The Nido Adoptivo™ El Beni-Factors
In 2006, Laney Rickman, founder of Bird Endowment, conceived the idea for the Nido Adoptivo (adopted nest) annual fundraising campaign in partnership with Asociación Armonía in Bolivia as an in situ “Saving the Blues” Program. Laney designated nest box sponsors as"El Beni-Factors," a clever play on words: benefactors donating to save the Blue-throated Macaw from extinction in "The Beni" - this critically endangered bird's native range in Bolivia.
Nido Adoptivo aims to increase the annual reproductive output of the Blue-throated Macaw wild population through a nest site supplementation strategy, utilizing nest boxes attached to trees.
The successes of Nido Adoptivo are demonstrated by the 128 BTM hatchlings that have fledged from the nest boxes as of 2023 since the project started. In 2017, for the first time, parent birds that both had fledged from these nest boxes in prior years, returned to nest and raised a chick, a big milestone for the project.
In addition to the costs of the materials to build the boxes, Bird Endowment’s annual fundraising supports fieldwork to locate and establish appropriate nesting areas where wild breeding pairs will accept artificial nest boxes.
Sponsors of nest boxes for breeding seasons
2007-2008 through 2017-2018 are listed below.
For breeding season 2018-2019, all donations went directly to the Laney Rickman Blue-throated Macaw Fund
Nest box sponsors for subsequent years are listed here
The 2017-18 El Beni-Factors™
Katy Secor, Massachusetts
Brenton Head, Hope Valley, Australia
Avalon Aviary / Susanne Cochran, Colorado
Avalon Aviary / Susanne Cochran, Colorado
Barbara Heidenreich / Barbara's Force Free Animal Training, Texas
Barbara Heidenreich / Barbara's Force Free Animal Training, Texas
South Bay Bird Society, California
Peninsula Caged Bird Society & East Wings Freeflight Club, Virginia
Peninsula Caged Bird Society & East Wings Freeflight Club, Virginia
Peninsula Caged Bird Society & East Wings Freeflight Club, Virginia
Wyld’s Wingdom, Virginia
The Los Angeles Zoo, California
The Los Angeles Zoo, California
The Los Angeles Zoo, California
The Los Angeles Zoo, California
The Los Angeles Zoo, California
The Los Angeles Zoo, California
The Los Angeles Zoo, California
The Los Angeles Zoo, California
Pet Bird Association of Virginia & East Wings Freeflight Club, Virginia
Pet Bird Association of Virginia & East Wings Freeflight Club, Virginia
Raleigh Durham Caged Bird Society
Raleigh Durham Caged Bird Society
Raymond Hart, Pet Bird Association of Virginia & East Wings Freeflight Club, Virginia
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Gateway Parrot Club of St. Louis, Missouri
Gateway Parrot Club of St. Louis, Missouri
Parrot Resource Centre, British Columbia, Canada
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Alicia McLaughlin, DVM, Washington
Roger O'Connell, Massachusetts
Jennifer White, North Carolina
Feathered Playpen / Debbie Perrin, Ohio
Karen C. Justice, North Carolina
2017-18 In Honor Of
Blu Lu, by Barbara Heidenreich / Barbara's Force Free Animal Training, Texas
Dinwiddie High School, by the Irvin Family, Virginia
Dinwiddie High School, by the Irvin Family, Virginia
Mille, by Jim and Ginger Payant, Utah
Beamer Blues, by Buddy and Judy Waskey, Virginia
Michael Braun’s 40th birthday, by Simon Bruslund, Germany
2017-18 In Memoriam
Arlene Powers, by "The Blues”, Arizona
Santana Malowski, by "The Blues", Ohio
Ruth O'Connell by Roger O'Connell, Massachusetts
Cheeko, by Karen C. Justice, North Carolina
The 2016-17 El Beni-Factors™
Katy Secor, Massachusetts
Brenton Head, Adelaide, Australia
Carol Houlihan, East Wings Freeflight Club, Peninsula Caged Bird Society, Virginia
