close to dark so we sat near the tree to observe a possible hyacinth macaw nest nearby. While perched on that hillside an idea came to me. Why not lower something heavy into the nest that had sticky tape on it and see if the nest litter would adhere? The hillside where we inspected the nest and first used our sticky bottle technique Here is what we found in one nest. The chick was missing and some kind of material and feathers are in the cavity. The material looked like bones but we couldn't tell, so we had to develop a technique to study the material. “Tengo una idea,” (I have an idea) I said as I urged us on to our feet. We went in search of something we could tie a line to and lower into the cavity from our long extension pole to which normally we attach a camera. Stumped for a while, unable to find a suitable rock or piece of wood, I thought, “Aha, let’s use a water bottle.” We stuck tape all over it and then went fishing for samples in the coming dark. The water bottle is lowered, and the fishing begins Down went the sticky water bottle and up came feathers and pieces of young parrot chick bones. The chick had indeed died in the nest. We needed to know this to see if the chick had been predated or if it was another species entirely. Here is what "we caught" - bone fragments from a macaw chick As we were pulling feathers, palm tree fragments, and bones off of the water bottle, I exclaimed, “Who said science couldn’t be fun?” In response, one of my colleagues quipped, “You consider this science?” I had to laugh because the core of our team is made up of 5 avian veterinarians and a number of veterinary students, perhaps overly trained in the sciences to be field parrot conservationists, and, in other ways, under trained to deal with ecological complexities in the field of conservation. Our veterinary team in action with the hard science of taping water bottles What we do have in addition to our training and backgrounds are curious minds that seek answers, love the puzzle, and delight in the wonder and intricacies of living bodies and the world in which we all live. We consider science to be the core of what gives us meaning in life, and what offers us the best chance to cherish and care for the earth and her many species. If this is appealing to you, please apply for our new Bilingual Parrot Conservation Corps (Spanish and English) staring in January 2024. There we will meld science with wonder and commitment to become healed and healers, together. In the meantime, we continue to use this technique frequently now, becoming more skilled at science and at fishing for answers that can preserve the parrots we have committed to protect. We first used the bottle technique the night before. During sunrise the next day we put what we learned to use. This time we found feathers with stress marks, reptile skin, and below, egg fragments

Team in Paraguay inspecting a yellow-faced parrot nest in a termite mound. It only got up to 101 degrees Farenheit that day! Recently I was in Paraguay working with our team there, which included two veterinary students doing their thesis on the yellow-faced parrot, a little studied and threatened species. We know they nest in termite mounds, which also need protection because they are under threat due to the advancement of agriculture. Farmers and agribusinesses are not always aware of the importance of these structures, and tractor over them to access more land for cattle, crops, and eucalyptus plantations. This is our first year to locate and monitor a significant number of nests, which provide homes not only for parrots but also for a number of other species, such as reptiles, owls, bees, ants, and anteaters. Yellow-faced chick in their nest The veterinary students added a fresh perspective, as parrot conservation was so new to them. Through their eyes we were reminded of parrot wonder and the compelling need to conserve these species. At the end of our time together we expressed our gratitude, which is often a closing ritual for us in One Earth Conservation. One student said… I thank you for this opportunity to be with you and the parrots. I never really paid much attention to birds and now there is a whole world of birds that I never imagined existed. My eyes are open and my life is larger. The description of this experience is what we hear time and time again from those we work with and especially students of all ages. Our youth group in San Carlos, Paraguay under the direction of Dr. Pamela Segovia Dr. Joyner with with Dr. Andrés Álvarez speaking to the College of Veterinary Sciences in Concepción, Paraguay. This presentation last week kicked off a new parrot conservation team of over 50 students and professors at the University. Recently nineteen students graduated from our Cuerpo de Conservacionistas de Psitacidos (Parrot Conservation Corps or PCC) and they expressed similar thoughts and gratitude. One student wrote: The PCC was a beautiful experience, different from the courses I used to take. It provided me with important academic information but I greatly value the contribution on an emotional and spiritual level, knowledge and tools that I consider so important to lead a healthy life that is also reflected in the projects we carry out. These issues are generally not taken into account in training. They managed to integrate everything in perfect harmony. Another wrote: I appreciate that during the course so much knowledge about these beautiful birds is shared, transmitting to us that passion and dedication for the protection of psittacines. Another wrote: Adding the knowledge acquired every time I see a parrot, then I will be able to analyze their behavior and understand it better, and also have another vision about the situation they are in and thus be able to help them in a better way. And one more wrote: Every day something new is learned. And when observing the parrots that frequent my house, now I see them more carefully and many reflections and gratitude come to mind. You can hear more about their experiences by attending or watching a webinar where they will be presenting their mini-projects on Friday, October 6, at 7 p.m. EDT. The event will be in Spanish, but English speakers can access Zoom's translation feature during the webinar. One of the 2023 PCC mini-projects instructing students in parrot monitoring and conservation Please attend to support their local and community level conservation efforts and to learn about the next rendition of the Corps, which starts in January 2024. It will be bilingual (Spanish and English) and will emphasize building teams of parrot conservationists throughout the Americas, bridging language and cultural differences with the common goal of living with the wonder of parrots and committing to their well-being. We are now putting out a call for applications. For more information and to apply, go here: The Call of the Parrot Conservation Corps The beings of this planet are in a dire situation. We are losing the beautiful and bountiful ecosystems of Earth. Everything must change; therefore, we are committed to changing ourselves, our groups, and our communities one parrot conservation project at a time. The call to do this is urgent and requires courage, knowledge, and compassion. Will you answer the call?

