Why Easter spells disaster for Yellow-eared Parrots

10-10-2001

The Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchos icterotis (Critically Endangered) was once abundant across the High Andes of Colombia and Ecuador. However, by the late 1990s it was feared extinct until Proyecto Ognorhynchus rediscovered a small population in central Colombia (see World Birdwatch 22(1): pp. 17-21). Thanks to their efforts, working with the local community, this population has steadily increased, from 81 birds in 1999 to approximately 130 birds today.

In January 2001, a second population of 277 birds was found in western Colombia, a considerable extension of their known range (see World Birdwatch 23(3): p. 7). Proyecto Ognorhynchus immediately sent in a research and conservation team, funded by Loro Parque Foundation and working with CorAntioquia (a regional environment agency). It soon became clear that the population was severely threatened because the wax palms Ceroxylon spp., on which the parrots are totally dependent, were being felled at an alarming rate. The wax palm, Colombia's national tree, is Critically Endangered and grows extremely slowly. Mature trees may be more than 500 years old. Each year, during the religious festival of Easter, Palm Sunday is popularly celebrated around the world with palm frond-waving parades. Unfortunately, in most towns in the Colombian Andes, wax palms are the fronds of choice for this procession. Ahead of Palm Sunday, CorAntioquia approached the local priest, to ask him to encourage his congregation to use alternatives, such as the far commoner Wettinia palm. Despite this, on Palm Sunday, roughly 400 villagers, and even some police, who had been advised of the palms' legally protected status, were carrying wax palm fronds. This equates to the destruction of roughly 100 trees. Proyecto Ognorhynchus is now intensifying environmental awareness and conservation activities with local communities to avoid a repeat of this needless destruction. In October, more than 200 members of the community participated in the World Birdwatch day event at the site.

Ironically, Palm Sunday parades in the area where Yellow-eared Parrots were first rediscovered do not pose a threat; FARC guerrillas are active there, and do not permit the felling of live palms.