Pet Bird Assoc. of VA, Parrots Breeders Assoc. of VA, East Wings Freeflight Club, Virginia
Kelley Story, Pet Bird Assoc. of VA, East Wings Freeflight Club, Virginia
Laurel Rohrer, Virginia
Peninsula Caged Bird Society, East Wings Freeflight Club, Virginia
Peninsula Caged Bird Society, East Wings Freeflight Club, Virginia
Peninsula Caged Bird Society, East Wings Freeflight Club, Virginia
Parrot Resource Centre, Alberta, Canada
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Anne Lyon, Arkansas
Barbara Heidenreich / Barbara's Force Free Animal Training, Texas
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
John Brasaemle, Colorado
Kitty Harvill, Curitiba, Brazil
Dema Clark, Arkansas
Ellyn Lentz, New York
Marion Schön, Saarland, Germany
Grace Innemee, Leiden, Netherlands
Mike Keens / Jungle Toys, California
Arizona Seed Crackers Society, Arizona
Roger O'Connell, Massachusetts
Jan Schottenloher, Florida
Mary Ellen LePage California
Avitech Exotic Birds, California
Avitech Exotic Birds, California
Avitech Exotic Birds, California
Avitech Exotic Birds, California
Jennifer White, North Carolina
Avian Conservation & Education Corp / Gabriele Alexander, Colorado
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Ohio
Minnesota Companion Bird Association, Minnesota
Birblr, The Bird Blogging Community on Tumblr
Birblr, The Bird Blogging Community on Tumblr
Raleigh Durham Caged Bird Society, North Carolina
Evan Ogawa, Marian Goldeen and Rachel Goldeen, California
Parrots of the Hills Bird Club, Arizona
2016-17 In Honor Of
Blu Lu, by Barbara Heidenreich / Barbara's Force Free Animal Training, Texas
Mille, by Jim and Ginger Payant, Utah
Beamer Blues, by Judy and Buddy Waskey of East Wings Freeflight Club, Virginia
Buddy Waskey, by Quaker Parakeet Society, Missouri
J. E. J. Moore Middle School, by Andrades International Restaurant, Virginia
J. E. J. Moore Middle School, by Duct Cleaners of Richmond, Virginia
2016-17 In Memoriam
Santana Malowski, by "The Blues", Ohio
Donna Bumgarner, by East Wings Free Flight Club, North Carolina
Peggy Sanford and Dot Slator, by Andy Sanford, Texas
Dr. Al DeCoteau, by Roger O'Connell, Massachusetts
The 2015-16 El Beni-Factors ™
Katy Secor, Massachusetts
Eva Dicker, California
Claire Dicker, California
Brenton Head, Adelaide, Australia
Laurel Rohrer, Virginia
Memphis Zoo Chapter AAZK (American Association of Zookeepers), Tennessee
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Earth Limited @ Southwick’s Zoo, Massachusetts
Amanda Lafond, New York
April Hoera, New York
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Sacramento Zoo Conservation Fund, California
Earlene (Elle) Douglas, Nevada
Tomi Takemoto, Animal Lovers, California
Arizona Seed Cracker Society, Arizona
Kathryne Thorpe, California
Jennifer White, North Carolina
Avitech Exotic Birds, California
Avitech Exotic Birds, California
Avitech Exotic Birds, California
Avitech Exotic Birds, California
American Federation of Aviculture, Texas
Roger O'Connell, Massachusetts
Northwest Exotic Bird Society, Washington
J. E. J. Moore Middle School Hurricanes, Virginia
Avian Conservation & Education Corp / Gabriele Alexander, Colorado
Birblr, The Bird Blogging Community on Tumblr
Cleveland Parrot Education & Adoption Center, Ohio
Cleveland Parrot Education & Adoption Center, Ohio
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Ohio
John Brasaemle, Colorado
Arlene Powers, Arizona
Parrot University, North Carolina
Avalon Aviary / Susanne Cochran
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, Florida
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, Florida
Go Blue Challenge
East Wings Freeflight Club, Pet Birds Association of Virginia, Kelley Story, Virginia
South Bay Bird Society, California
