Happy World Parrot Day! First founded in 2004 by World Parrot Trust, May 31st marks the day that we celebrate these beautiful and colorful birds. World Parrot Day is also a day to recognize that while these birds are magnificent, many are nearing extinction. With more than 350 species of parrots in the wild, roughly 100 of them have been listed as endangered. Sadly, this is because of habitat loss due to deforestation and being caught for the illegal pet trade. Some good news for World Parrot Day this year is that Spix’s Macaws are being released back to their home in Brazil after being extinct for 20 years!

Most parrots are found in warm and tropical areas like Central and South America, Australasia, and Asia. However, some parrots can be found in snowy alpine regions, like thick-billed parrots, maroon-fronted parrots, and keas. Parrots come in all sizes with the smallest ones measuring at 3.5 inches while their bigger counterparts range up to 40 inches. The parrot species is diverse and includes macaws, lorikeets, amazons, lovebirds, and cockatoos to name a few. Parrots prefer to fly in flocks and spend most of their days hunting for food. They eat nuts, seeds, fruit, and some insects. Parrots are different from other birds because they are “zygodactyls”, meaning they have two toes that point to the front and two toes that point to the back. A fun fact about parrots is that they are the only birds that can eat by lifting food to their mouths with their feet.

Sadly, it’s common for people to take in parrots as pets without knowing what it takes to own one. Parrots are beautiful, sociable, and intelligent animals but are also messy, noisy, and require a lot of attention. Most people don’t understand that to own one of these gorgeous birds, you must dedicate your life to taking care of them. In fact, parrots can live over 70 years! This means that owners must be prepared to be outlived by their pet parrot, which often results in the parrots being donated to a rehabilitation center. One of ICC’s partner organizations SoCal Parrot is a wild parrot rehabilitation organization. SoCal Parrot is dedicated to rescuing, nurturing, and healing these birds to release them back to the urban wild. 

If you want to celebrate World Parrot Day or help make a difference, support, volunteer, or donate to organizations that are dedicated to the conservation of these birds, like Intertwined Conservation Corporation, SoCal Parrot, Macaw Conservation, and World Parrot Trust. Make sure to do your research before taking in a parrot as a pet and adopt from a shelter or rescue organization instead of purchasing one from a pet store. Keep up with our blog for more education on threatened species and habitat in Costa Rica and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates, events, and volunteer opportunities!

Sources:  

https://www.silentforest.eu/parrottag/world-parrot-day/

https://zootampa.org/world-parrot-day/

https://www.parrots.org/kids/activities/Parrot%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/parrot

https://mypetience.com/where-do-parrots-live-the-habits-of-parrots/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/parrots