Bill protecting N.J. parrots stalled in Senate committee

Parrots are seen at Memorial Park at the corner of Rt. 5 and River Road in Edgewater on June 4, 2009. Time is running out on a bill to protect the wild monk parakeets that have taken up residence in this urban Bergen County town. For the third time in four years, the parakeet bill has been stalled in Trenton. Image by Ira MachefskyEDGEWATER -- Time is running out on legislation to protect the wild parrots of Edgewater. Again.

Click to read more ...

Vulnerable forest red-tailed black cockatoos released into wild

Flying high, Red-tailed Cockatoo (Calyptorhyncus banksii naso). Image by Sandra WallaceSeven forest red-tailed black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso), which have just been added to the Commonwealth Threatened Species List by Australia, have been released at the Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre in Martin.

Click to read more ...

Costa Rica environmentalists keep up pressure against Crucitas mine

Ruffling feathers: A green macaw mascot demonstrates Wednesday outside the San José court building to protest the controversial Crucitas gold mine project near Costa Rica's border with Nicaragua. A group of environmentalists and concerned citizens gathered in front of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) in San José Wednesday to protest the Crucitas open pit gold mine near the Nicaraguan border.

Armed with a petition to stop the project and a green macaw-costumed mascot, the group cited environmental and social concerns as reasons not to continue the project.

The green macaw is a symbol of conservation for this country, and if the Sala IV wants to keep that image they shouldn't approve this mine, said Luis Diego Marín, coordinator for Preserve Planet and of the protest.

Construction of the mine involves clearing forests in northern Costa Rica. Marín said most of the trees that must be cut for the project are government-protected almond trees, a species on which the endangered green macaws depend on heavily for food.

Click to read more ...

Threatened cockatoos released after time at rehab centre

Image by Marj KibbyJust last week, the forest red-tailed cockatoo were added to the Commonwealth Threatened Species List. Today, seven of those majestic birds were released into the wild after spending time at the Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre in Martin.

Click to read more ...

Seeing red over logging in land of rare parrot

Superb parrot. Image by Stuart HarrisTHE battle to protect the country's largest river red gum forest, home to the threatened superb parrot, will escalate today when the State Government's forestry department outlines logging plans that environmentalists claim are illegal.

Click to read more ...