Santa Maria Parrot Refuge Survives Flood Thanks to Elevated Aviaries

Heavy rains across Yucatán left a wildlife sanctuary underwater, but the birds remained safe due to recently built elevated facilities.

Proyecto Santa María, a parrot conservation refuge near Hunucmá, found itself under about 50 centimeters (20 inches) of water after intense storms battered the region. The flooding turned the entire facility into what director Pierre Medina Arjona called “a disaster zone.”

The birds escaped harm because they live in new, elevated aviaries that kept them well above the floodwaters. “Now we see the benefit of the tall modules we’ve been building at the refuge,” Medina Arjona said. “The birds are only seeing what happened from above, but they’re fine and without any impact.”

The real challenges fell to the caretakers, who had to wade through the standing water to reach each aviary, deliver food, and monitor the animals. Staff expect the water to take several days to drain naturally through the area’s limestone bedrock.

Proyecto Santa María operates as a Wildlife Management Unit that rescues, rehabilitates, and releases parrots, parakeets, and macaws. The organization has worked since 2011 to combat illegal bird trafficking across the Yucatán Peninsula, where all 22 species of psittacines face some level of extinction risk.

The flooding reflects a pattern of extreme weather that has affected much of Mexico this year. June brought 51% more rainfall than normal across the country, with particularly heavy downpours along the Gulf of Mexico coast and in southeastern states like Yucatán.

Mérida and surrounding areas frequently experience flooding during the rainy season, which runs from May through October. The region’s limestone geology means water doesn’t absorb quickly, and rapid urban development has strained drainage systems. September typically brings the heaviest rainfall, making flooding a recurring concern.

The refuge houses birds seized from illegal traffickers or voluntarily surrendered by people who kept them as pets. Mexico prohibits keeping native parrots as pets, yet the practice remains common. According to Medina Arjona, 8 out of every 10 parrots captured for the pet trade die before reaching buyers.

Recent citizen science monitoring in Mérida identified seven parrot species living in the city, including 3 native species and several that likely escaped from captivity. The white-fronted parrot now lives throughout Mérida, while yellow-cheeked parrots concentrate in the city center and yellow-headed parrots prefer northern and southern neighborhoods.

Proyecto Santa María launched its “Your Love Hurts” campaign last year to discourage people from buying wild parrots. The organization emphasized that demand drives the illegal trade, which threatens species already struggling with habitat loss.

The refuge conducts release programs for birds healthy enough to return to the wild. Each morning and evening at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., rehabilitated parrots take practice flights, with many eventually choosing to leave permanently while others return to the facility that cared for them.

Wildlife trafficking remains a serious problem across the peninsula. Poachers often raid nests during breeding season to steal chicks and eggs. The endemic Yucatecan parrot faces particular pressure, as it exists nowhere else in the world.

The organization also collaborates with Mérida’s city government on urban parrot monitoring programs. Volunteers track bird behavior and populations to develop conservation strategies, including protections for nesting areas and guidelines for tree trimming.

Flooding at conservation facilities highlights the challenges wildlife organizations face during extreme weather events. While the elevated aviaries protected the birds, the incident underscores the need for climate-resilient infrastructure at rescue facilities.

The refuge will assess drainage improvements as floodwaters recede. Meanwhile, staff continue their daily routines of feeding and monitoring the birds, even if it means splashing through temporary lagoons.