The Network

Our Mission

To protect and recover endangered parrot populations in the Americas.

Our Vision

A future in which parrots and its ecosystems thrive and coexist with local communities.

Our Values

INTEGRITY: We act with honesty, sincerity and compassion. We are self-aware, humble, and respectful, holding ourselves to the highest ethical standards.

COMMUNICATION: We encourage and congratulate honest communication founded on the courage to speak openly and honestly, balanced with empathy and support.

TEAMWORK: We seek out shared goals and collaborate to add skills, strength and experience within all teamwork, partnerships, and our broader community. Integral to this is the balance between hard work and fun.

LEADERSHIP: We get things done by inspiring and enabling those around us. We constantly adapt and grow as individuals and as an organisation so we can have the biggest impact.

EXCELLENCE: We feel a responsibility to strive for the best in everything we do. We are professional and proactive; using innovation and evidence to develop strategies and achieve our goals.

why parrots?

Parrots are the most charismatic, intelligent and recognizable of all birds, yet they face numerous threats to their survival. Parrots inspire a sense of awe and wonder, making them ideal flagships for conservation. By saving parrots, we can save entire ecosystems!

the macaw recovery network

MRN’s various Recovery Programs for the parrot species we work with, focus on hands-on conservation to help bring them back from the edge of extinction. However, we recognize that to make a real difference for parrots, we need to collaborate in conservation in cross-border efforts across their range. We see our role as to support our partners and to connect teams in the region with each other as well as with international experts. It is a pivotal time to band together and protect nature, and the many parrot species on the brink of extinction.

In 2018, the Network was founded after nearly a decade working in parrot conservation in Costa Rica. As our focus shifted from a local to a more range-wide approach, the need for a network became apparent. Our Network is professionally staffed by local and international experts and volunteers who work to save and restore parrot populations across the Neo-tropics. Our primary focus is the critically endangered Great Green Macaw – who are in desperate need of our attention due to their rapid population decline.

The Network’s main offices are in San Jose. The Great Green Macaw field team is based from the Sarapiquí Rainforest Reserve, in the province of Heredia. Being in the heart of the Macaw’s range has been proven essential for effective monitoring and management activities. On the North-Pacific coast, Punta Islita is home to our Breeding Center with rescued Scarlet and Great Green Macaws, one of the worlds biggest and most professional breeding programs for conservation purposes. At the same location, we manage the Punta Islita Wild Macaw Reserve which is home to a reintroduced population of Scarlet Macaws. The network conjoins efforts to protect and preserve the Yellow-naped amazon parrot with Equipo Tora Carey in El Jobo, Guanacaste.

The organization’s history includes the development of various re-introduction sites across the country for both species. In previous years nearly 50 Great Green Macaws were released on the southern Caribbean coast in Manzanillo and over 174 Scarlet Macaws were released in Tiskita, Palo Verde, Curu and now Punta Islita. Across all our conservation programs we are constantly fine-tuning our efforts to become an internationally recognized center of excellence.

"The impact of parrot conservation goes far beyond just protecting parrots, it supports entire ecosystems. MRN undertakes great efforts to make that difference."

– Dr. Carl Jones, Scientific Advisor to MRN

  • supporting a network

    The Macaw Recovery Network brings together organizations that are passionate about parrot conservation and interested in the development and sharing of practical knowledge. This collective of wildlife professionals encourages increased capacity through research, training and exchange among conservationists. We believe the recovery of Neo-tropical parrot species across their ranges is only possible when forward thinking individuals and organizations come together to push the boundaries of conservation.

    The Network has established key partnerships and works to add more strategic partners who are tackling the threats Macaws in each country face. As the Network grows, we will work together to develop solutions and effective conservation.

  • Internship programs

    An annual Internship Program was launched in 2016 to formalize practical and theoretical training on in-situ management of Macaws for conservation purposes. This Program is available for partners working on the Great Green or Scarlet Macaw and for Post-Graduates with an interest in pursuing a career in parrot conservation. The program’s curriculum includes management of breeding Macaw pairs and other beneficial skills for running the operations of conservation centers and the management of NGOs. The application deadline for this eight-month program, starting in December, is August 15th of each year.

  • skills development

    The Network serves to improve all areas of our work from wild population management and captive breeding to outreach, governance and accounting. Through our volunteer program, internship and knowledge-share initiatives, we are able to teach and develop these areas as well as introduce other skills that are quickly becoming indispensable in the field of conservation. We do this for the prosperity and success of communities and the natural world, whose dynamic qualities allow us to constantly explore new frontiers.

  • international programs

    Not only do we bring together partners to share knowledge and expertise, but we also lead various programs that, together with these partners, are able to have a range-wide effect.

    – Annual census in collaboration with Great green Macaw partners Centro Cientifico Tropical

Ourrecovery program

Through ongoing research and a team of experts, we have developed the Macaw Recovery Program. Whilst actively working in Costa Rica on best practices regarding these three pillars, we facilitate the exchange of skills and knowledge with partners across the species range.

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Meet theteam

Our dedicated staff daily operations to ensure that our programs run smoothly. Throughout the year, they are joined by dozens of volunteers from around the world. In all areas of our work, our team is continually expanding their knowledge, whether that’s about the birds or conservation.

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become a volunteer

Have a life-changing experience and make a difference for the most charismatic birds of Costa Rica.
Check for positions available and apply today

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