2015-16 In Honor Of
Blu Lu, by Barbara Heidenreich / Barbara's Force Free Animal Training, Texas
Mille, by Jim and Ginger Payant, Utah
2015-16 In Memoriam
Dr. Robert Stonebreaker, by a Parrot Lover, California
Peggy Sanford and Dot Slator, by Andy Sanford, Texas
Santana Malowski, by "The Blues", Ohio
Cheeko, by Karen C. Justice, North Carolina
The 2014-15 El Beni-Factors™
Katy Secor, Massachusetts
Jennifer White, North Carolina
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Ohio
Eva Dicker, California
Claire Dicker, California
Daina Mahone, Texas
Laurel Rohrer, Kandahar Airfield
Cleveland Parrot Education & Adoption Center, Ohio
Avitech Exotic Birds, California
Avitech Exotic Birds, California
Avitech Exotic Birds, California
Avitech Exotic Birds, California
Andy Sanford, Texas
Byron Bointy, Texas
Kathryne Thorpe, California
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, Florida
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, Florida
Roger O'Connell, Massachusetts
Brenton Head, Adelaide, Australia
Feathered Playpen / Debbie Perrin, Ohio
Arlene Powers, Arizona
Arizona Seed Cracker Society, Arizona
Northwest Exotic Bird Society, Washington
Gabriele, DeAnn and Jeremy Alexander, Colorado
Adele Vessey, Pennsylvania
Parrot University, North Carolina
Bolivar the BTM, Pennsylvania
South Bay Bird Society, California
2014-15 In Honor Of
Mille, by Jim and Ginger Payant, Utah
West Wings Free Flight Club members Ray, Rey and Neena, by Connie English, California
Al Amador Family, of The Table Group, by Connie English, California
Robin Shewokis, by Melanie Allen-Lowrey, Florida
Blu Lu, by Good Bird Inc. / Barbara Heidenreich, Texas
2014-15 In Memoriam
Santana Malowski, by "The Blues", Ohio
Dr. Robert Stonebreaker, by a Parrot Lover, California
Icarus, by Randy Collins and Barbara Citko, Washington
Shawn Mallory, by Avicultural Society of Tucson, Arizona
Kay Anderson, by Avicultural Society of Tucson, Arizona
Fantasy and Prophecy, by Beamer Blues, Texas
Cheeko, by Karen C. Justice, North Carolina
The 2013-14 El Beni-Factors™
Katy Secor, Massachusetts
Brenton Head, Adelaide, Australia
Jennifer White, North Carolina
Bolivar the BTM, Pennsylvania
South Bay Bird Society, California
Alan and Karen Rossi, Colorado
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Ohio
Arizona Seed Cracker Society, Arizona
Roger O'Connell, Massachusetts
Janice Boyd, Texas
Northwest Exotic Bird Society, Washington
Eva Dicker, California
Claire Dicker, California
Parrot University, North Carolina
Parrots of the Hills Bird Club, Arizona
Adele Vessey, Pennsylvania
Laurel Rohrer, Kandahar Airfield
Gabriele Alexander and Leland & Zyanna Simmons, Colorado
Covenant Parrot Place/John Fisher & Kelle Baley, Utah
2013-14 In Honor Of
Blu Lu, by Good Bird Inc. / Barbara Heidenreich, Texas
Mille, by Jim and Ginger Payant, Utah
2013-14 In Memoriam
Icarus, by Randy Collins and Barbara Citko, Washington
Shawn Mallory, by Avicultural Society of Tucson, Arizona
Fantasy and Prophecy, by Beamer Blues, Texas
Cheeko, by Karen C. Justice, North Carolina
Kay Anderson, by Avicultural Society of Tucson, Arizona
Dr. Robert Stonebreaker, by a Parrot Lover, California
The 2012-13 El Beni-Factors™
Katy Secor, Massachusetts
Brenton Head, Adelaide, Australia
Roger O'Connell, Massachusetts
Good Bird Inc. / Barbara Heidenreich, Texas
Chirping Central / Mary Rose, Arizona
Cleveland Parrot Education & Adoption Center, Ohio
Parrot University, North Carolina
Covenant Parrot Place, Colorado
Tina Arntsen, Norway
Lisa Johnson, Arizona
Margo Rose, California
Bolivar the BTM, Pennsylvania
Northwest Exotic Bird Society, Washington
Northwest Exotic Bird Society, Washington
Jennifer White, North Carolina
