Attentive parents at nest entrance (thanks for all photos in this posting go to Tony Rath of Belize Photography)

I was only back two days from my Belize/Guatemala/Mexico scarlet macaw journey when I got the news that poachers have struck in Belize, despite the tremendous efforts of those working there.  Here is the post from the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic‘s Facebook page:

 R. I. P. little macaw. It is with great sadness that we share the announcement that 2 out of 4 macaw chicks examined during our recent Chiquibul trip were poached from their nest only days later.  This means that most likely they are dead at this time.  The poaching pressure on the Chiquibul macaws is intolerable. The natural heritage is being pillaged. At this pace the last wild Belizean Macaws will soon be extinct.  Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) and Scarlet Six are trying to respond, before it is too late and have increased nest protection efforts. BDF has been called in to assist as well.  The conservation organisations are looking for volunteers to assist in the field. Contact Roni Martinez (Scarlet Six) or Boris Arevalo (FCD) if you think you have what it takes to participate.  Help us share the sad news to alert more people to this incredibly complex crisis.

A face that all mothers could love

These are birds that I and others had just recently held, adored, and gathered around as we heard their hearts beat to the same awesomely beautiful rhythms of nature as ours.  That these birds are doomed to death, or to a life time in captivity likely subjected to standards of care that do not approach the social and environmentally complex world in which their families of origin fly, is nearly unbearable – to me and to others who commented on the Facebook posting above.

Roni Martinez examining chick, with pleasure (another face that all mothers could love)

I’m glad that those who can are rising to the call to help.  I was told that the Belizean Defense Force (BDF mentioned above) will send in about 60 people to sweep the area clean of poacher.  Others too have volunteered as well to increase protection.  What can you do?  You might share this story with others, and if you can donate time or money to help feed the volunteers, contact me or Roni Martinez.

Weighing a precious wild chick (weighing your options of how to preserve these parrots is also precious)