Want to Help Birds? Consider Going on an Expedition

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Want to Help Birds? Consider Going on an Expedition.

If you are thinking of trekking to the tropics to see parrots up close and personal, consider this: Your trip can contribute to the conservation of parrots and their habitats.

We have heard the alarms being sounded by scientists: Birds, including parrots, are vanishing at alarming rates. Of the more than 330 known species of parrots, The World Conservation Union (you may know it as the IUCN) recognizes over 90 species of these as being critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. These numbers do not even take into consideration other groups of exotic birds, like finches.

As devastating as this all seems, there are glimmers of hope. One of these is ecotourism. Before you make those reservations though, please keep in mind that not all ecotourism operators are equal. Any company can claim to specialize in ecotourism. But do they pass the test?

According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." A big part of this means that a good portion of the money you spend for your tour should be reinvested in the environment you are visiting, not into the coffers of the corporate offices.

How does empowering local people help parrots? Ecotourism can create jobs for people who might otherwise have no choice but to exploit parrots. You have to remember that as lush and full as the rainforests are, they also happen to be located in some of the most impoverished places on Earth. People living there see poaching and smuggling of parrots as a means of survival. Ecotourism offers them incentives to conserve parrots instead of harming them and their environments.

So you are ready to plan your adventure, or are at least daydreaming about it. The tropics encompasses a huge area. Where exactly should you go to see parrots?

The Peruvian Amazon – specifically the Tambopata and Manu regions – is considered to be a prime place to see parrots, namely because of the large number of clay licks. Scientists believe parrots congregate at these licks to ingest the clay, which detoxifies the poisons from the seeds they eat. Scarlet Macaws, Blue and Gold Macaws, Yellow-crowned Amazons, Blue-headed Pionus, Red and Green Macaws, and several other species have been spotted at these licks.

Indonesia – including areas like Seram and West Papua – is a great place to see such species as Moluccan Cockatoos, Eclectus, or Lorikeets, you might want to consider a trip to Indonesia.

A qualified and experienced tour company should be able to give you all the specifics about where the hot spots are for parrot viewing.

Traveling with an ecotourism company can yield benefits that you might not find if you were to go the commercial route. You benefit from experienced (and native) guides and smaller groups. And you get the opportunity to interact with those who know the parrots the best -- researchers and local residents.

But be forewarned: If what you desire is a full-service, luxury resort, this type of travel many not be for you. This is not to say that living conditions are awful. Quite the contrary. Accommodations can often be quite comfortable, and offer you open, panoramic views.

So how do you choose a qualified ecotourism company?

The International Ecotourism Society is a good place to start your research. The organization’s website offers a database of ecotourism companies. You may have to do some searching to find those companies specializing in birds. If you are interested in ecotourism as a vocation, you may be pleased to know the organization offers distance learning courses in cooperation with George Washington University.

Another helpful website is the National Geographic Sustainable Destinations Resource Center. The site offers lots of useful information, including links to other important organizations and a Destination Scorecard.

I have listed several ecotourism companies below, that have come by recommendation.

Rainforest Expeditions specializes in tours to Tambopata. They offer specialty tours including those for bird lovers.

Project Bird Watch hosts a limited number of trips to Indonesia.

If you are interested in doing actual research, Earthwatch Institute offers a program (which you pay to participate in) called Macaws of the Peruvian Amazon, hosted by Dr. Donald Brightsmith of Duke University’s Department of Biology.

The ecotourism industry is not without its skeptics. Concerns of sensitive areas being damaged, and parrots being disturbed by an influx of tourists, cannot be taken lightly. Ecotourism is not a panacea, but it offers hope, and is currently one of the best tools being used to conserve parrots and their environments. Not only that. It is fun and exciting!