National bird faces extinction
(CNS): The Cayman parrot is facing a combination of threats which an international expert says could see the bird extinct within forty years if action is not taken to preserve the habitat the parrots need. Frank Rivera-Milán from the US Fish and Wildlife Service has been counting parrots in the Cayman Islands since Hurricane Ivan in 2004. During a presentation of his work here over the last eight years, Rivera-Milán issued a stark warning about the national birds and the threats they face which could in the face of another catastrophic event see them disappear.
Speaking at the Department of Environment on Wednesday, the bird expert noted the local parrots' recovery in the wake of both Hurricanes Ivan and then Paloma on the Brac, which demonstrated their relative resilience to face what nature throws at them, but the birds are struggling in the face of hunting and development.
He pointed to the population on Cayman Brac, which is a sub species and on its evolutionary way to becoming a species of its own, but is at particular risk because of the rapid development of roads and subdivisions on the Brac that are destroying its already very limited habitat.
“Cayman Brac is going down the drain as development is going too fast,” Rivera-Milán warned as he pointed to the significant amount of clearance of the birds’ habitat in the last few years. He warned that there are an estimated 465 parrots left on the island but only 66 breeding pairs. He explained the rest of the birds are known as 'floaters', which are not yet producing offspring.
While the breeding pairs have remained relatively constant over the last 20 years, the decline in floater numbers, which would replace any loss of breeders, is a significant problem for the future population if there was to be another major storm, he said.
“We are losing floaters and once that starts to happen extinction is not very far away. We have a very volatile situation with the parrot population,” he warned.
The situation on Cayman Brac is compounded by the significant lack of habitat which is suitable for parrots. The birds colonize only around 4,000 hectares of the island, so even when a small amount of the trees and scrub where the birds live, and more importantly nest, are removed their survival becomes ever more tenuous.
Warning that the birds could be gone in less than four decades, he said the government needed to intervene with management policies, such as preserving existing nesting areas and breeding hot-spots, introducing nesting boxes, as well as preserving and planting key food sources for the parrots and enforceable legislation to protect them from trapping and hunting.
“The more habitat that is lost, the more the recovery from the storms is hampered,” he said, adding that there seemed to be no need in many cases for the development of such large roads he saw on the bluff during this visit. “The Brac population is literally hanging on. We are really in trouble.”
He lamented that land was stripped bare in order to make subdivision without retaining any of the natural habitat and wondered why the roads accessing sub divisions were so wide. He described the new public highway to the Agricultural Pavilion as more fitting for a major US city than the tiny island. The impact on the habitat from roads is not just limited to the area cleared but, he explained, it also knocks into that on the edges of the road because of the pollution and wind shear.
Although the national bird is protected under the animals law, wildlife experts here say that legislation has no teeth and that is why the parrots, like the rest of Cayman’s indigenous wildlife, is in desperate need of the National Conservation Law. No one has ever been prosecuted for taking or killing a parrot and there are no statistics revealing how many birds are killed or trapped each year.
In Grand Cayman the bird is considered a pest by many farmers. The pressures of development are driving the birds from their natural habitat into the farms and suburban areas to find food as a result of the dwindling supplies in the wild. Although Rivera-Milán said the food supply on Grand Cayman appeared to be slightly better than on the Brac, the parrots there are still at risk.
The biologist's latest visit was focused on Cayman Brac and so his figures regarding Grand Cayman were, he said, best estimates but he pointed to around 4,000, which included 500 mating pairs. Rivera-Milán warned that these figures were still a major concern given the rate of development and the lack of any meaningful protection.
For the birds on both islands, Rivera-Milán said the habitat loss was dramatic and although it was still possible that both the Grand Cayman and the Cayman Brac parrots could make it, their survival depends very heavily on the will of government to make the right decisions regarding management and put the necessary policies in place to preserve the country’s national bird.
Category: Science and Nature
Maybe they are pinin' for the fjords.
Oh come on, who trolled a Monty Python quote? Probably someone who would benefit from the saracasm font.
Matt Cottam
The below statement is disturbing in many ways……..it's up to the people to make their own judgement of this individual in the LA.
'A member of the LA was on the panel also. He stated that the EPF (Environmental Protection Fund) was not available for such purposes, AND THAT IT WOULD BE (a) BETTER TO CHANGE THE LAW TO LEGALISE THE SHOOTING OF PARROTS.'
