YHP Release 2023

It’s that time of year! Our partners at Belize Bird Rescue recently brought six Yellow-headed parrots back to Payne’s Creek National Park (PCNP) for release. Mario and his team then released the birds into the wild after they had first spent 10 days in the enclosure acclimatizing to the park.

These chicks were born here during the 2022 nesting season but had a better chance to thrive during their first year in a more sheltered environment.

Mario and his team monitor Yellow-headed parrot chicks regularly, and when they reach a certain age some are safely extracted to save them from the danger of being poached. They are then taken up to Belize Bird Rescue until they are old enough to come back to PCNP for release.

Last week the team extracted an additional 10 chicks that will come back to the park in 2024.

TIDE is grateful for our partnership with Belize Bird Rescue as we safeguard this charismatic species in southern Belize.