This Colombian endemic Parrot was thought to be extinct until 1999 when a group of researchers found a flock. It's currently listed a Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Its precipitous downfall was mainly attributed to habitat loss but also cutting down of wax palms for use in Palm Sunday celebrations. I normally don't like to judge people for their beliefs, but this is probably one of the most dumb reasons for killing off a species that I had ever heard. Giant wax palms are cut down just so the fronds can be waived around for religious processions and then just tossed aside. These wax palms are a cornerstone species providing food and shelter for an abundance of species. Conservation efforts have been started to save habitat and also to stop the use of wax palms for Palm Sunday and this species is now on the rebound.
All my photos were from a great distance but I was able to get some half decent shots.
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