KRALENDIJK — The Echo Foundation is a new foundation that aims to conserve the lora’s on Bonaire. The foundation proceeds with the research work from Sam Williams, Rowan Martin Rhian Evans of the past seven years.
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The team became known for their ‘Parrot Watch’ and ‘Ask Olivia’ articles and they mainly study the lora’s breeding grounds. Based on this study, the team has designed strategies for the conservation of the lora’s.
The name Echo is based on Sam Williams’ involvement in the conservation project for parrot species on Mauritius, the Echo parakeet. Although they number 500 now, there were only eight of these species left in the nineties. "An echo is also a returning phenomenon and that’s what we aim for, the return of the balance in the nature on Bonaire."
Williams visited Bonaire for the first time in 2003, but the parrot project actually started when he and Rowan Martin returned in 2006. They gave presentations on their studies of the lora’s through the whole world, such as Brazil, Canada, the US and South Africa. The World Parrot Trust Fund supports the research. This year Jose Antonio Diaz, who researches another threatened parrot species, was added to the team on Bonaire, and two master students from England were active in the team as well. For instance, Danielle Parks researched the fruit eating lora’s and whether bird of prey shaped kites could shoo away the lora’s. These results will be published soon. Echo works closely with Salba Nos Lora and in former days also with Stinapa.
www.parrotwatch.org
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