Arizona Seed Crackers Society, Arizona
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Ohio
South Bay Bird Society, California
2012-13 In Honor Of
Mille, by Jim and Ginger Payant, Utah
Blu Lu, by Good Bird Inc. / Barbara Heidenreich, Texas
Melanie Allen-Lowrey, by The Leather Elves / Robin Shewokis, Massachusetts
2012-13 In Memoriam
Icarus, by Randy Collins and Barbara Citko
Cheeko, by Karen C. Justice, North Carolina
Fantasy and Prophecy, by Beamer Blues, Texas
Carol Brasaemle, by Rocky Mountain Society of Aviculture, Colorado
Carol Brasaemle, by Rocky Mountain Society of Aviculture / Eric Nelson, Colorado
Carol Brasaemle, by Rocky Mountain Society of Aviculture / Gabriele Alexander, Colorado
The 2011-12 El Beni-Factors™
Katy Secor, Massachusetts
Roger O'Connell, Massachusetts
Northern Illinois Parrot Society, Illinois
Adele Vessey, Pennsylvania
Eva Dicker, California
Claire Dicker, California
Brenton Head, Adelaide, Australia
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Ohio
Lisa Johnson, Arizona
Parrot University, North Carolina
Arizona Seed Crackers Society, Arizona
South Bay Bird Society, California
Jana Julleis, Arizona
Bolivar the BTM, Pennsylvania
Covenant Parrot Place, Colorado
Janice Boyd, Texas
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Florida
The Beak Squad, California
The Beak Squad, California
Kathryne Thorpe, Virginia
Cleveland Parrot Education & Adoption Center, Ohio
Jennifer White, North Carolina
Rocky Mountain Society of Aviculture, Colorado
Margo Rose, California
San Francisco Bay Area Zookeepers, California*
San Francisco Bay Area Zookeepers, California*
San Francisco Bay Area Zookeepers, California*
San Francisco Bay Area Zookeepers, California*
San Francisco Bay Area Zookeepers, California*
(*American Association of Zookeepers, Bay Area Chapter)
2011-12 In Honor Of
Laney Slator Rickman, by Malcolm, Dorothy, Audrey and Andrew Paterson, Texas
2011-12 In Memoriam
Dick Williams, by Blue-throated Macaw Yahoo GroupCheeko, by Karen C. Justice, North CarolinaDr. Robert Stonebreaker, by a Parrot Lover, California
The 2010-11 El Beni-Factors™
Good Bird Inc., Texas
Katy Secor, Massachusetts
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Ohio
Compassion for Critters Club at Pasco-Hernando Community
College, Florida
Lisa Johnson, Arizona
Brenton Head, Adelaide, Australia
Arizona Seed Crackers Society, Arizona
Rigoletto Kayla Grasso, New York
The Beak Squad, California
Mark Moore, Texas
Roger O'Connell, Massachusetts
Royal Parrot Conservatory, Texas
Royal Parrot Conservatory, Texas
Royal Parrot Conservatory, Texas
Royal Parrot Conservatory, Texas
Royal Parrot Conservatory, Texas
South Bay Bird Society, California
Eva Dicker, California
Claire Dicker, California
Edward Landry, California
Jana Julleis, Arizona
Parrot University, North Carolina
Jennifer White, North Carolina
Bolivar the BTM, Pennsylvania
Rocky Mountain Society of Aviculture, Colorado
Jim and Ginger Payant, Utah
Janice Boyd, Louisiana
David and Sandy Mauer, Texas
Richard Heebner, Pennsylvania
Cleveland Parrot Education & Adoption Center, Ohio
2010-11 In Honor Of
Wedding Gift (1) to Jean and Roy Rub, New York
Wedding Gift (2) to Jean and Roy Rub, New York
2010-11 In Memoriam
Dr. Robert Stonebreaker, by a Parrot Lover, California
Fantasy and Prophecy, by Beamer Blues, Texas
George Waltemyer, by Robin Shewokis, Massachusetts and Barbara Heidenreich, Texas
Cheeko, by Karen C. Justice, North Carolina
The 2009-10 El Beni-Factors ™
Katy Secor, Massachusetts
Gamini and Lisa Ratnavira, California
Jennifer White, North Carolina
Wayne Rankin, Nevada
Wayne Rankin, Nevada
France Archambault and Calvin Embry, Texas
Susanne Cochran, Colorado
Companion Bird Club of Charlotte County, Florida
