By Gail Koelln | Co-director
The following summary outlines One Earth Conservation’s key accomplishments to conserve parrots and empower communities across the Americas between July – September to June 2025:
Guatemala – Yellow-headed Amazon (Amazona oratrix) Conservation
Our partners on the Atlantic coast of Guatemala completed their annual parrot population survey in August 2025 and the results indicate that they have protected a record number of successful nests. Though this conservation project focuses on the yellow-headed parrot, we are also successfully protecting another parrot species, the red-lored parrot (Amazona autumnalis), whose population is declining in the area.We continue to observe a highly positive response and growing commitment to parrot protection and conservation from both our local collaborators and the surrounding community.
Guyana and Brazil – Sun Parakeet (Aratinga solstitialis) Initiative
Local Indigenous conservationists in Karasabai Village continue to conduct regular parrot population assessments. Plans are still underway for a binational parrot census in late 2025, spanning the cross-border habitat of sun parakeets in Guyana and Brazil.
Honduras – Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) and Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) Projects
Thanks to the dedication of local parrot rangers and the active involvement of Indigenous communities, the ongoing monitoring of scarlet macaw nests continues to help protect and conserve this large, endangered parrot species. The important work that continues at the Rescue Center also plays a key role in the species’ recovery. The Rescue Center is dedicated to the intake, care, rehabilitation, and, when possible, the release of parrots that have been victims of illegal wildlife trafficking, injured due to human activities or natural causes, raised in captivity under inadequate conditions, and/or rescued from situations of abuse or neglect.
One Earth Conservation’s Indigenous collaborators in Honduras independently constructed a new ranger station to facilitate wildlife monitoring and protection in their recently established wildlife sanctuary. In parallel, they submitted a formal application to the Honduran government to designate their Great Green Macaw conservation area as an official Area of Wildlife Importance, thereby advancing its legal protection and ecological value. This year we had a record number of 4 active great green macaw nests!
Nicaragua – Monitoring of the Yellow-naped Amazon (Amazona auropalliata) on Ometepe Island
This year, One Earth Conservation’s project partners on Ometepe Island completed a multi-year analysis of nest monitoring and population survey data. These conservation efforts have expanded to six local communities, with an annual increase in both participant engagement and the number of nests monitored and protected. We are excited that we have 18 people from the United States who are registered to attend our annual 4-day Parrot Pilgrimage on Ometepe Island in December 2025.
Paraguay – Multi-species Parrot Conservation
This project, which is located in the Concepción region of Paraguay, has grown significantly with the hiring of a full-time field biologist and recruitment of additional volunteers and interns. Key achievements include:
Suriname – Community-Led Conservation in Kalebaskreek
In the Indigenous village of Kalebaskreek, partners continued to receive training in parrot population monitoring and nest surveillance. Notably, the community collectively agreed to ban all hunting and trapping of avian species, effectively establishing a grassroots-managed conservation area. In addition, population census data from various years are currently being organized in order to analyze population trends of different parrot species.
Conclusion
One Earth Conservation, in partnership with local communities and Indigenous groups, continues to make measurable strides in conserving endangered parrot species while promoting ecological stewardship and sustainable livelihoods. We are deeply grateful for the support from GlobalGiving donors, who make this essential work possible. In general, each year we carry out essential field interventions across all of our projects to support the protection and conservation of various parrot species. These actions include nest monitoring, population surveys, rescue and treatment efforts, and the strengthening of our collaborators, institutions, communities, and staff. In addition, we implement a range of environmental education activities aimed at fostering greater awareness and shifting public perceptions promoting the understanding that these birds deserve to live freely in their natural habitats.
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