PARROTS
Joe Barkowski—Curator of Birds

There are more than 300 species of parrots worldwide and it is estimated that more than 60% of them are immediately threatened by such factors as hunting, habitat loss and capture for the worldwide trade of captive birds. These incredible animals inhabit every continent except Antarctica and have been able to adapt to barren deserts and snow-covered mountaintops. Conservation efforts for such wide-ranging animals cannot be accomplished overnight or with a single strategy..

Sedgwick County Zoo is currently home to approximately 100 parrots of over 30 different species. Many can be seen in the Australian and South American exhibits. We are pleased to allow our guests an up-close and personal experience with these birds as they fly freely in the open-air aviaries. By housing them in this way, we feel that there are opportunities to gain knowledge about their behavior. We are able to carefully observe characteristics such as breeding biology, which may be virtually unknown from wild observations. Everything from the duration of time it takes to incubate their eggs to average weights for chicks when they begin to fly on

Blue-throated Macaw (Ara ogularis)

their own can be gathered in a zoo setting. This information can be surprisingly useful to researchers working in the field.

In the case of the thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha), our Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) through the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. We contribute to captive breeding as well as studies regarding the birds’ nutritional and medical needs. In addition, we have supported ongoing fieldwork in northern Mexico to help gather data on the behaviors of this endangered species. Through our donations of funds and equipment, as well as staff time spent in the field, we are helping examine their habits and the state of the wild population and contributing to the overall plan of how to properly protect this species.Other species in our care, such as the blue-throated macaw (Ara glaucogularis) from Bolivia and the golden conure (Aratinga guarouba) from Brazil, are considered critically endangered. There are almost certainly more of these birds being housed and raised in captivity than existing today in the wild.  Although importation of

Golden Conure (Aratinga guarouba)

wild-caught parrots into the U.S. has been nearly eliminated, there is still great demand in the rest of the world. Captive breeding efforts will be maintained to ensure there exists a healthy reservoir of birds in case efforts to protect the animals and their habitats fail. Our Zoo is working toward conservation initiatives for both species that may help ensure their future in the wild.

Parrots are spectacular animals to observe. Their brilliant colors, raucous calls, playful interactions and amazing intelligence make them one of the most entertaining groups of animals. We ask that while you are enjoying them in their homes at the Zoo, you remember that many of their wild counterparts are in need of assistance. Without conservation efforts, the jungles, forests and grasslands may become dull and quiet.