Companion Bird Club of Charlotte County, Florida
Arizona Seed Crackers Society, Arizona
Rigoletto Kayla Grasso, New York
Arthur Field, California
Tomi Takemoto, Animal Lovers, California
South Bay Bird Society, California
Parrot University, North Carolina
Eva Dicker, California
Claire Dicker, California
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Stonebreaker, California
Bolivar the BTM, Pennsylvania
France Archambault and Calvin Embry, Texas
Brenton Head, Adelaide, Australia
South Bay Bird Society, California
Lisa Johnson, Arizona
2009-10 In Memoriam
Cheeko, by Karen C. Justice, North Carolina
Fantasy and Prophecy, by Beamer Blues, Texas
Mr. Van Zandt of Cincinnati Zoo, by The Blues Conservatory
Great-grandfather Charles Dromgoole, by Ian Fisher, Texas
Great-grandfather Charles Dromgoole, by Gavin Fisher, Texas
The 2008-09 El Beni-Factors™
Katy Secor, Massachusetts
Jennifer White, North Carolina
Wayne Rankin, Nevada
Wayne Rankin, Nevada
France Archambault and Calvin Embry, Texas
Blue-throated Macaw Yahoo Group/ Jim P
Noelle Fontaine, Arizona
Susanne Cochran, Colorado
Vicki Baiamonte, Texas
Eva Dicker, California
Claire Dicker, California
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Stonebreaker, California
Lisa Johnson, Arizona
Jennifer White, North Carolina
Parrot University, North Carolina
Daina Mahone, Texas
Margo and Randy Rose
Kathryne Thorpe, Virginia
Bolivar the BTM, Pennsylvania
PEAC-Cleveland, Ohio
Katy Secor, Massachusetts
Janice Boyd, Louisiana
Wendy's Parrots, Texas
Gamini and Lisa Ratnavira, California
Mark and Daina Mahone, Texas
Mark and Daina Mahone, Texas
Rocky Mountain Society of Aviculture, Colorado
Westech Mechanical, Colorado
Brenton Head, Adelaide, Australia
Rigoletto Kayla Grasso the BTM, New York
Jana Julleis, Arizona
Arizona Seed Cracker Society, Arizona
Avicultural Society of Tucson, Arizona
Uselton Family Foundation, Texas
Uselton Family Foundation, Texas
Uselton Family Foundation, Texas
Uselton Family Foundation, Texas
2008-09 In Memoriam
Giselle, by Blue-throated Macaw Yahoo Group/Steve K
Harry Heidenreich, by Good Bird Inc., Texas
Cheeko, by Karen C. Justice, North Carolina
Lin Jellenik, by Blue-throated Macaw Yahoo Group/ Rick G
The 2007-08 Nido Adoptivo™ Founders
Bird Endowment committed to fund a minimum of 20 nest boxes to be erected in Bolivia for the 2007-08 breeding season. The response to our request for help exceeded that goal by 14 boxes (a total of 34). Those 2007 donors are recognized as Founders of the annual program. The Founders are:
Katy Secor, Massachusetts
Eva Dicker, California
Claire Dicker, California
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Stonebreaker, California
Parrot University, North Carolina
Margo Rose, California
Kathryne Thorpe, Virginia
Jennifer White, North Carolina
Deborah Stambul, California
Cleveland Parrot Education & Adoption Center, Ohio
Janice Boyd, Louisiana
Kelly and Spencer Wheeler, Washington
France Archambault, Texas
Hank Greer, South Carolina
Laurel Greer, South Carolina
Paige Greer, South Carolina
Ryan Greer, South Carolina
Reid Greer, South Carolina
Emma Greer, South Carolina
Hayden Greer, South Carolina
Evan Greer, South Carolina
Bolivar the BTM, Pennsylvania
Attila Molnar, DVM, California
Aurelia Lynn Friedman, California
Vicki Baiamonte, Texas
Rocky Mountain Society of Aviculture, Colorado
Rocky Mountain Society of Aviculture, Colorado
Lisa Johnson, Arizona
Greg and Patty Muzic, Ohio
Northwest Exotic Bird Society, Washington
Companion Bird Club of Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania
Founders In Memoriam
Harry Heidenreich, by The Leather Elves, Massachusetts
Rita Tindall, by Ark-La-Tex Caged Bird Club, Louisiana
Baby Giselle, by Wendy's Parrots, Texas