A RARE ABACO PARROT DISPLAYS A RARE TALENT…
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MY LITTLE TRICK?
I’M A BIT CAMERA-SHY – I’LL JUST TURN ROUND
THAT’S BETTER. ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE READY FOR THIS?
TA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
The Abaco Parrot is a unique subspecies of Cuban Parrot found on only Abaco. They are the only parrot to nest underground, in limestone caves in the pine forest. Their numbers have increased from near extinction to a sustainable population as the result of an intensive program of conservation and anti-predation. They get plenty of publicity hereabouts, and have their own page HERE. We normally avoid too much whimsy in these parts, but I am in parrot territory right now, so I have given myself permission to break my own rule. Photos: ©Caroline Stahala (who looks after them)
ROLLING HARBOUR ABACO 
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Hahaha, so great.
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…and so talented! 😉
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Lol! Can he do the other side too?!
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Yes of course Lucy, if you are watching from behind 😉
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Great pictures! I spent ages trying to get decent pictures of these parrots back when I was spending a lot of time in Abaco. I never got more than a blurred flash of green in the distance until one day just after Huricane Floyd where I came across a flock that had come out of the pine forest and was feeding on a seagrape bush. They must have been really hard-pressed for food after the storm because they let me get within a few feet of them and I got some truly amazing pictures, so good people refused to believe they were of wild birds – you can find one of them here http://www.gisinecology.com/images/Photos%20for%20website/Bahama_Parrot.jpg if you are interested in checking it out). Happy days (except for the fact that Floyd had just wrecked the place!).
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Thanks for the comment and the picture link! They can indeed be hard to get (especially in flight), though these days there are more of them and they have certain areas where they regularly congregate. I’ll be posting some more photos, videos (when I get round to some minor editing) and even sound recordings quite soon.
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Good to know that they are doing well. Do you know how many of them are around now? They seemed to be pretty few and far between when I was out there, and very much limited to the pine forest around Hole-in-the-Wall. I don’t remember there being anywhere you could see them regularly – it seemed like seeing them was always just blind luck!
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Hi again Colin. The answer is that an intensive program of conservation / anti-predation during the last 10 years headed by scientist Caroline Stahala has seen the population (which was on the verge of extinction) reach “sustainable breeding numbers”. In broadest numerical terms, say 3000 – 4000. They are still in the National Park pine forests of South Abaco where they nest during the breeding season. But they are now to be found daily in the coppice in several places south of Marsh Harbour, and are spreading further afield. We have just returned from Abaco, and saw them nearly every day… You’ll have to make a return visit! All the best RH
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That’s brilliant they’re doing so well, and that you’re now seeing them so far north. Would love to get back out there at some point but sadly that looks unlikely in the foreseeable future (got to earn a living!)
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This is very funny! I’m sure that parrot knew he was being photographed!
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Beautiful birds! I was visiting my sister in Bahama Palm Shores in February and every time I heard them approach, I would run outside to watch! We had a pair pose for us long enough to take a few pictures….I think they are all pretty talented!
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🙂 Thanks for the comment Michelle. Right now we have them flocking daily (it’s not always like that) which is a big treat. Their colour in flight in the sun is wonderful. RH
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Last December (2012) there were two of these beautiful creatures in a tree outside by my cottage, at least I’m pretty sure they were the same ones, but if not they were still beautiful. One landed after the first and the flash of colour gave them away. Tried to grab a camera but they took off. The sighting was the day’s gift!
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Hi Michelle, yes they are wonderful creatures and it’s great that they visited you. Here at Delphi we are getting a flock daily at the moment, noisily arguing in the coppice – a real treat. RH
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