Who is this person? Please name him! I'm sure the people would like to know!
CNS, if Matt dosen't provide this information would you kindly do so?
It's important for the people to knowwho they are dealing with and what his agenda is.
Hello Anon
The reason I didn’t mention a name is because the issue of parrots is already too much about individuals. The point I was trying to make was regarding the political will to do something constructive about the problem. A significant amount of money has been set aside by Government, in the form of the EPF, to deal with precisely this kind of situation. These funds were taken from visitors and residents alike, so everyone in the Islands is directly invested in this fund. It is not being spent. Finger-pointing at individuals is an easy option; whether they are environmentalists, farmers, pet owners, politicians or parrots – it will not solve the problem and it detracts from the fact that there is money availbe to fund a solution.
Where there is a problem, passion and funding, there is potential for a real solution – one which benefits everyone and marginalises no one. If we take funding off the table, we just have a problem and passion – which is the situation we have at the moment.
Kind regards
I propose we make the feral chickenus the national bird, we can never kill them of!
I heard a Framer call in on the Rooster show one morning to say he shoots the parrots because they are destroying his mango crops.
This type of approach is one of the reasons why any animal, bird, or otherwise will become extinct.
Then there also the problem that we humans create with destroying their habitats. We bulldoze down the vegetation and dont plant anything (or much) back in return.
In truth, there's no protection nor enforcement of existing laws.
Sounds all to familiar to me, in most instances here in Cayman
How can a nation whose consitution clearly states it is built around Christian principles support this type of thing? "He pointed to the population on Cayman Brac, which is a sub species and on its evolutionary way to becoming a species of its own"???? What if our children heard this?
I like the idea of planting fruit trees. I have planted a mango tree in my yard and it is thriving. What a perfect gift to give for birthdays, Christmas, Mothers/Father's Day…. plant a fruit tree! Let the farmers (a minority) shoot them, we will never stop locals from doing this, but people that CARE can plant fruit trees in ther yards and hope to attract our green parrots.
For twenty years I've lamented that our values are all screwed up, but still our elders have not passed down their ethics and our generation is selfish. Teach your chilren well and there may be hope (or yes and gid rid of our horrinble wasteful politicians and go back to a custos with an accountant!)
I am back form a little hiatus with limited communication and connectivity. Now that I am back, I see that moronic mindlessness is still abundant 'roun yah.
Where did they get this Milan dude? I was just checking out the Sister Islands and thought to myself :"If things get any slower they wil be going in REVERSE!" Then I read here that Milan says “Cayman Brac is going down the drain as development is going too fast” Huh!!! NO FREAKING WAY! Did I read this right? You sure this is not a typo or something? Was this meant to be some kind of sarcastic joke?
From what I have seen, the poor old Cayman Brackers are in a much tougher fight for survival than the parrots. I heard from the resort's employees that the only lone single solitary little dive resort on the Brac is closing in about a week for a while because of slow business. (Yeah! The Brac's big old humongous sprawling 40-room two-storey dive resort is compelling evidence that Cayman Brac is absolutely suffocating from overdevelopment. Right, Milan?)
The Brac contractors are lamenting no work or slow work and yet I read that an apparently degreed professional says that "…development is going too fast" on the Brac !!??? Holy Jeezus!! Reallyyy??? This is sure news to the Brackers! I can't see anyone with even half a brain saying this about Grand Cayman in recent times, much less Cayman Brac. I actually winced when I read that and it takes a helluva lot to get me to wince. I am very surprised that no Brackers have weighed in on this comment. If I was suffering from the horrid overdevelopment like Milan says Brackers are enduring, I would be writing in.
Ok…now for a possible partial solution. But first a question: Do people really care about the parrots as a species and for the birds' own sake? Or do they only care about them in the context of the parrots flourishing here?
Why not try to save the Brac parrot by experimenting with exporting some of the parrots and releasing them in a compatible part of a large foreign reserve with similar environment and flora? At the end of the day, if they flourish, the progeny of the exported birds may not end up being "born" Cayman parrots (I guess that maybe they will have a right to Status though) but at least the species might have an improved chance of survival since the terribly rampant runaway burgeoning overdevelopment happening way too fast on Cayman Brac is such a dire threat.
