Our post this month takes us to three countries in southern and east Africa – Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia. The lovebirds of this region are often described as the “white eye-ring” species. These colourful diminutive parrots are among the most popular pet birds, yet their lives in the wild still hold many secrets. Three of these species (Black Cheeked, Nyasa, Fischer’s) are also classified as Threatened or Near-threatened by the IUCN Red List.
A New Conservation Quest
The World Parrot Trust’s (WPT) Lovebird Conservation Program works to protect these wild lovebird populations; investigating the impacts of hybridisation, getting to grips with the root causes of why they are persecuted in some areas and valued in others, educating communities, and installing nest boxes to mitigate habitat loss.
Recent field work has been building a better picture of the current distribution of these species, but there are concerning indications that lovebirds are absent from many areas shown in the range maps relied upon by conservationists. However, there are also reasons for hope.
Tantalizingly, the team has uncovered reports of lovebirds occurring far outside the existing recorded ranges. One of these populations lies in a little-studied area where multiple reports from the 1980s and 1990s suggest a lovebird resembling the Nyasa lovebird may occur. If confirmed, this provides new hope for the species and may shine light on the evolutionary origins of this special group of parrots.
In 2025, the World Parrot Trust will conduct expeditions to western and southeastern Tanzania to learn more about these “lost lovebird” populations, with great hopes to find them! This month’s Lafeber donation goes to support this new effort.
thank you for supporting this worthwhile initiative.
our own Fischer, Sydney, was very happy to hear about this plan!
My sweet Guapo, a peach-faced lovebird, was with me until the age of 14. He passed last May.
Thank you for this vitally important work.
It wouldn’t be much, but please email a donation link if there’s a fund to assist in the wild lovebird’s conservation… in Guapo’s memory.
Jessica
I think this is wonderful news, hopefully the expeditions can find more groups/flocks of these beautiful parrots and someday they will be flourishing in many areas to come!
Hi Jessica, so sorry to hear about Guapo! This is the donation link, just specify that it is for the “Lost Lovebirds of Africa.” I am sure the WPT will appreciate your support! Ann
https://parrots.org/donate/
Hi Ann! Thank You for this info. My first lovebird and bird was a spunky black masked left at an animal shelter some 40 years ago! Captain sparked my love for parrots. My next and current lovebird is Clover (aka Peach) was walking down the streets of Chicago and gladly went to a chicago bird collision volunteer. He is easily the best birdy ever and approximately 15 years old. Last but not least recently took in a family give up who they referred to as Pitbull. She was a lovely little fischers’ lady who I renamed Lela, a name common in her native land. Unfortunately, she succumbed to severe kidney disease not long after. But her little spirit lives on…would love to donate in her memory for this project…Mary