Thai Town Saves Rare Parrots With Homemade Nests

A rare parrot species is making an unexpected comeback in two Thai provinces, thanks to a local tradesman who decided to help.

The white-shouldered ibis parrot, listed as vulnerable, has become surprisingly abundant in Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani. The turnaround started when a local gas-strut specialist began installing artificial nests around a Buddhist temple.

His simple idea worked. The parrots moved in, raised their young, and their numbers grew.

What began as one person's project has blossomed into a grassroots conservation movement. Community members have rallied around protecting the birds, watching over nesting sites and creating safe spaces for the parrots to thrive.

The white-shouldered ibis parrot isn't a common sight in most places. These distinctive birds need specific conditions to survive and reproduce, which makes their urban success story all the more remarkable.

The temple grounds provided an ideal starting point. The peaceful environment and community support created a sanctuary where the vulnerable species could establish itself.

The Ripple Effect

This local conservation win shows how individual action can spark broader change. One person's decision to build a few nests has inspired an entire community to become stewards of wildlife.

The movement has grown beyond just maintaining artificial nests. Residents are now calling for protection of old trees and urban green spaces, recognizing that the parrots need more than nest boxes to survive long term.

The birds still face real challenges. Escaped pet parrots compete for resources, old nesting trees continue to disappear, and urban development shrinks available habitat.

But the community isn't backing down. Their advocacy for protecting urban trees and maintaining green corridors could benefit countless other species while ensuring the parrots' continued success.

The story from Nonthaburi proves that conservation doesn't always require government programs or big budgets. Sometimes it starts with one person who cares enough to act, building something as simple as a wooden box in a tree.

When neighbors see those birds thriving and decide to join the effort, that's when real change takes flight.