Hmmm…?? Did anyone think that maybe the The Cayman Brac parrots simply do not do well around asphalt and paved stuff? In that case the birds are doomed because JuJu and Mac seem intent on covering the entire surface of the island with blacktop.
NB: Cayman Brackers take heart! Milan's opinion of the Brac as developing too fast should serve as a glimmer of hope! If the current version of the Conservation Law passes, your present glory days of burgeoning overdevelopment could come to an end. (Imagine that!)
I wish I could get back the three minutes of my life I wasted reading your comment.
It seems like the D.O.E/ Govt. isnt really doing much about this! We have Marine parks officers patrolling our waters protecting marine life. maybe a few of them can or should start patrolling the dyke roads, interior properties and farm roads to keep poachers at bay. As for the Farmers there are many ways they can protect their crops. eg Tree netting(and its not like the trees here are that big) propane canons,Electronic devices and certain repellant sprays. We need To protect our national Bird not destroy it!! We need proper conservation and management.
Hello Enforcement
The DoE hears your frustration on the subject of enforcement. The situation currently is that the Cayman parrot is “protected” under the Animals Law, so it may seem a simple matter that DoE Enforcement Officers should arrest people when the Law is being broken. It is not that simple. DoE Officers do not actually have any power of arrest currently – they have to call the police for that (one of the reasons why the DoE is working so hard to promote the National Conservation Law, which would give them such powers). When arrests do occur, they are of little use without a successful persecution. DoE officers are successful in prosecutions of marine offences because they are covered by the Marine Conservation Law. Cayman Parrots are covered by the Animals Law.
In the case of the Cayman parrot, the Animals Law forbids the killing or keeping of parrots. This means if you shoot a parrot or take the chicks from a nest you are committing an offence. But also, you commit an offence if you keep one as a pet, or even if you keep one with a broken wing to rehabilitate it and release it back into the wild. All these activities equally break the law. Trying to bring a persecution against one individual, when they can point to hundreds of other transgressors on the island makes for a very weak case. Last week I received a call from a lady who was concerned that she might be arrested if she helped rehome an abandoned pet Cayman parrot – meanwhile shooting of birds continues without prosecution.
When the Animals Law was first introduced, pet owners with parrots already in their possession were “grandfathered in” under the Law. Since that time, the pet population has been supplemented by poached chicks, birds caught from the wild, by injured wildlife and by parrots bred in captivity. This situation makes the Law unenforceable as it stands. This is a second reason the DoE has been pushing for the replacement of the Animals Law with the Conservation Law.
Enforcement is very expensive. The DoE has had its budget cut repeatedly in recent years, forcing the department to rely heavily on grant funding to do its work (indeed the work of Dr Rivera-Milan which has been a long-running DoE initiative, was funded from grant money won by DoE, not from central CIG funding).
In an attempt to address the issue of parrots in captivity the DoE applied to OTEP for grant funding in 2010 to initiate a parrot amnesty, in which all pet parrots could be registered – the bid was rejected on the basis that the Animals Law was too inadequate to enforce protocol once the amnesty was complete.
In summary, the current situation is too complicated to be covered by the outdated Animals Law. Some pet parrots are well cared for, some are not. Bona-fide owners and wildlife rehabbers should be protected by the law, not in fear of it. Farmers too should be supported by the law – not to killparrots, but to benefit from subsidy from the Environmental Protection Fund so that their losses can be offset. (The EPF currently stands at $50 million – it is time that it was spent on protecting the environment). I debated the issues related to parrots in a series of radio shows at the start of the year. A member of the LA was on the panel also. He stated that the EPF was not available for such purposes, and that it would be a better to change the law to legalise the shooting of parrots.
Until the law is updated, and the political will is present to back it up, both enforcement will remain something we would both like to see more of.
I see you prefer persecution over prosecution. That’s the reason the Conservation bill as it stands has not been passed. Any right thinking individual who reads it can immediately ascertain that the bill has been written by and for extremists looking power to persecute, not for reasonable environmental protection.
Hello Anon
Thank you for pointing out my typo – yes, I did mean "prosecution" not "persecution” – (auto correct is something of a Spanish machete 🙂
I am sorry you think the NCL is unreasonable – you didn't mention which aspects of the bill you take objection to?
