Connecting with people
Outreach and education are crucial to conservation success. Through formal and informal education programs, materials and events with communities, schools, institutions and governments we raise awareness of the plight of the Red Siskin and highlight ways to help.
Human actions may drive the main threats to Red Siskins, but undoubtedly it is human action – working together with people and communities – that will also be the main solution to these problems. Education programs aimed at key stakeholders such as range-area communities, schools, aviculturists, decision-makers, wildlife authorities, and the general public will raise awareness and support for conserving this species.
Achievements
- 2022 Achievements coming soon
- Every year, we present RSI activities and achievements at many events in Caracas, Rupununi Guyana and Washington, D.C., including World Migratory Bird Day, Family Sunday at Topotepuy (VE), and Brew at the Zoo.
- In 2019, RSI adapted the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center’s Bridging the Americas educational program, in order to bring elementary classrooms in Venezuela, Miami and Washington DC together around issues of bird conservation.
- The South Rupununi Conservation Society has created curriculum for schools located across the entire range of the Red Siskin in Guyana, provides teacher professional development workshops and outdoor education and field skills training for youth and community members.
- In November 2018, the Associated Press (AP) published an article entitled, “Venezuela’s vanishing red bird gets a coffee pick-me-up.” It was picked up by high-profile media including The Washington Post, The New York Times, Fox News and AP News among others.
- In November 2017, the Venezuelan television network Globovisión premiered a program featuring the Red Siskin: the Rio Verde series, “Explorando maravillas.”
- Two Venezuelan local TV chains are presenting a promotional video of the RSI that is titled “Four things you didn’t know about redheads” and features Venezuelan radio and TV host Rocco Pirillo.
- In 2015, Zoológico y Parque Botánico Bararida launched its educational campaign tailored to families and particularly to the children who visit this Venezuelan zoo, which is located in the heart of the historical distribution of the Red Siskin.
