Local bird enthusiast Andy Narine with the rescued toucans.

FOUNDER member of Guyana Amazon Tropical Birds Society (GATBS), Mr. Andy Narine said Tuesday that the Private Sector can play an important role in the protection and conservation of this country’s unique species in an effort to boost tourism.

In keeping with this position, he told the Guyana Chronicle that his organisation recently received support from Daggers Tours, on Sloth Island, along Essequibo River, to release three juvenile toucans – a Chanel Bill and two White-throated ones, which were rescued.

Expressing thanks for the gesture, Narine said GATBS was able to rescue the young birds with the help of Ms. Syaeda Manbodh, of Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA), who donated food for the toucans.

He said GATBS would, usually, carry out surveys and do inventories for tourism companies while promoting its own conservation and related activities.

We looked to choose specific areas that have not only the food source but where there will be adult birds able to train and bring up the young ones,” Narine explained.

He said GATBS did a survey last year in Sloth Island, which spawns 160 acres next to Baganara Island.

According to him, Daggers Tours has been promoting tourism over the years and its location suits the toucans because it has the suitable food source, adult toucans and a breeding ground for them.

Releasing young birds is not just about releasing them back into an area. Because these birds are very young, they need to learn the communication notes between adults and juveniles, so they need to get back into areas where adults can sing and they can learn,” Narine said, noting it would help them to communicate and, importantly, find mates.

He said the island has many species of birds but toucans are important to the area and people are willing to keep them for a couple of months until they mature.

Narine said the birds will take about four months to grow their adult feathers and fly and the young ones need to be in areas where eco-tourism is supported.

ENTHUSIASTIC
He said the staff on Sloth Island is very enthusiastic about helping and the toucans there are very “fun and friendly” and “more domestic”.

So it is very important to have persons to support these activities, not only by promoting tourism but being able to care for the birds at the same time.

It is important to release the birds for the Private Sector to play a part in tourism and be more environmentally friendly and conservation friendly with the species around them,” Narine elaborated.

He said staffers on the island can now share their experiences with visitors.

As it is very expensive to keep the birds for a whole year, it is very important for the Private Sector to not only take the foster birds from GATBS but care for them and help to release them, maintaining a mutual relationship, Narine said.

He explained that the birds were under the society’s care for about two and a half weeks before being sent to Sloth Island where everybody is enthusiastic.

Narine said other people can assist conservation in the area and play a part in the environment by helping the society, which was formed in 2002, release the birds.

It is helping to be a part of birding tourism and protecting the species at the same time,” he remarked, exhorting the Private Sector to become more involved in supporting the protection of the species in their habitat.

Interested persons can contact the group at telephone # 225-2190 or email at guyanabirds_society@yahoo.com.

Narine, a past President of GATBS, has been raising awareness and appreciation for the birds in Guyana, over the years and is now promoting/marketing his tour company, Guyana Feather Friends (GFF).