Kind regards
To 15.44: For your information the National Trust owns over 3000 acres of land on all three islands, over 2000 of which is in North Side and East End, 250 of which was purchased in 2011.
The Trust pays fair market value for all land purchased and has to raise funds for all its projects including land purchase, as what little it gets from the Government covers less than half of the operating costs.
The National Trust has been "stepping up" for the past 25 years, despite almost universal apathy and in some cases open hostility from many Caymanians and dwindling funding from the Government.
It was through the efforts of the National Trust that the Cayman Parrot was chosen as the National Bird, and our National Symbols are in the school curriculum thanks to the Trust’s education program. The National Trust also owns the Brac Parrot Reserve comprising 281 acres of nesting and foraging habitat for the Cayman Brac Parrot (as well as other birds).
The Government collects an environmental tax from every visitor to these islands to the tune of approximately five million dollars per year, none of which is being used for its intended purpose. A percentage of the annual intake of the Environmental Protection Fund would go a long way to assist the Trust in its job of conserving Cayman.
I would invite anyone who doesn't know what the National Trust does to stop by the office at the Dart Park on South Church Street and get some information, and maybe even get involved. The National Trust is the only NGO charged with preserving our environment and it needs all the help it can get.
Carla Reid
You will find that those who care more about humanity over everything else, have a deep rooted fear in extinction; where as those who see beyond humanity and that humanity is dependent upon everything else for survival, are seen as anti-business, anti-development, anti-society. One group worships the pyramid of ego to null extinction; where as, the other group respect the all inclusive circle of our ecosystem. One group see ego above the eco – the other see ego a mere part of the whole of life. Let us be for the circle of life so that there is harmony and peace. I recall the symbolic storyof the tower of babel, it is symbolic, but symbolism for a reason. Nimrod builds thise huge tower to reach the heaven. Nimrod wanted a one world government that was man-made. He wanted to be like a god and the tower was a tribute to his ego, pride, and glory. But something went wrong. The free masons, which were really slave masons, built a high edifice yet there was no care nor attention to character development. According to the scriptures, Nimrod was a leader of dark ignorance. I could have imagine that there was no care for the environment, they had slaves to do the work, and they worshipped gods other than the true God = Life. Nevertheless, the end result of his work, failed. The tower was eventually destroyed and his plans to be like god as well. Ego dominance is about mankind being god! They have no regard for life and the delicate things of life. Their god is ME and because they place their hearts on themselves, they are human beings living inconstant fear. These developers live in constant fear of not developing, of not growing, of not surviving. Money is life blood to them. They drunken with it. Alluding to the Tower of Babel, another passage in the Bible states clearly to God's people, "come out of her my people… do not drink of her wine" which benumbs the senses and narrows vision. I don't know if you noticed, not only in Christianity but other religions, God's people are always portrayed as people "in the wilderness," people in tune with nature and not against it, children of light and not of darkness. Peace
Where’s the NCL???????? Parrots are protected under law! Anyone who molests, kills or has in their possession should be prosecuted.
But then again we are living in a retarded society where the people that can make a difference dont give a shit.
id fine anyone caught with a cayman parrot in their posession or in a cage. somehow they seem to think its great fun to have one of these beautiful birds cooked up in a tiny cage for years. morons.
Those morons with parrots in their cages are doing more protecting than anyone else, look at the parrots other optioons;
1) live free and get shot by a farmer while eating one of his mangoes
2) live free but then die because your habitat has been flattended to accomodate Dr. Shetty's hospital
Cage seems ok to me.
I think that the people that writes these comments need to get real about the parrots scenario,I am 57 years old i grew up in Bodden Town and I'm very familiar with the eastern districts.The Parrots hatching season is around the same time as our mango season. Most of the young men went to cut parrot nests to get the young parrots. It was a cayman tradition,we fed them until they could feed themselves,we made cages to put them in and they became our pets,for someone to assume that we are morons and that our parrot population will be extinct in a few years is mad. I imagine that these people do not know our culture here in these beautiful islands and they should enjoy what we have had for years and years. If you want to know who is repling to your comments please e-mail me.(and a question for you, who cages all of those canarys,parakeets,love-birds,african parrots and the like,please leave us alone with our cayman parrots) Thanks
Good. They are a nuisance anyway
Some of my fondest childhood memories involve our parrots, specifically in the evenings during summer vacations.
