In 2019, James Sheppard, a scientist at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA), set out to track endangered thick-billed parrots using tiny satellite backpacks. Despite doubts from colleagues and a vendor, who feared the parrots would rip the transmitters off, the project has been a success. In the four years since, SDZWA and its partner Organización Vida Silvestre (OVIS) have deployed the backpacks on 57 parrots, collecting over 71,000 data points that have revealed key migration patterns and crucial habitats.
This data has helped secure the creation of 43 new protected areas in Mexico, including a sanctuary covering 418 hectares of parrot breeding and nesting habitat. The trackers have also aided in a population survey showing a 10% increase in the parrots’ numbers. While the parrots’ natural range once extended into the U.S., today they are confined to Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, where illegal logging has caused habitat loss. The data from the satellite backpacks has been instrumental in making informed conservation decisions and advocating for the protection of these birds and their ecosystems.
The solar-powered backpacks weigh just 9 grams, the same as a pair of Apple AirPods, and use GPS and Argos satellite systems to track the birds’ movements. This groundbreaking research is helping to protect not only the thick-billed parrots but also other species like pumas, skunks, and bobcats that share their habitat.
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