Regina Barber

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

Hey, Shortwavers. Regina Barber here with producer Rachel Carlson. Hey, Rachel. Hey, Gina. Okay, welcome again to the show. I love reporting with you.

Hey, Shortwavers. Regina Barber here with producer Rachel Carlson. Hey, Rachel. Hey, Gina. Okay, welcome again to the show. I love reporting with you.

Hey, Shortwavers. Regina Barber here with producer Rachel Carlson. Hey, Rachel. Hey, Gina. Okay, welcome again to the show. I love reporting with you.

Yeah, and historically you could see them from the southwest United States all the way south into Venezuela, and in particular in Mexico's Sierra Madre Mountains, where you might still hear them up high in the old-growth forests. So it's very green.

Yeah, and historically you could see them from the southwest United States all the way south into Venezuela, and in particular in Mexico's Sierra Madre Mountains, where you might still hear them up high in the old-growth forests. So it's very green.

Yeah, and historically you could see them from the southwest United States all the way south into Venezuela, and in particular in Mexico's Sierra Madre Mountains, where you might still hear them up high in the old-growth forests. So it's very green.

A century ago, some residents say those forests were filled with nesting parrots. But over the decades, their habitat has shrunk and their population has plummeted, which is why in 1970 they were listed as endangered.

A century ago, some residents say those forests were filled with nesting parrots. But over the decades, their habitat has shrunk and their population has plummeted, which is why in 1970 they were listed as endangered.

A century ago, some residents say those forests were filled with nesting parrots. But over the decades, their habitat has shrunk and their population has plummeted, which is why in 1970 they were listed as endangered.

But in Monterey, a town in the Sierra Madre, there's a conservation group called OVIS, or Organización Vida Silvestre, Wildlife Organization, that partners with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Ernesto Ankerlin-Hufflach is the director of science there.

But in Monterey, a town in the Sierra Madre, there's a conservation group called OVIS, or Organización Vida Silvestre, Wildlife Organization, that partners with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Ernesto Ankerlin-Hufflach is the director of science there.

But in Monterey, a town in the Sierra Madre, there's a conservation group called OVIS, or Organización Vida Silvestre, Wildlife Organization, that partners with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Ernesto Ankerlin-Hufflach is the director of science there.

Love the name. Yeah. Protecting the thick-billed parrots is kind of the latest step in what's been a longtime interest in conservation that Ernesto inherited from his father.

Love the name. Yeah. Protecting the thick-billed parrots is kind of the latest step in what's been a longtime interest in conservation that Ernesto inherited from his father.

Love the name. Yeah. Protecting the thick-billed parrots is kind of the latest step in what's been a longtime interest in conservation that Ernesto inherited from his father.

On top of the generational change he's making to be a conservationist, Ernesto is also innovating by involving the local community. For almost 30 years, he and his collaborators have been helping to save thick-billed parrots. And it might be working.

On top of the generational change he's making to be a conservationist, Ernesto is also innovating by involving the local community. For almost 30 years, he and his collaborators have been helping to save thick-billed parrots. And it might be working.

On top of the generational change he's making to be a conservationist, Ernesto is also innovating by involving the local community. For almost 30 years, he and his collaborators have been helping to save thick-billed parrots. And it might be working.