My friends and I would spend the days riding our bikes up and down the roads, running through the dykes, 'jumpin' ramp', playing Nintendo etc. – but the day somehow always ended playing football or some other game in the backyard.
'Swallows' (that's what we called them) would be darting around at low-level to eat the sandflies around us, the ching-chings would have normally disappeared by then, but one thing was guaranteed – a squaking flock of colorful and beautiful parrots before sunset.
For some inexplicable reason those creatures demanded the attention of all present. You heard them before you saw them, and their calls were unmistakable. Everyone stopped what they were doing to cast their eyesto the skies – following their trail, normally eastward, until they disappeared beyond the trees.
Looking back, it felt as if it was the signal that the day was over and it was almost time to head back inside for the night.
I would dread the thought of my grandchildren never being able to share the same experience so I am quite disappointed to hear of these predictions.
That being said though, I have been assured by members of the farming community that the Cayman parrot is by no means near extinction. Apparently, although they are relatively rare today in the inner / urban areas of the island, they are in great abundance in our rural and agricultural areas – much to the despair of many a local farmer.
Such points suggest that there may be an alarmist element to these reports – we can only hope so. In any event, I do believe there is a significant risk and measures should be put in place to protect them. At the same time, a balance has to be struck to take into consideration the plight of our farmers, as local agriculture is also an element of Caymanian culture that requires protection and encouragement.
Nevertheless, I do wish parrot sightings were more commonplace island-wide than is the case today. Unfortunately, this is one of the downsides of 'development' and 'progress'.
Hello Whodatis
I share your keen appreciation of the parrots. Just to give you some extra background – Dr. Rivera-Milan undertakes survey assessments of numerous commercially significant bird species for US Fish and Wildlife Service. His analyses are used to determine sustainable hunting quotes for the United States. It his expertise in this area that encouraged the DoE to approach him to assist in the assessment of our local parrot populations. In fairness to US Fish and Wildlife Service, I doubt that they would employ an “alarmist” in such a senior position.
The reason why parrots are rare in developed areas in Cayman is habitat loss (particularly loss of large trees suitable for housing breeding cavities), combined with a prevalence of exotic landscaping (much of which carries less food than traditional bush or native landscaping). The end result is that areas which are (naturally or artificially) abundant in food tend to attract more parrots from a wider area. So, in short, the farmers you mention are correct too – they probably do see more parrots than ever before – because as natural habitat islost, the fruit in their farms will become more attractive than ever. This is termed a “honey pot effect”. Seeing more parrots in farms is therefore not a useful measure of the overall health of the parrot population, in fact the converse may be true.
There are numerous solutions to the problem, many of which have been touched upon by other commenters. On a large scale, protecting natural areas with large trees suitable for maintaining breeding cavities needs to be done. Individuals can also help by planting fruit trees and native berry-bearing trees (such as red birch) in their yards. I will try to look out some design specs and installation tips for nest boxes, and post them to the DoE website for people interested in building and placing nest boxes on their property. The efforts of individuals, however, can only go so far in isolation. Appropriate development planning and a political will to support the enforcement of protective legislation (current and proposed) is necessary if parrots are to avoid the radical conservation measures which have already been required to save other endemic species from extinction in the Islands.
Kind regards
Hello Matt,
Thank you for that most informative and well-presented bit of feedback.
Your points regarding the "honey-pot effect" are in line with some of my suspicions and make perfect sense.
Hopefully the entire issue surrounding our beloved Cayman parrot will be regarded as paramount in the future so we can safeguard their existence for generations to come.
Personally, I will be keeping an ear out to do whatever I can in this regard. Hopefully, so will the rest of the community.
Thanks again.
Hahahahahaha!!!!!! Huh, huh???????????
We have been building some parrot breeding boxes for Cayman Wildlife Rescue when they were still around and enjoyed a good result but breeding parrots fighting against those who kill or capture them, for whatever reason, is a hard task to do. We have enforceable laws but as noted, none of which are being enforced as usual. Animals, particularly in the wild, do not seem to count and appear not worth saving, hence the disappearance of CWR after so many years. Biological balance as well as eco systems are on that same "who cares" list.
