Worried with the all the threats faced by the blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva), such as its continuous illegal capture and the degradation of its habitat in the Pantanal, Brazil, I begun my studies with this species in 1997, creating the BLUE-FRONTED PARROT PROJECT. The BLUE-FRONTED PARROT PROJECT aims to generate data about the biology and ecology of this parrot that can be helpful for the decisions made about the conservation of this species on its natural habitat. Besides that, the Project wants to raise public awareness to another important aspect: that the uncontrolled capture of this parrot can contribute to its extinction. In this sense, the BLUE-FRONTED PARROT PROJECT works on two directions: 1) scientific research: with actions that aim to identify the situation of this species in the wild, such as nest requirements, reproduction sites, nestling growth and recruitment, and census of the population on their roosting sites; and 2) environmental education: with actions to promote the Project within local residents and tourists where the Project is developed, aiming to stimulate the discussion and reevaluation of action related to environmental issues, in order to encourage the conservation of the blue-fronted parrot and its environment.
The BLUE-FRONTED PARROT PROJECT takes place in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and includes the biomas Pantanal and Cerrado. Currently, the Project has a partnership with five rural properties: Caiman Ecological Refuge, Refúgio da Ilha - Ecologia, Fazenda San Francisco, Fazenda Novo Horizonte, and Fazenda Santo Antonio.

During the past 12 years, many data about the biology and ecology of the blue-fronted parrot was generated by the BLUE-FRONTED PARROT PROJECT. These information and data have been available in different formats, including scientific and non-scientific magazines, chapters of books, and different communication methods. These data include the most frequent number of laid eggs, hatched birds, and individuals that leave the nest. Besides that, the survival rate after reintroduction of seized nestlings is accompanied, monitored by radio telemetry. The current studies of the Project are concentrated on evaluating the environmental requirements for feeding, reproduction, and collective roosting site.
The BLUE-FRONTED PARROT PROJECT is part of the Fundação Neotrópica do Brasil, a non-governmental organization in Mato Grosso do Sul, created on 1993, and worried with the issues related with nature conservation; and is supported by the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, thought the graduate program in Ecology and Conservation. All the activities of the Project would not be possible without the help of my great team, composed by different professionals and field technicians.

The project counts on financial support through donation (either through the blog www.blueparrot.wildlifedirect.org/, or by direct contact [email protected]), sale of products (T-shirts, post cards), and from a few companies worried with the conservation of nature, such as Parque das Aves - Foz Tropicana (www.parquedasaves.com.br), and Caiman Ecological Refuge (www.caiman.com.br/).