Search
About ABA \| Contact Us Join ABA \| Make a Donation

Birders' Exchange

BIRDERS' EXCHANGE RECIPIENTS

ABA Birders' Exchange:
providing tools to save the world's most endangered birds

by Paul Salaman (Fundación ProAves Colombia)

Fundación ProAves Colombia team.

Colombia possesses more bird species than any other country in the world – 1,885 species, representing 20% of the entire planets avifauna packed in an area smaller than the state of Alaska. This "megadiversity" has great implications for global bird conservation. Yet, sadly, Colombia faces great conservation challenges with 10% of its bird species at imminent risk of extinctions in the coming decades.

With the urgent need for conservation action, Fundación ProAves Colombia formed in 1998 and moved rapidly and decisively to implement projects at key sites across the country to protect some of the world's rarest species. Today, ProAves has 65 fieldworkers acting to conserve birds through research, environmental education and direct actions like establishing protected areas across 19 of 31 departments in Colombia. ProAves boosts a growing movement of school groups up and down the country called "Amigos de las Aves", that assist us in the field and without doubt are the future conservationists. Our "Parrot Bus" has been hugely successful and educates1800 kids a week across the Andes on threatened birds. However, our greatest success has been establishment of 4 strategic bird reserves and the recovery of several of the world's most endangered bird species, for example:

Blue-billed Curassow photo by Fundación ProAves Colombia.

The Blue-billed Curassow, restricted to lowland forest of the Magdalena valley, is Critically Endangered and unprotected. Our team of researchers and educators that have been in search of the species were recipients of ABA Birders Exchange binoculars and books. And we are proud that we found the species last surviving viable population and have protected it by establishing the Blue-billed Curassow Bird Reserve in 2004.

In 1998, the Yellow-eared Parrot was down to just 81 individuals and on the verge of extinction. ProAves worked closely with the rural community and schools, also recipient of ABA Birders Exchange binoculars and books, to stop hunting and protect the majestic Wax Palms that the species depends upon for nesting. Today, ProAves boasts a sustained and significant population increased to over 600 birds– one of the America's most successful species recovery programs.

Yellow-eared Parrot photo by Fundación ProAves Colombia.

The enigmatic Fuertes's Parrot – lost to the world for over 90 years – was rediscovered by ProAves fieldworkers in the high Andean cloud forest of the Central Cordillera in 2002. Just sixty birds survived in fragmented forest on the highest peaks, but after nest boxes were provided, as few mature trees remained, the bird took to the boxes like a duck in water. Today, 21 nest boxes are active with each box producing 3 chicks twice a year… making up for lost time we suspect! ABA Birders Exchange binoculars and telescope are helping researchers monitor boxes and helping local school groups see the beauty of the species.

ProAves manages the most comprehensive network of Neotropical migratory monitoring and conservation sites in South America, with 27 stations across the country daily observing and banding migrants and resident birds, as well as promoting migrant-friendly coffee and local school groups that join in to help using ABA Birders Exchange binoculars and field guides.

Fuertes's Parrot photo by Fundación ProAves Colombia.

How does ABA Birders Exchange program help? Well, birds are inspirational and symbolise freedom and wisdom. In Colombia they receive much public interest, making them ideal for raising public awareness of the environment and powerful flagships for conservation. Together with ABA Birders Exchange we have helped stimulate this interest through providing the essential tools for coming closer to birds – binoculars and field guides – so now many more Colombians can appreciate their most marvelous treasure; and further their understanding of their rich heritage.

Don't be envious that your donated pair of binoculars has probably rediscovered some of the world's most endangered birds – be proud that they helped to conserve species that will be seen and cherished by your future generations, and hopefully soon by yourself!

For more information on ProAves, go their website www.proaves.org or email the Executive Director, Sara Lara at slara@proaves.org

Yellow-eared Parrot

recipients list

Birders' Exchange
Sharing Tools, Saving Birds
A Program Across the Americas

Birders' Exchange translation project ~ A Neotropical Companion

Copyright © American Birding Association, Inc. 2005. All material displayed on the ABA website is subject to copyright protection either by the ABA or its associates and should not be reproduced in any form without the express prior written consent of ABA.