THE SYMBOL OF A RESILIENT BAHAMAS: BAHAMA PARROTS

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ABACO (BAHAMA) PARROT for Hurricane Dorian (Keith Salvesen / Rolling Harbour)

THE SYMBOL OF A RESILIENT BAHAMAS

 THE BAHAMA PARROT

Hurricane Dorian makes landfall on Abaco later today. The island has been in an unwavering direct line for several days, gaining force to Cat. 4** while slowing down as it approaches. The skies have darkened, the seas are turbulent, danger to humans, wildlife, property, landscape is imminent.

** UPDATE just before landfall today, Dorian strengthened to a rare and very dangerous Cat. 5 hurricane. This is when not just property and land is threatened, but life itself. Early reports are of flooding and structural damage. Now is not the moment to pick through the information filtering through. Better to assess the impact after the storm has passed on to the north-west, where it is currently headed via Grand Bahama.

When we first became involved with Abaco, the parrot numbers were believed to be fewer than 1000, a barely sustainable population. An intensive, continuing conservation program over several years has seen the numbers treble or more. This recovery is as much due to the resilience of the species as to human intervention. 

The parrots will be lying low in the National Park, some in the limestone caves they nest in during the breeding season. As humans take equivalent protective measures we are watching from a thankfully safe distance. We wish the very best of luck to our friends, and to all on the island and its cays during the next 48 hours.

Abaco Parrots in limestone cave, breeding season (Caroline Stahala)

18 thoughts on “THE SYMBOL OF A RESILIENT BAHAMAS: BAHAMA PARROTS”

  1. Each Bahamian, every living creature, remains in our thoughts and prayers. Glad to know you were a safe distance away. We live in an area demolished by Hurricane Katrina so many years ago. Many are still recovering but remain strong and hopeful. It’s a long road back but people are so amazingly resilient. Our hearts go out to you all!

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  2. Well it’s good news to hear from you! The reports and images of the island we’ve seen showed the awful devastation which is seriously distressing.
    The storm is here now. It arrived during the early morning hours with heavy wind and rain even though it wasn’t supposed to start until noon. A tornado has already hit land.
    We are hoping to ride it out today as best we can. Still have power at the moment which means I have coffee and AC.
    Keep us updated if you can on your situation. Still keeping a good thought for you and hope things improve.

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    • Let’s hope the parrots are in their caves and that these don’t flood… And woe for the Kirtland’s (if any). And the PIPL and my 8-month annual project that was going so well (10 banded, 8 returners, all ID’d). I saw Susan S D’s posts about you both. Are you OK? And do you have TC news? There’s very little coming out of there right now. Best, K

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  10. Beautiful parrots and I hope they manage to find shelter as the storm moves through.
    I also hope you and yours also emerged unscathed from this dangerous storm.
    I’ve been thinking about you as I follow the reports and we await what looks to be a direct hit on the Carolinas later in the week.
    Best wishes and good luck to you all.
    Phil

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    • Hi Phil, thanks for your kind thoughts and concern. I am lucky – I’m not on Abaco now. But many friends are there, and I am on the island (online) every day. The devastation is near total, esp. the main (= only) town. Grand Bahama took its share. I’ve stopped looking at tracking but I’m hoping the storm didn’t get to Carolinas, or at least not with significant force. Kind of you to get in touch, appreciated.

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