At different parts of the day in the skies over northeastern Patagonia, Argentina there are thousands of Patagonian Conures (Burrowing Parrots) flocking; carrying on with the business of being parrots. When they are through they return to the largest known parrot colony in the world, a cliffside with 35,000 nest burrows carved into it. This area is unique in the parrot world - and in danger.

In this article Drs. Juan Masello and Petra Quillfeldt, along with Mauricio Failla and Pablo Giovine of the Burrowing Parrot Project talk about the trials and tribulations of working with and educating local peoples and government about legally conserving the breeding area.

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Trust is the first element won or (more often) lost in the parrot-human relationship. This is particularly true when a pet owner begins training his or her bird. Many a bond has been broken with inexperienced hands, resulting in fearful or aggressive behaviour on the parrot's part.

In this article, trainer Barbara Heidenreich explains the 'turn around' request - a behaviour that, without physical contact, can help to build the connection between man and parrot.

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Genus: Probosciger
Species: aterrimus
Where found: N Australia, parts of Indonesia, New Guinea, Papua New Guinea
Ecology: found in rainforest, forest edge, monsoon woodland, and tall secondary growth. Eats seeds, nuts, fruits, berries and leaf buds.
Status: least concern; however, there is evidence of a population decline
Threats: hunting, habitat loss
Wild Population: about 30,000

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Designed for pet parrot owner who would like a more rewarding and fulfilling relationship with their bird, this two-day workshop will give attendees the basic methods and tools required to teach their birds using positive reinforcement. Offered at Paradise Park in the UK and co-hosted by the WPT, the course will consist of lectures, practical sessions, interactive activities, written materials and live presentations.


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They're all around us: the modern, convenient and sometimes habit-forming substances that make our lives easier or more enjoyable. We almost wouldn't know what to do without most of them, so ubiquitous has their presence become. There are, however, many compounds that can cause tragedy when it comes to our pets.

So to ease some of the worry (and confusion) that has been expressed over the years, the staff at Paradise Park has compiled a list, from acetone to zinc, of the most poisonous chemicals, plants and foods - a list that no one should be without.

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The world of YouTube has become hefty indeed...the power of this largely word-of-mouth website has had a tremendous impact on many important causes, big and small. While still being a source of entertainment, the mega-network has also become, for the better, a platform for some of the most important efforts to save our Earth. To that end, our intrepid executive director Jamie Gilardi relates how you can make your visit at YouTube really count for the World Parrot Trust...just by watching and sharing videos on our special channel.

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WPT's YouTube Channel »