Indigo Winged Parrot

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The Indigo Winged Parrot or Loro Coroniazul in Spanish (Hapalopsittaca fuertesi) is a critically endangered species. There are thought to be fewer than 250 left in the wild, and none in captivity.

This beautiful parrot is mainly bright green with a blue crown. Here is a link to a copyrighted picture of the bird:

http://www.oiseaux.net/photos/proaves.fundacion/indigo-winged.or.fuerte.s.parrot.1.html#alpha

It is found only on the Western side of the Andes in the departments of Quindío, Risaralda, and Tolima. They prefer living in the cloud forests at elevations of 2,600-3,600 meters.

The species was thought extinct. However, in 2002, it was redicovered by the Colombian foundation "Fundación ProAves". That original find was of 25 birds, with a total population estimation at 60. Then, in July 2002, there was a confirmed sighting in Los Nevados National Park. The group there consisted of 14 indiviuals.

Fundación ProAves has helped spearhead conservation efforts and have been successful in increasing the population to 160. Recently, the group acquired 631 hectares of land -- thanks to the Fundacion Loro Parque, the American Bird Conservancy and IUCN Netherlands. The area is being managed as a Bird Reserve.

I highly recommend that you visit the Fundación ProAves website -- available in Spanish and English. You can learn about all of the endangered birds of Colombia there. You can volunteer, plan ecotourism trips, or adopt a nest for other endangered species such as the Yellow Eared Parrot.

http://www.proaves.org/sommaire.php?lang=en

For further information:
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=1650&m=0

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