As you may be aware, 50% of the profit from your stay at the Hibiscus Hotel goes toward Belize Bird Rescue conservation, education and rehabilitation projects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2004 Belize Bird Rescue (BBR) began operating as a parrot rescue centre. Since then the facility has grown to accommodate any indigenous bird species although the primary focus remains with the unfortunate psittacines: victims of the illegal pet trade in Belize.

 

Parrots that come to BBR may have already endured years in captivity or are chicks that have been taken from the nest by poachers. Some are Belize Forest Department confiscations and some surrendered by bird owners who can no longer cope with their bird. Once at the centre, we begin the long process of rehabilitation by giving them the opportunity to gain the skills necessary to return to the wild.

 

Often the birds have physical inadequacies: malnourishment, badly clipped wings, poor feather condition, and most of the time they have severe behavioural and psychological disorders. Rectifying these problems can take anything from 12 - 36 months depending on the severity of the damage and the age of the bird.

 

On average the facility has 40 to 50 birds at any one time. Non-parrot patients include owls, hawks, passerines, toucans and galiforms.

 

A pre-flight aviary costs around $1,500US and houses up to 6 birds. A flight aviary can run to  around $5,000 -$8,000US and will accommodate around 25 birds. Smaller cages for quarantine, isolation and recovery can cost anything from $500 to $1000US. Once a flock is established in a flight aviary it is impractical, and counter-productive to introduce more birds into the territory, therefore expansion and the funding to do so is a key issue for BBR. Not to mention that the daily feed bill can exceed $15US - and that’s without any visiting carnivores!

 

 

Belize Bird Rescue works closely with the Government of Belize, World Parrot Trust,  Belize Wildlife Conservation Network, Belize Audubon Society and other conservation organisations in Belize.