10/23/2026
Protecting parrots means protecting the wild places they call home, too. What happens when 71% of a species’ global breeding population depends on one stretch of coastline?
Along Argentina’s Patagonian coast lies one of the most extraordinary parrot colonies on Earth. Burrowing parrots (Cyanoliseus patagonus), also known in the United States as Patagonian parrots or Patagonian conures, excavate nesting burrows up to 11 feet deep into sandstone cliffs. We've had the privilege of caring for a handful of these fascinating parrots at The Gabriel Foundation over the years, but their lives in the wild reveal an entirely different side of this species.
The colony at El Cóndor is the largest known breeding colony of burrowing parrots, accounting for an estimated 71% of the species’ global breeding population. Yet what makes these birds remarkable goes far beyond the colony's size. Burrowing parrots form lasting pair bonds and cooperate in caring for their young. Females incubate the eggs while males bring them food; after hatching, both parents feed the chicks. Researchers have even observed older chicks helping feed younger siblings and enlarge their nesting burrows. 🥹
Nearly three decades of research have also revealed how vulnerable this colony can be. Following severe drought and food shortages, the number of active nests fell by 42% between 2001 and 2005. By 2019, the colony had recovered to 40,671 active nests, the highest count recorded during the study. That recovery is encouraging, but it does not mean the parrots are free from threats.
During breeding season, these birds may travel as far as 41 miles from their nesting colony to find food. Deforestation is reducing their native feeding habitat and natural roosting sites. Researchers are investigating whether the resulting changes in food quality affect reproduction. When the parrots seek shelter near towns and farmland, conflicts with people can follow. Habitat degradation, persecution as agricultural pests, and capture for the pet trade have also contributed to historical population declines.
In 2024, decades of research, advocacy, and local community involvement helped secure official protection for the El Cóndor nesting colony. But according to the newly published article, a management plan has yet to be implemented, and erosion and human disturbance remain concerns.
The larger lesson is that protecting a parrot species requires more than protecting the birds themselves. Their survival depends on nesting sites, reliable food sources, intact habitats, and the ability to maintain their complex social relationships. At TGF, our responsibility to the parrots in human care goes hand in hand with respect for the lives of their wild counterparts.
So, what can we do to help wild parrots thrive?
1. Support habitat conservation: Protecting a nesting cliff means little if the surrounding foraging habitat disappears. Support organizations that protect native vegetation and restore wildlife habitat.
2. Reduce demand for wild-caught birds: Encourage adoption and lifelong commitments to parrots already living in human care.
3. Support research: Long-term monitoring makes it possible to identify declines, measure recoveries, and understand threats before they become irreversible.
4. Be a voice for wildlife: Share credible information. Help others understand why habitat protection, science, and coexistence with wildlife matter. (We have included a few conservation resources in the comments.)
5. Remember individual welfare: Whether a parrot lives in a vast colony or a sanctuary, its relationships, behavioral needs, and well-being matter.
At The Gabriel Foundation, we advocate for the welfare of parrots in human care while recognizing the importance of protecting their wild counterparts and the ecosystems they depend on. Conservation and animal welfare are not separate concerns. Both require us to understand and respect the biological, behavioral, and social needs of these remarkable animals.
Parrots, their lives…Our choice.
Read Valeria Román's article in Knowable Magazine:
https://vist.ly/5pqmd
