is important to The Parrot Society
conservation
As part of its commitment to parrots and their welfare, and under the terms of its constitution as a charitable organisation, The Parrot Society UK sets aside a percentage of its funds to support financially several worthwhile conservation projects around the world.
At present several projects are regularly supported – Scarlet macaws in Costa Rica, the ‘tinning’ of trees to protect cockatoo nest sites in Australia, corn supplementation to aid Lear’s macaws in Brazil, Grey-breasted parakeets (conures), the Vinaceous Amazon parrot, and the Reserve Ecologica de Guapiacu (REGUA) also all in Brazil.
The Parrot Society UK
Endangered Parrots
Most publicised conservation support is ‘ex situ’ – i.e. outside of Parrot Society activities, and generally outside of the UK, and involves the sending of funds following specific requests, to projects that have been well-researched, and for which we obtain useful feedback in the form of reports and pictures for our magazine and website.
World-renowned photographer Tim Flach expresses it well by saying “…we cannot just pluck animals from their native environment and put them on an ark to protect their future, without considering the significance of the habitat they have been taken from. Community-based conservation, therefore, has a more important role to play now than ever before; with increasing economic inequality in the world, it can enable people to maintain their livelihoods while protecting their natural heritage.” These are exactly to type of projects outside of the UK that the Parrot Society likes to support. Examples are listed below.
There is also considerable ‘in situ’ conservation of endangered parrots carried out by PSUK members, by way of the captive-breeding of many such endangered species. This maintains, and in many cases increases, the numbers of these birds in existence, with the aim of keeping the species alive, and potentially providing a nucleus of birds that could be re-habilitated to their natural environments, provided such places are available and free of predators or further habitat destruction.
What we fund
Criteria for support
Projects employing avicultural techniques and expertise as well as habitat restoration measures are to be preferred. The PSUK also works in partnership with other organisations, such as the World Parrot Trust.
However the PS should not accept proposals which involve financially supporting infra-structure for eco-tourism. This is a matter for the businesses involved. The support of such projects should enhance the reputation of the Parrot Society. All supported projects should provide regular feedback reports, preferably with photographic material to be published in the Society’s magazine. We welcome requests to support suitable projects.
Please submit details of the organisation and a brief description of the conservation project to our secretary, Les Rance – les.rance@theparrotsocietyuk.org – or our chairman, Dave Dickason – chairman@theparrotsocietyuk.org. Include a description of precisely what the funding would be used for, and how much would be required.
related articles
Conservation Projects
Association Armonia Blue-throated Macaws
The Laney Rickman reserve Logo, and overview 17 August 2020 - In 2019 the Parrot Society UK sent a further grant from its Conservation Fund to support the reserve and its programme of protecting the Blue-throated Macaws. Bennett Hennessy has just sent us this...
Rescue & Rehabilitation of African Grey Parrots in Eastern DRC
African Grey parrots have been heavily trapped for many years for the pet trade, leading to collapses of wild populations. A recognition of falling populations led to this species (and its close relative the Timneh grey - Psittacus timneh) being upgraded to...
related articles
Conservation Articles
British Couple saving parrots in Belize
A group of Belize Amazon parrots awaiting release As part of the 12th Parrot Lovers Cruise in November 2019, a group of around 40 parrot enthusiasts gathered on board a large cruise liner, leaving Miami to sail south-west out along the coastline of Cuba, to the...
Update on St Vincent parrot rescue after volcano disaster
Rosemary Low sends us this update on May 17th 2021:- "Thanks to all our generous donors, we have surpassed our initial goal of $20,000 and we are thrilled! However, over ¾ of the $20K funds have already been expended, and more support is needed. We have therefore...
Veterinary Medicine and Parrot Conservation in Argentina
Dr. Antonio Sciabarrasi Antonio has been a veterinarian working with psittacine birds for more than 15 years, and he is head of the Fauna Hospital of La Esmeralda Rescue Center and of the Zoology and Ecology Chairs, both Institutions resident in Argentina. He is a...


