SVG Parrot population growing again

There are positive signs that the population of this country’s National Bird, the Amazona Guildingi, is being restored following the eruptions of La Soufriere Volcano in April, 2021.

This information was shared by director of forestry, Fitzgerald Providence on NBC radio last Monday, April 22, 2024, where he also disclosed that some of the birds perished during the eruptions, while others were able to migrate.

“But the population has come back well,” the forestry official added, explaining that two censuses were done after the eruptions in relation to the population of the Amazona Guildingi and “the numbers are favourable.

These parrots are endemic to St Vincent and the Grenadines and many of them live in the forests along the slopes of the volcano.

This vegetation which provided a home to the national bird was also destroyed in the eruptions, however, Providence said that reforestation is already taking place in the affected areas.

He also used the opportunity to issue a reminder to persons not to poison the rivers in order to catch crayfish.

He said this practice is against the law and cautioned that “these chemicals are very dangerous,” additionally, “putting poison in the rivers kill every creature in them, from juvenile to adult, and this is not sustainable”.

He reminded listeners as well that there are persons who still wash and bathe in the rivers.