Save a Magnificent Macaw from Regional Extinction

Dear friend, 

We're excited to share updates about our efforts to save the beautiful Cyanoptera macaw in the wild. Thank you for supporting this program. This work would not be possible without you. 

• In August, our executive director visited the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Center, where Tom White, an expert in wildlife ecology, has led efforts to save endemic parrots from extinction for the past two decades. There, we learned about using nest boxes for breeding, and it helped provide us with new ideas for our macaw conservation program.
• In August, Paso Pacifico staff completed the construction of five artificial macaw nests that were constructed from wire mesh and cement, following a successful artificial nest design that we use in our yellow-naped amazon parrot program. The big challlenge was to transport them to the Cosiguina pensinula and install them high in the trees. We are hopeful that over the coming years, these nests will provide vital nesting habitat to the macaws.
• Community rangers in the macaw program received certificates of recognition for their successful efforts protecting the cyanoptera macaw in the 2021 season. We have been touched to see that the local rangers display these certificates with pride in their homes. Rangers and Junior Rangers alike also received new t-shirts with a conservation message for the macaw. The local movement to protect the macaws is growing and we believe that this local support and pride in this species will help the species to survive.
• The children in our educational program "Junior Rangers" participated in the first ever Mesoamerican Parrot Festival organized by "Parrots without Borders", a regional network of partners protecting parrots. The Festival invited children to submit artwork communicating the beauty of parrots and macaws and the threats that they face. The categories included illustrations, comics and memes. Click here to see the winning pieces. We celebrated the closure of this festival and art contest with small celebrations with children in our Jr. Ranger program.
• During GlobalGiving's "Little by Little" campaign, sixteen donors contributed $844. This helped our rangers continue to prepare for the macaws' nesting season which has now begun. Thanks to your support, this month our team is in the field monitoring the flights of macaw pairs, removing non-native bees from nest cavities, and working with the local community to reaffirm their commitment to macaw conservaiton. 

Thank you so much for helping us to protect the critically endangered Cyanoptera macaw. As the year-end approaches, we hope you will consider renewing or sustaining your support for this valuable program.

Warm regards,

Sarah Otterstrom and the Paso Pacifico team