Save a Magnificent Macaw from Regional Extinction

Dear friend,

We are delighted to share that the Cyanoptera Macaws continue to persist in the Cosiguina Peninsula, thanks to your continued support. These brilliant and resilient birds remain a symbol of hope and strength in the region, and so do the people working to protect them.

During the 2024–25 nesting season, our budget was extremely limited, but our community rangers remained committed. They carried out regular patrols in the nesting area, ensuring a steady presence that deters poachers and protects the remaining macaw pairs. Their dedication, even under tight resource constraints, was truly inspiring.

This year, the Ministry set up camera traps at several of the nest sites. These cameras are a crucial tool for deterring poachers and monitoring the eggs.

Although we were unable to return to full hands-on nest monitoring this season, we believe these modest efforts are laying the groundwork for a stronger future. Looking ahead, we hope to secure more resources so that we can return to intensive monitoring, manage threats like invasive bees, and offer direct protection to vulnerable nests.

Thank you for standing with us and with the Cyanoptera Macaws. Your support helps us push forward, even when resources are stretched thin. With your continued help, we believe we can secure a future for this magnificent species on the brink of extinction.

With deep gratitude,

The Paso Pacífico Team

The rainy season is coming to a conclusion. There was record rainfall in northwestern Nicaragua where the cyanoptera macaw nests. This means that there was little nesting activity, and likely the birds departed for the Gulf of Fonseca where they forage for fruits and nuts in the mangrove wetlands. 

This is the month when we prepare for the coming nesting season. We will be traveling up to the Cosiguina peninsual to climb trees and clean out the interior of nests. We will wear a bee suit when removing the invasive bees that sometimes occupy nests, and we will remove leaves and debris that cause humidity. 

Despite our inability to document successful nests over the past two years (forest falcon predation and the invasion of bees was the primary factor impacting nests under our supervision), we find hope in the incredible life history of the cyanoptera macaw. The species can reproduce over decades, and so if we can just improve its chances by protecting nests, offering artifical nest cavities, and by eliminating unnatural predators like invasive non-native bees, then the species might have a fighting chance. 

Thank you for support our long-term vision of bringing the cyanoptera macaw back from the brink of extinction in Northern Central America. You can make a donation that will help us start a new season by donating throug GlobalGiving. Thank you again for your support. 

In Gratitude,