Rachel Carlson

Later, Ernesto found that woman's daughter. She'd been a kid when the first deal was signed, and almost three decades later, she was now a leader of the ejido, the local communal lands, and was in charge of renewing the contract to protect the forest.

Later, Ernesto found that woman's daughter. She'd been a kid when the first deal was signed, and almost three decades later, she was now a leader of the ejido, the local communal lands, and was in charge of renewing the contract to protect the forest.

Later, Ernesto found that woman's daughter. She'd been a kid when the first deal was signed, and almost three decades later, she was now a leader of the ejido, the local communal lands, and was in charge of renewing the contract to protect the forest.

Nadine says these artificial nests, or bird boxes, can help these breeding couples that almost all mate for life. Aww.

Nadine says these artificial nests, or bird boxes, can help these breeding couples that almost all mate for life. Aww.

Nadine says these artificial nests, or bird boxes, can help these breeding couples that almost all mate for life. Aww.

Nadine told me they have trained climbers go up the trees and then use a rope and pulley system to bring these boxes up high.

Nadine told me they have trained climbers go up the trees and then use a rope and pulley system to bring these boxes up high.

Nadine told me they have trained climbers go up the trees and then use a rope and pulley system to bring these boxes up high.

He called it plasticity. So if they don't have pine trees, maybe they'll move to aspen trees and use smaller pine cones from younger trees.

He called it plasticity. So if they don't have pine trees, maybe they'll move to aspen trees and use smaller pine cones from younger trees.

He called it plasticity. So if they don't have pine trees, maybe they'll move to aspen trees and use smaller pine cones from younger trees.

Scientists think this is another reason why the thick-billed parrot numbers are increasing. Which takes us back to our big point here. The birds are having babies and they're doing okay. And the researchers know this, in part, because they're tracking the birds with these tiny solar-powered backpacks. I love this part.

Scientists think this is another reason why the thick-billed parrot numbers are increasing. Which takes us back to our big point here. The birds are having babies and they're doing okay. And the researchers know this, in part, because they're tracking the birds with these tiny solar-powered backpacks. I love this part.

Scientists think this is another reason why the thick-billed parrot numbers are increasing. Which takes us back to our big point here. The birds are having babies and they're doing okay. And the researchers know this, in part, because they're tracking the birds with these tiny solar-powered backpacks. I love this part.

James Shepard is the lead researcher behind this effort. He's a senior scientist at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. And he's been in the field putting the backpack trackers on the birds. And it's been a big help in their counting efforts. But people weren't really sold on this idea at first.

James Shepard is the lead researcher behind this effort. He's a senior scientist at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. And he's been in the field putting the backpack trackers on the birds. And it's been a big help in their counting efforts. But people weren't really sold on this idea at first.

James Shepard is the lead researcher behind this effort. He's a senior scientist at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. And he's been in the field putting the backpack trackers on the birds. And it's been a big help in their counting efforts. But people weren't really sold on this idea at first.

I mean, a can opener for a face is pretty metal, but James wanted to try this idea anyway. So he came up with a plan to make these tiny tracking backpacks, literally backpacks. They have little straps and everything, but they don't bother the parrots, and they're even designed to fall off after a couple years.

I mean, a can opener for a face is pretty metal, but James wanted to try this idea anyway. So he came up with a plan to make these tiny tracking backpacks, literally backpacks. They have little straps and everything, but they don't bother the parrots, and they're even designed to fall off after a couple years.