Funds for Endangered Parrots facts for kids
The Funds for Endangered Parrots (FbP) is a German organization that works to protect parrot species around the world. It's a type of non-governmental organisation (NGO), meaning it's not run by a government. FbP supports and runs projects to help parrots that are in danger of disappearing forever.
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How It Started
The story of the Funds for Endangered Parrots began in 1989. A group focused on parrots was formed within another German organization called the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations. This group was the first in the world to point out how serious the situation was for the Spix's macaw. Sadly, this macaw is now extinct in the wild.
In October 1991, this working group officially became the Funds for Endangered Parrots. Over its first twenty years, the Funds raised more than 475,000 euros to help parrots. Since 1996, FbP has held a special meeting every autumn. This event is open to its members and anyone else interested in learning about parrots.
Saving Parrots and Their Homes
Almost half of all parrot species are currently in danger. About a quarter of them are in critical danger, meaning they could disappear very soon. The main reasons for this are:
- Habitat destruction: This happens when forests are cut down or burned for farming and building.
- Illegal trade: People still capture wild parrots to sell them as pets.
Besides these big problems, parrots also face other threats. These include hunting, being seen as pests, other animals invading their homes, and not having enough places to build nests or find food.
The Funds for Endangered Parrots supports projects that aim to save these birds. They work closely with local conservation groups and the people who live in the areas where parrots are found. This teamwork and education help make sure that efforts to protect parrots and their homes last a long time.
Here are two examples of how the Funds helps:
Helping the Santa Marta Conure
In Colombia, the Funds supports a project for the Santa Marta conure. This project works with the Indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. The Santa Marta conure is a special bird that lives only in this area. It helps teach people about the unique plants and animals found there.
Everyone involved in this project works together as equals. They watch the birds, figure out where they live and travel, and try to understand why their numbers are shrinking. The Funds also helps local farmers improve their cheese production. By creating a special brand for their cheese, the farmers can earn more money. This helps protect the conure's habitat at the same time.
Protecting the Citron-crested Cockatoo
On the Indonesian island of Sumba, the citron-crested cockatoo is in danger for different reasons. The main problems are a lack of nesting spots and, most importantly, being caught and sold on the black market.
The project here focuses on finding out where the cockatoos live and how many there are. A big part of the work is also stopping the illegal trade. For the first time, poachers (people who illegally hunt or capture animals) have been caught and charged. The project also teaches local people about the importance of protecting these birds. For example, they show an educational film to schools. Since many small schools don't have electricity, seeing a film is a very exciting event! The local partner for this project is BirdLife Indonesia.
Other Parrots They Help
The Funds for Endangered Parrots supports projects for many other parrot species, including:
- Asia: umbrella cockatoo, red-vented cockatoo, Palawan racket-tailed parrot, red and blue lory
- Americas: Lear's macaw, red-fronted macaw, yellow-eared parrot, St. Vincent amazon, rusty-faced parrot, lilacine amazon, great green macaw.
- Africa: black-cheeked lovebird
The Funds is also connected to bigger international groups like the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) through ZGAP. Other international partners include the Loro Parque Fundación and BirdLife International.
Annual Meetings
Since 1996, the Funds has held annual one-day meetings. These gatherings bring together members and anyone else who loves parrots. The day is filled with presentations on many parrot-related topics. You can learn about:
- How to protect parrots in the wild.
- What the Funds is doing.
- Special breeding programs for endangered species.
- How to care for parrots, including their food and health.
- New discoveries in parrot classification.
After each presentation, there's time for open discussion. These meetings are usually held in Germany and are attended by about 150 people. This helps spread important information among German parrot keepers. The money raised from these meetings goes directly to conservation projects. They are often held at bird shows, zoos, or bird parks.
Who Runs the Funds
The Funds for Endangered Parrots is made up of parrot experts who are dedicated to protecting wild parrots. It works as a special group that chooses a committee every two years. This committee makes decisions and oversees the projects.
The committee members are responsible for:
- Looking at and deciding on project applications.
- Suggesting new projects.
- Checking the progress of ongoing projects.
- Planning and organizing the annual meetings.
The current committee includes people like Thomas Arndt, Dr. Marcellus Bürkle, and René Wüst, who is the spokesperson for the Funds.
Images for kids
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St. Vincent amazon
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Umbrella cockatoo
