Speaker: Caroline Efstathion, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of Avian Preservation and Education Conservancy (APEC)

Africanized honey bees are the most successfully invasive insects ever. They have spread throughout most of South America, all of Central America and parts of the US. Due to their wide selection of nesting sites, rapid reproduction rates and highly defensive behavior, they are in conflict with many cavity nesting species, most notably parrots. Over 30 parrot conservation projects deal with Africanized honey bees competing with parrots for their nest cavities. This presentation will describe how researchers are reducing this competition and how beekeeping is being developed as a conservation tool for several species of endangered parrots.