Program: Puerto Rican Amazon Recovery
Puerto Rican Amazons are at serious risk from deforestation and increasingly severe weather events. They once occurred throughout their native island; they are now confined to 0.2% of their former range where they are affected by habitat loss, native and feral predators and increasingly severe weather events. After falling to a low of 13 birds by 1975, by 2017 there were more than 400 at breeding facilities and 130 wild parrots. That year 70-80 wild birds were lost to Hurricane Maria. Today, thanks to intensive recovery efforts there are more than 200 in the wild.
Since the early 2000s, the World Parrot Trust has provided critical support to the Puerto Rican Amazon’s recovery in partnership with the Puerto Rican Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW), and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) at the Río Abajo aviary and surrounding habitat.
Key WPT contributions include:
- Funding infrastructure and breeding efforts at the Río Abajo aviary
Supports aviary development and captive breeding initiatives critical to the recovery of the species. - Supplying nest boxes, climbing gear, and monitoring equipment
Provides essential tools, including nest cameras, recorders, and field gear to improve monitoring and nest access. - Supporting emergency response after Hurricane Maria
Delivered urgent resources such as incubators and brooders to protect vulnerable chicks and eggs. - Contributing to habitat restoration
Engages in native species planting, erosion control, and invasive species management to rebuild suitable wild habitat. - Aiding wild population monitoring and refining nest management practices
Helps track population trends and improve techniques for protecting and managing wild nests. - Helping develop protected release sites and strategic habitat planning
Supports the identification, planning, and preparation of safe sites for future releases and long-term species recovery. - Providing field training and technical support
Offers capacity-building for local staff and conservation teams to ensure high-quality fieldwork and long-term project success.
Holistic efforts by multiple teams over time have helped improve overall outcomes for Puerto Rican Amazons.
Make a difference in the lives of parrots.
Learn how the World Parrot Trust is supporting Puerto Rican Amazons.
