New Census Reveals Three-times More Lilacine Amazon Than Expected

From May 27- 29, 2025, Jocotoco led Ecuador's second national census of the Lilacine Amazon, in collaboration with local partners and communities. Across the provinces of El Oro, Guayas, Manabí, and Santa Elena, the goal was to estimate the current population, track changes in its distribution, and improve long-term conservation strategies.

The result was extraordinary and exceeded all expectations: We counted 4,073 individuals, nearly four times the global population estimate just eight years ago. Our Las Balsas Reserve, a key stronghold for the species, accounted for 3,726 individuals, representing 91% of the world's total. Our results show that there is hope for this critically endangered species. 

The Importance of Roosting Sites

Every night, beginning at dusk, Lilacine Amazons flock together to roost in large trees. They use the same roosting trees repeatedly. These roosts provide a safe place for them to sleep and function as a social gathering space, a place to meet-and-greet. Trees that are large enough to serve as roosting sites are increasingly rare. Those trees are often cut for use as lumber, or they are cleared to make way for pastures. 

Our counts took place at a small number of known roosting sites. While we had high singular estimates in some previous years, this is the first time we could confirm these numbers in a simultaneous global count. 

Technological Innovation

While our counts were done by visual observation, technological innovation helped to confirm our accuracy. We placed video cameras at the roost sites to record flocks of parrots as they flew in together. We developed machine-learning programs that counted Lilacine Amazons recorded on the video. We are now developing a scalable and replicable model for monitoring other threatened species using video cameras and AI for automated identification.

For Lilacine Amazons in particular, many fly in to roost after dark and cannot be counted by eye or with a video camera. We now hope to pilot a system that uses drones, infrared cameras, and AI programs to identify individuals at night, ensuring even more accurate counts at roosting sites. 

This census succeeded thanks to broad collaboration. Field teams monitored key sites in Santa Elena, El Oro, Guayas, and Manabí provinces. Counts were conducted by Jocotoco, Pro-Bosque, and MAATE (Ecuador's environmental ministry). We also received invaluable support from local community organizations in each province.

Building on our existing knowledge and the recent census results, we are enhancing our conservation strategies. Monitoring at our Las Balsas Reserve will continue regularly, though less frequently (once or twice a week). This will allow us to concentrate on finding new roosting sites that are used seasonally. We will also conduct national censuses every three years, adjusting the frequency as we gain a better understanding of the species' behavior and distribution. 

The active involvement of local communities and technical partners will be crucial for sustaining these long-term efforts. The census not only offers evidence of a possible recovery for the Lilacine Amazon but also validates a collaborative, data-driven approach that integrates science, technology, and local leadership.

With your continued support, we can protect this critically endangered parrot and apply these learnings to other vulnerable species. Help us scale this success: safeguarding their survival means protecting nature, healthy ecosystems, and ultimately, the future of life on Earth. Donate today.