Yellow-naped amazon attending to their nest (photo by Manuel Galindo) Today we celebrate all the colors of this earth. In Spanish the word for colors is COLORES, but for One Earth Conservation and some of our partners COLORES also means “Corredor de Loros, Reservas y Santuarios” (Corridor of Parrots, Reserves, and Sanctuaries). This is a coalition of parks, reserves, agribusinesses, birders, academics, and anyone who is interested in resuscitating the yellow-naped amazon population and the south coast ecosystem in Guatemala. We have just wrapped up work on this year's conservation season, which runs really all year long, but intensifies during the nesting season (from December – May) and during the annual population count in June and July. You may find our annual report here. We now have conducted population counts in our main conservation areas for six years so far and we add new sites every year or so. We are only limited by the number of interested people who’d like their location – a farm, home, or park – to be a conservation area. So far, we don’t see negative or positive trends (Figure 1 below). But we can surmise that the population might be holding steady, as is the relative abundance of first year fledglings (Figure 2 below). To determine relative abundance of fledglings, we count how many fledglings are flying with their parents during our annual counts. We can identify the number of fledglings by their lack of yellow plumage and estimate their numbers by assuming that a group of 3 consists of 2 parents and 1 fledgling, a group of 4 is 2 parents and 2 fledglings, and a group of 5 is 2 parents and 3 fledglings. We then determine what percentage of the total flock consists of fledglings. The higher this percentage, the higher the success of nests in terms of fledgling output and recruitment into the general population of new birds. Figure 1 (above): Total numbers of parrots counted at each conservation site since 2018 Figure 2 (below): Total percentage of juveniles during the parrots counts since 2019 We can also say that, clearly, we need to see a much higher number of fledglings and many, many, more birds. What was once an estimated population in Guatemala of over 50,000 yellow-naped amazons in the early 1990s, we now estimate may only total about 400-500 individuals of this species.This decrease has largely been due to nearly 100% of active parrot nests being poached in trees deemed safe enough by poachers to climb. The only nests that survive the onslaught of the illegal wildlife trade are those with Africanized bee colonies near nest cavities or in dead trees that are likely to fall during a climb. Poachers take many risks, but will mostly avoid trees too dangerous to climb. The lower number of birds is also due to the loss of habitat. The lowland Pacific coast of Guatemala, known locally as La Costa Sur, has been nearly entirely converted from forest to farm and many of these farms are use intensive monoculture farming techniques, leaving little natural ecosystems for the parrots to thrive within. Manuel Galindo interacting with students who live near our parrot conservation areas and facilitating a growing awareness and fondness for yellow-naped amazons and the South Coast of Guatemala What can be done to reverse this situation? From our report you can see that we are trying many things, such as activities aimed at decreasing poaching; increasing public awareness; offering opportunities for universities, students, and government authorities to engage in conservation; and supporting livelihoods. How can a small group of committed conservationists hope to have a sustainable impact when there is so much to be done? Margaret Mead offered the answer, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." But hope never truly dies because beauty is eternal in the color of the parrots, the flowering of the trees, and the smiling and earnest faces of those who have come together to cherish and preserve that which they love. We thank the COLORES team and welcome you to become part of this effort. You can do so by applying to our Parrot Conservation Corps (coming soon in January 2024), donating time and resources, and/or spreading the message of parrot conservation.