00:05So we've traveled approximately a thousand kilometers from San Diego to
00:10Madeira Chihuahua in order to work with Ponatura and work with the thick-billed
00:15parrot in its habitat. We're very proud to be partners together to help conserve
00:22the thick-billed parrot. One thing that we we bring to the table is that we've
00:27elevated how the parrot is viewed in the local community. San Diego Zoo Global is
00:36here to help understand the threats to the thick-billed parrot and in particular
00:41we're looking at the potential for diseases to impact wild populations. So
00:47far we had don't have any evidence that viruses or bacteria have a significant
00:52impact on the populations. However we do know that ectoparasites can cause serious
00:58mortality in the chicks and we think that that's going to have an overall
01:02effect on populations. So in addition to doing a physical exam on each of the
01:07chicks evaluating whether or not they have full crops, looking at their hydration
01:13status and vitality, body condition, feather condition, presence or absence of
01:18ectoparasites we take biological samples and that includes oral swabs, cloacal
01:23swabs and blood sample as well. And one of the things that we do with the
01:27samples is look to see whether the animal is also healthy on the inside and one
01:33specific thing that we're looking for are viruses or other pathogens that might
01:37be sort of introduced and maybe cause a problem for the for the population. And so
01:42we come year after year and we take swabs and we take blood from these from
01:46these chicks. And then we're looking for new pathogens that might be introduced
01:50into the population that we might have to do something about.
01:56Well one of the things that we've done on this trip is help to protect the trees
02:01against predators. So we added some flashing around the trees so that the
02:06carnivores can't climb the trees and raid the nests and take the chicks, which
02:09we've experienced early in this trip.
02:15So we're very lucky we get to stay at some cabins at the base of the mountain and we
02:20sort of drive up each day to do the sampling for the parrots. And if you're
02:25lucky in the morning you get to see the whole flock of parrots sort of flying over
02:29from their nest over to their feeding grounds. And then of course later in the
02:33day you'll see the opposite, you'll see whole flocks in the air flying back back to
02:38their nest sites. And that's really nice. It sort of, it reminds you that there are
02:42still a lot out there, that the work that we're doing is good. Yes, and it's just
02:47great to see that.
02:49It took about ten years to make the connections and meet the people, to be
02:54able to come to the field and experience the parrots' natural history on a
02:59first-hand basis. And it's been an incredible experience.
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