In a few months I will be launching the 5th field work season of the project I run (Blue-fronted Parrot Project) and I would like to ask you about the chances of getting financial support from you. Amazona aestiva is an important species from the "pets trading" point of view. Despite recently some market were closed, the Argentine initiative is still working, and for the last year the national authorities approves the harvest of 6,488 Blue fronted Parrots.
The field work season that I am seeking to be supported will be the most important after 5 years of study. We will have the results about chicks’ collection impact on the parrots’ population and also about the biology of this species - which, in spite of the fact of being historically the most traded one, nothing is known about it in our country. In addition, this year a U.S. student will conduct a radio-collars study to determine juvenile survival of Blue fronted Parrots, and an Argentinean student will start a “reproductive biology” study on Blue crowned Parakeets (Aratinga acuticaudata) (7,500 individuals authorized last year).
Unluckily, lots of interests occur in Argentina towards parrots’ harvest and thus it is quite difficult to find grants to support field research. During the last years I've been able to carry out this research due to the kind collaboration of people and organizations that trusted on my project, like yours.
The support I am asking is little. I just need funds to cover the field expenses (food, lodging and transportation) and equipment for the field activities - digital camera, range finders, and data loggers.
Any assistance is welcome, even if it seems tiny; it is the addition of these small collaborations that allows us to go on with parrot research.
Thank you,
Igor Berkunsky
http://www.freeparrots.net/article.php?story=20060805003644747