Lilian's Lovebird - Zambia

Agapornis Lilianae - Lilian’s lovebird is one of nine lovebirds endemic to Africa. Lovebirds are parrots of the Agapornis genus and are named for their strong monogamous pair bonding. A typical Lilian’s lovebird attains a height of 13 centimeters, making it the smallest African parrot. It feeds primarily on the seeds of grass, millet, wild rice, and flowers. Lilian’s lovebird is under threat through habitat loss. The current population is estimated to being less than 20,000 individuals.

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The Zambezi River forms in the marshy dambos of Central Zambia and stretches for 2,574 kilometers; a dambo is a local term describing an area of shallow wetlands. The Zambezi River is the 4th longest river in Africa and the largest river emptying into the Indian Ocean. Victoria Falls, known as Mosi-oa-Tunya locally, marks the end of the upper river and beginning of the middle river. Two large dams, the Kariba and Cahora Bassa, have significantly reduced the size of the Zambezi Delta.

Sisserou Parrot - Dominica

Amazona imperialis - The sisserou parrot, also known as the imperial Amazon parrot, is restricted to an area near the Morne Diablotins Mountains and the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The sisserou parrot averages 45 to 50 centimeters in length, weighs a mere .7 kilograms, and has a 76 centimeter wingspan. Male and female pair for life and can live to be 70 years old. Human encroachment and habitat destruction is threatening the sisserou parrot with the danger of extinction.

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The country of Dominica is situated on one of the youngest islands of the Caribbean, an island under construction as is evident by the island’s geothermal and volcanic activity. Boiling Lake, a small body of water approximately 63 meters across, is located in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. It is a flooded fumarole, an opening in the earth’s crust in the vicinity of a volcano venting steam and gases heated by the molten lava. It is the world’s second largest hot springs and was discovered in 1870.

Yellow-headed Parrot - Honduras

Amazona oratris - Yellow-headed parrots are found in low thickly wooded areas and they occasionally gather in large noisy flocks. It measures 35 to 40 centimeters in length. Males and females closely resembling each other; stout bills, plump bodies, and short necks. When excited, the feathers on the crown and neck are raised to make the head appear double in size. Their numbers have suffered a sharp decline, a result of habitat loss and the capturing of individuals for the pet trade.

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Copán, located in the extreme western department of modern day Honduras, was an important Mayan city flourishing from the 5th to 9th century. At the height of power, the Copán Valley had an estimated population of over 20,000 people. The city suffered a devastating defeat to Quiriguá, a rival Maya city, in 738 AD, resulting in the slow decline of Copán. When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, they found a few scattered farming hamlets and an abandoned ceremonial center.

Saint Vincent Amazon - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Amazona guildingii - The Saint Vincent Amazon is a large parrot with a length of about 40 centimeters. It is found in the mountainous forests of Saint Vincent. It is a canopy feeder preferring seeds, fruits, flowers, and leaves. Dawn and dusk being the ideal feeding times. Once a common sight, the number of Saint Vincent Amazons has been reduced to less than 1,000 birds remaining in the wild. Habitat loss and trapping for the commercial pet trade are the primary causes for its demise.

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The Caribs had established themselves on Saint Vincent prior to the European arrival in the Americas and had referred to their island as “Youloumain.” Being an aggressive people, the Caribs were able to repulse European encroachment until 1719, when French settlers from nearby Martinique were able to gain a foothold on Saint Vincent. The Caribs continued to resist, but were eventually subdued either by being deported from tribal areas or used as slaves to work the coffee, tobacco, and sugar plantations.

Scarlet Macaw - Suriname

Ara macao - There are 17 species of macaws. The scarlet macaw, measuring 85 centimeters, is the largest. The males have slightly longer tails and their beaks are more robust. Macaws pair for life and will flock together with others during the night. Their diet consists of nuts and fruit. The powerful beak of the macaw allows them to break open the hardest nuts. Occasionally they will consume clay from river banks or cliffs to help with digestion and possibly to supplement their calcium needs.

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Suriname is the smallest country in South America and the only independent entity in the Americas with Dutch as its official language. Suriname was originally inhabited by Taíno people. The British were the first Europeans to settle in Suriname; they established a settlement at Marshall’s Creek in 1630. The control of Suriname swayed back and forth between the Dutch and British with the Dutch eventually retaining control until independence was granted to Suriname in 1975.

Lilac-tailed Parrotlet - Trinidad and Tobago

Touit batavicus - The lilac-tailed parrotlet is a small parrot averaging about 14 centimeters in length and between 58 and 72 grams in weight. It can be found in Trinidad and Tobago and along the forested areas of French Guinea, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. The lilac-tailed parrotlet prefers dense forests and nothing above 1,700 meters. It rarely comes into contact with the ground and therefore its diet is limited to what the forest canopy can offer; nectar, flowers, fruits, berries, and seeds. 

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The islands of Trinidad and Tobago host several mud volcanoes. The activity of a typical mud volcano usually consists of a mild surface up-welling of heated mud and saline water accompanied by methane gas bubbles. Some violent eruptions resulting in a large mass of rocks scattered over a wide area of the countryside have been recorded, but these incidents are rare. Mud volcanoes, often called mud pots, are not true igneous volcanoes because they do not produce any lava or magma.

Norfolk Kaka - Norfolk Island

The Norfolk Archipelago consists of three islands located in the northern section of the Tasman Sea; Nepean Island, Phillip Island, and Norfolk Island. Great Britain transferred the territory to Australian control in 1914. Captain James Cook landed on Norfolk in 1774 and named the island in honor of Mary Howard, the Duchess of Norfolk.

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Nestor productus - The Norfolk kaka was native to Norfolk and Phillip Islands, but fell into extinction during the early 19th century; the last bird held in captivity died in 1851. The genus Nestor contains 2 extant species; the Kea, Nestor notabilis, native to New Zealand’s South Island and the New Zealand kaka, Nestor meridionalis, native to the north and south islands of New Zealand. The two extinct species from the genus Nestor are the Chatham kaka, Nestor chathamensis, once native to the Chatham Island Archipelago and the Norfolk kaka.