Well, let me tell you this, there are many people who do care but lack the resources to fight against those who do not, mostly because of that lack of interest of enforcement officers. Island Veterinary Services have taken over the care for injured wildlife and floats that on a private donation level and they are doing what they can. Perhaps we could persuade the premier to use some of that nation building fund he has and re-instate CWR to fund the program to help breed and/or rescue all that wildlife not only worth but imperative for our biological balance and eco systems to survive and thrive again in the future. Also a great program to get all the schools involved in and teach all the children the importance of all this. That is what I would call nation building, not just for one but for all.
Good on you. I would (and I'm sure others) appreciate info on the construction of breeding boxes:
Dimensions, mounting, elevation, etc.
It's a good thing you all are doing, and at least a few of us would like to help. I understand about the traditional breeding areas, however that's not necessarily written in stone; parrots migrate in somewhat regular patterns, at least part of the year. Perhaps a pair might elect to mate if they encountered a safe nesting site complete with breeding box?
Nest box dimensions are available on line. They like them up high and far apart.
if you build parrot nesting boxes, rub the interior ceiling with soap or even vasaline before putting them together – this will keep the honey bees from starting a hive in them. Bees getting into bird houses is a big problem – google it.
CNS, do you have any additional information on these nesting boxes? Is there a spec on them as with the National Trust design bat boxes? If we knew the parameters of the idea nesting box, we could build and place them in prime locations. I don't see how it could hurt, particularly on the Sister Islands, where there is still plenty of bush and parrot habitat remaining.
I have homemade bat boxes, and they are occupied. I think many people would do this if we knew what was required.
The ones we built are all in the Botanic park as far as I know, the National Trust should have this all on file, assuming they saved this post the closure of CWR. Or just Google it and see what comes up.
The design is not complicated at all. The hardest part is to get them up in the trees, unlike the bat and owl houses we have built over the years. CUC has always been the company that free of charge put them up. With parrot boxes that would be a bit more complicated as they must be installed in trees whereas bat and owl houses are usuallly atop a utility type pole.
Will just like its people. No care in the world for one another. Lets put back Cayman for Cayman man!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE – Before it's too late, before the numbers are too low,
Put in place a Rescue program for the parrots.
Just like the Blue iguanas have a program, the parrots should too – before its too late.
If everyone would plant a couple of fruit trees and let them have the fruit, it would be a help.
Not fruit. Old dead hollow trees for them to nest in.
Excellent advice, I will go and plant a few "old dead hollow trees" today in my garden
Anyone know where I can get the seeds from?
I am sure that if you are a UDP supporter, all you need to do is say that old dead hollow tree seeds are part of the national heritage, apply to the Nation Building Fund and hey presto a few hundred grand will be coming your way.
When I first came to live in Cayman the parrots were as common around South Sound as the magpie is here in the south of England. I left Cayman last year and I realise now that I didn’t see a single parrot in the last two years. The last parrots I remember seeing were those nesting in the trees at the front of Sunset House.
When I had some work done on my kitchen in 2009 I was told by the fitter that his neighbour, a farmer in North Side, had shot 120 parrots the previous weekend. He wasn’t shocked. He told me about it to illustrate what a good farmer his friend was and what lengths he would go to in order to protect his fruit.
Forty years is very optimistic in my opinion. Once an animal begins to go, the decline accelerates very quickly.
the parrots you saw nesting in front of Sunset house were not cayman parrots which shows how much you know about parrots. They are an invasive species brought here and released by some idiot and ivan was the best thing that happened to them. yes cayman parrots are on a decline however they do breed in captivity so there is an avenue there for replenishment.
maybe the national trust can step up and buy some land for habitat in east end and northside instead of begging people to give it away.
15.44 Just where would the National Trust find the money to buy this property? The Government has slashed its already very limited funding, so it is staffed at a minimum. It can hardly maintain the historic buildings that it's responsible for, they're like a financial millstone. Any money to buy land has to come from private donations. We should all be thankful that there are generous people out there with an appreciation of what Cayman has and is losing so fast.
And to those who think it's okay for us to allow Cayman's national bird to go extinct, a bird that has survived here for 3 million years, well, I feel sorry for you. However, I suspect that the negative comments are just a figurative poke in a wasps' nest, to see how many thumbs-down they can get. I hope so. The alternative is too sad to contemplate.
