7One third of the world's nearly 400 species of parrots are threatened with extinction or already close to it. These include some of the most spectacular and iconic bird species on the planet, such as the Hyacinth Macaw from South America, the Kakapo from New Zealand, and the Orange-bellied Parrot from Australia. This book takes a detailed look at 30 parrot species and explains why they are endangered and the steps being taken to conserve them. Many of these chapters include highlights of the author's own time in the field working on and observing conservation projects related to the parrots' survival. These very personal accounts vividly bring to life the problems that parrots are facing.