Belize Bird Rescue (BBR) is an avian rescue and rehabilitation centre in

Belize Belize is a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a maritime boundary with Honduras to the southeast. P ...

. It is a

non-governmental A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an independent, typically nonprofit organization that operates outside government control, though it may get a significant percentage of its funding from government or corporate sources. NGOs often focus ...

and

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

, and is Belize's only multi-species avian rescue and rehabilitation centre. It operates wholly within Belize under license and support from the Government of Belize Forest Department. The main focus of the organisation is the rehabilitation for release of wild-caught psittacines (parrots) liberated from the illegal local pet trade. As of July 2017, Belize Bird Rescue has returned almost 1000 ex-captive parrots to the wild. Additionally, the organisation rescues and rehabilitates injured and orphaned resident and migratory birds of all species, and provides sanctuary or long-term care for non-releasable birds. BBR works in close cooperation with the Government of Belize Forest Department and with other NGOs and non-profit organisations in Belize including the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, Programme for Belize, Belize Bird Conservancy and the Belize Audubon Society. BBR's work includes the rehabilitation of

parrot Parrots (Psittaciformes), also known as psittacines (), are birds with a strong curved beak, upright stance, and clawed feet. They are classified in four families that contain roughly 410 species in 101 genus (biology), genera, found mostly in ...

songbird A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds (Passeriformes). Another name that is sometimes seen as the scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin ''oscen'', "songbird". The Passeriformes contains 5,00 ...

s, raptors and

waterbirds A water bird, alternatively waterbird or aquatic bird, is a bird that lives on or around water. In some definitions, the term ''water bird'' is especially applied to birds in freshwater ecosystems, although others make no distinction from seabi ...

for release. The centre's facilities include multiple specialist and species-specific

aviaries An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds, although bats may also be considered for display. Unlike birdcages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages in ...

, a medical clinic, nurseries and quarantine facilities and food preparation rooms.

History

Origins

BBR was founded in 2004 and is located in the capital city of

Belmopan Belmopan () is the capital city of Belize. Its population in 2010 was 16,451. Belmopan is the smallest capital city in the continental Americas (by population) and the third-largest settlement in Belize, behind Belize City and San Ignacio. Fou ...

. Its founding directors realised a need to assist the Belize Forest Department in providing a rehabilitation centre for confiscated or surrendered avian wildlife during the enforcement of the wildlife laws. The basis of the organisation was to care for and rehabilitate wild-caught psittacines, but became a multi-species rescue centre over the years out of necessity. The organisation was incorporated as a registered non-profit company in Belize in 2014, and received non-governmental organisation status in 2015.

Funding

BBR was initially funded by its founders. Following the award of NGO status in 2015, BBR is funded by private donations, crowd-funding and grants. The annual operating budget is approximately US$125,000.

Priorities and campaigns

Forest Department licence programme

A programme for licensing parrots already in captivity was devised by BBR in conjunction with the Belize Forest Department to provide a mechanism for parrots already in captivity to remain legally with their owners, provided that minimum standards of husbandry and care were followed.

Rehabilitation facility

BBR's facility for the long-term care and rehabilitation of confiscated birds allows the Belize Forest Department to enforce the Wildlife Protection Act. Amazona oratrix -eating in tree-8

Yellow-head hand-rearing project

Endangered yellow-headed amazon (''Amazona oratrix belizensis'') chicks are removed from nests that are sick or injured, in overcrowded nests or in danger of being poached or predated, or suffer from exposure or nest destabilisation. They are hand-reared at the rescue centre until fledged and independent and then soft-released back into monitored and protected release sites to coincide with the following breeding season.

Education and public awareness

The organisation employs several awareness strategies including educational presentations, community outreach programmes, publications, exhibitions and advertising.

References

External links

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Belize Bird Conservancy
{{Sustainability Bird conservation Animal rescue groups Wildlife rehabilitation and conservation centers 2004 establishments in Belize