There is a $40 million dollar "Envirnmental Fund" that our illustrious Government has access too……oops, there was a $40 million dollar………..
That's awful to learn, but what about the "Caymanian" human being? Who is protecting them?
No one can protect the Caymanian human beings from themselves. What ever happens it was meant to be.
Certainly not Mac.
The Caymanians are out killing the last lobster conch and grouper to sell to the restaurants.
Don't forget turtle.
You sure it's only "Caymanians" – or other snorkelers/divers also?
Acutally, during lobster season there are more expats with snares in the water each day than there are Caymanians.
Another moment of hysterical self-pity.
What is a 'Caymanian' anymore??
If there is another group of people on this planet more protected and looked-after than Caymanians I can't imagine who they are.
expat developers.
Prtotecting the Caymanian? Please…
Nation Building Fund? 8,000 on Social Services? 6,000 in Civil Service? 1,500 Northward? 225 on full-ride C+ Average University Scholarships. Let's see: that is over 20% of our local population sucking off government funds!!!
How about raise our children to see HARD WORK, College and Vocational education instead of relying on power hungry-happy Big Mac for a handout? I DID!!! I worked two jobs, went to community college, borrowed money for university and worked hard on my resume in the private sector
My Caymanian Grandparents and Great Grandparents would be simply ashamed of this generation. Young adults go to social services for rent and food FIRST before they look for a job or dare-say wait on a table or take any job less than an air conditioned bank teller position. It is disgraceful. I can only hope these slackers realize that our citizenship allows them better healthcare and social funds on the UK dole and they leave before turing to crime. I cannot even face our younger generation. They disgust me. Entitled and lazy, but it is the parents that taught them this was okay.
Thanks for the nanny state Big Mac, you single-handedly ruined us and laugh all the way to Vegas.
It’s more than sad to read about the Caymanian parrot on Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman. Here I’m working along with saving the Grey Wolves over in Yellowstone park not knowing that my own (Parrot and other animals) need my help as well. I guess not everyone same to understand that we need animals, trees and not just people on this earth to live. Something more need to be put in place to save the animals, please let’s come together and work on saving the parrots and other animals here in the Cayman Islands. I’ve a son just one year old and every morning he love to hear and see the wild parrots that come for breakfast out of our trees. You can look for them from (6) six in morning for half hour then them off. Yes! I’m an animal’s lover, but I also understand that this earth is not only for humans. Let change the law and save the PARROTS and other animals that have the right to this earth.
your post is so funny "the wild parrots that come for breakfast out of our trees" your trees or the parrot's trees which one. unless you are sleeping outside int he trees then you are part of the problem because surely some trees have been cleared to build the dwelling that you occupy
15:48, your post is one of the most retarded things I have ever read on this site.
CNS, can we have a "jackass" button?
Sadly, this experts wisdom and knowlege and his warnings will fall on deaf ears like many others have when it comes to conservation and protection of anything around here. Government is only interested in protecting the almighty dollars they can amass. And some wonder and complain about us protesting…….all things Cayman and Caymanian are disappearing….this is why we protest. Thank you Mr. Rivera-Milan for your efforts and support to preserve our parrots. Wake up Mark Scotland and do something worthwhile for a change. Bring forth a strong Conservation Law and help us protect what little we still have left instead of blaming someone else down the road while you have done NOTHING. SHAME ON Y O U.
I was fortunate enough to have three pet parrots in my life time. Was bitten by all three, but loved it. They were so dear to my heart. The last one I had was because one man pelt his nest out of the tree, and I felt so bad because of it, how he was treating the parrots, so I took of them with no feathers, and I raised that bird. But I noticed it wanted to get out of the cage. It would shake its wings and make noise, so I clip its wings and let the bird. Other wild parrots would fly by and interact with me parrot, but they would bite her. So I knew that she was not able to survive in the wild. One day, someone stole my parrot and I found her in somebody's yard. I took her back. Some days afterwards whilst out of the cage, she flew to the ground. When I came home all I saw was feathers left. Something killed her. I love parrots but I do not condone caging or keeping these birds. They are very sensitive and loving creatures. They should be left in the wild.
