2025 Bahama Parrot Nest Surveys

This summer, Friends of the Environment partnered with Florida International University to facilitate an internship opportunity for Khori Stubbs to join Demonica Brown on the Abaco Advanced Landscape and Ecosystem Monitoring Project, specifically to study nesting sites of Bahama Parrots. Please read below for an account of their field work.

Written by Khori Stubbs and Demonica Brown 

Abaco is home to one of two breeding populations of Bahama Parrots (Amazona leucocephala bahamensis) in The Bahamas. This population, however, is especially unique since they are the only group of parrots that nest underground opposed to in tree cavities. These parrots select pre-existing limestone cavities within the pine forest of South Abaco in which to lay their eggs and rear their chicks. The Abaco National Park was established in 1994 to protect a large portion of their nesting grounds. Demonica Brown, a graduate research assistant on the Abaco Advanced Landscape and Ecosystem Monitoring Project at Florida International University, is conducting her master’s thesis research on the nesting of these charismatic birds.  

The main aim of this project was to determine the current breeding status and to understand the landscape drivers of nest site selection for the population of Bahama Parrots located on Abaco. Over the past two months, nest site surveys via walking transects have been conducted all over the southern end of the island, including Abaco National Park. Terrestrial LiDAR (light detection and ranging) scans have also been completed of all the nests found, including active nests, old inactive nests, and randomly selected points. These scans will be used to create 3D models of the forest, which can be used in combination with other remote sensing methods to predict suitable nesting sites for the parrots. Overall, 86 transects were completed throughout the duration of this field season; however, only about 13 active nests were found, well below expectations.

Our findings this summer were a bit concerning when compared to the most recent breeding studies by Dr. Caroline Walker on Bahama Parrots about 10 years ago. Pine forests require regular low-intensity fires to clear the understory and forest floor of competing vegetation and litter, allowing for the regeneration of new pines and maintaining a healthy system. Due to the lack of fires in South Abaco in recent years, the understory of the forest has become very overgrown, making it difficult for the parrots to find these cavities. As a result, many of the nest cavities that the parrots used in the past were filled in or covered up with vegetation, making them no longer suitable for the birds to nest in. Though it was not what we hoped to find, it is great to know that these preliminary findings are already being used to inform swift conservation actions by the Bahamas National Trust.  

Khori said: "When I applied for this internship, I originally thought that it would only give me the opportunity to witness firsthand what completing the field portion of my master’s research would look like; however, luckily for me, it was so much more. This internship has provided me with a wide range of knowledge pertaining to the project’s aim but also fostered an environment where I was able to learn about other flora and fauna as well. As someone who strives to contribute to research being done in The Bahamas, I was able to have wonderful conversations with academics and industry professionals who gave me great advice into how I can achieve that goal. Being able to assist on this project, is an experience I will never forget, as it fueled my drive towards academia and cemented my passion towards conservation efforts for native Bahamian species”.

“Collaborating with researchers, species experts, and local organizations – while assisting the Bahamas National Trust in continuing conservation efforts for our own beloved species – has been very fulfilling. I look forward to the outcome of this work and the added benefit it may also have for other endemic species that heavily depend on the pine forest of South Abaco.” ~ Demonica Brown 

This work is done in collaboration with local and international partners, including the Bahamas National Trust, Forestry Unit, Friends of the Environment, FIU GIS Center, and FIU Institute of the Environment. Support was also provided by the USDA Forest Service, U.S. Department of Defense Northern Command, Kimberly Green LACC and Tinker Foundation, Neotropical Birding and Conservation, Wilson Family Foundation with the University of The Bahamas, and Wilson Ornithological Society.