Has consideration been given to a" Birdiee Hide out" The government has alot of property, Especially by the Botanic Park. So why cant they build something to house parrots in that they can breed and tourist can go to see them When the "Birdiee Hide out" become over populated then you sell for house pets and let some back to the wild. People never use their heads here for anything other than figure out money. The Cayman parrots are so very beautiful and should not be killed, but farmers have to survive too. So I suggest a "Birdiee Hide out" Save the Parrot and make money too.
The same thing is happening to Caymanians.
Its what happens to anything that eats away itsfood suply without planning on the future.
I haven't heard of any Caymanians getting shot eating mangos while sitting in a tree, but the look in my neighbour's eyes does bear a resemblance.
And another environmental/ cultural issue that streamlines into other areas.
So why is it that Caymanian farmers shoot the birds? Perhaps the parrots are foreshadowing the general extinction of Cayman, as the same careless policy-makers that are allowing the extermination of the parrots are making policies that are exterminating the economic future of Cayman.
It's my observation that, in general, the parrots are much more damaging to local fruits than say, fruit bats. The bats tend to focus upon one fruit and consume it, all of it. Parrots sometimes cut or damage fruits and since they don't "land" on the fruits but peck them, they tend to knock down or otherwise damage several of them.
That's not a justification for shooting parrots, though, imho. I'm not a farmer, but have friends who are. I have used flagging tape and shiny tape to a fair sucess to keep parrots from knocking down my mangoes. Since I often have enough to give away, I don't mind that they take a couple, and I also don't mind picking up and eating the several mangoes that they have pecked and knocked to the ground. My farmer buddies don't seem willing to take any measures to protect their crops. I don't know if they've killed any parrots, but have heard one comment that he'd "better not find out they are good to eat."
Parrots don't bother my papaya, nor naseberry. They hit the ripe almond and ripe sea grape. Not certain what other fruits they might feed on, but either way, I see no justification in the killing of them.
Parrots are — to me — the happy-go-lucky carefree children of the bird world. I like their sound, and I consider it a good morning when I see or hear them. It would be a crisis of supreme human failure if they went extinct due toour inaction.
Man hush about dem damn parrots! Cayman's government subsidised, amateur hobby farmers need to be able to sell enough mangoes to keep their Jamacian, Honduranian and Filipinian $3 an hour labourers employed and off the streets.
Strangely an appeal made fairly recently to the planning board highlighting an area to be developed was the habitat for a large number of parrots was revoked. I don't think anyone really gives a shizz about stuff like that anymore, – well done Mr. Rivera-Milán, it may not be done just yet.
but we are caymankind!………zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Cayman Brac especially, as well as Grand Cayman, are tearing themselves apart. Look at the Shetty Hospital site along the Scenic Coastline at Breakers. Consider the new 430-acre development slated to go next to the Botanic Park. Look at Dart's operations in West Bay. And what about the plans to re-design South Sound, along another area of Scenic Coastline? It's as if Hurricane Ivan released some demon of destruction in these beautuful islands.
I accept we need investment and jobs, but there appear to be no concessions made to the natural environment whatsoever. For example, at the Shetty site, was any thought given to retaining a belt of natural forest alongside the road, or leaving oases of mature trees and integrating them into the landscaped areas? It looks as if the land was treated like a sheet of paper, with no reference to the ancient habitat that was just crushed out of existence. I have to say that Cayman is so far behind the rest of the world in its care of the environment, it's as if they're on a different planet. God-fearing and all that, but no regard for His creation, apparently.
Seriously, who really cares? The farmers have been losing way too many crops. We need food more than we need wild parrots.
Ugh, it's ignorance such as this commentator that has brought us to this situation. Of course once the parrots that are indigenous to Cayman do officially become extinct, I'm sure Lorna will be tweeting a different tune.
Caymunkind
Miss Lorna, I suggest that you may be just repeating a common meme of the people. Yes, parrots are destructive to some fruits, but are mangoes the primary crop of most farmers? I would guess that most of them grow ground crops as their primary source of income (cassava, yam, sweet potato, etc.)
Another thought that occurs to me is that you might be expressing a general dissent about the economy, perhaps even believing that the populace has a disporportionate regard for native animals as opposed to people. If so, I submit to you that both should be nurtured; perhaps those creatures that cannot defend themselves against us, the predominant species, should be given special consideration.
This is not a surly challenge……….. however, I'd be interested in any anecdotal information you might have to support your assertation that "the farmers have been losing way too many crops."