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Fundación Loros

Citizen science · Tropical dry forest

Living flora-fauna
atlas

We document which trees sustain which wildlife at Los Loros Reserve. A continuous fieldwork, open to those who walk the territory.

Why this atlas

Flora-fauna relationships are the fundamental unit of the dry forest.


Knowing which tree feeds which wildlife and where each species nests isn't just data: it's the blueprint on which real conservation is designed.

We build this atlas from three sources: our field evidence at Los Loros Reserve, peer-reviewed scientific literature, and observations submitted by the public. Each relationship carries a visible consensus level — strong (●●●) or medium (●●) — so anyone consulting the atlas knows how much weight to give it. We don't aim for absolute certainty; we aim for transparency.

How you take part

You observe · You share · We validate

You don't need to be a scientist. You need to have seen something and want it on the record for others to use.


  1. You observe

    Take note of the wildlife (parrot, primate, mammal), the tree or plant, and the type of interaction: feeding, nesting, resting. Photo or video if you have one.
  2. You share

    Fill out the form below. No login required. Include your name and contact so we can verify the observation and notify you when it's validated.
  3. We validate

    We review with the field team. When a second source confirms the relationship, we integrate it into the atlas with medium consensus (●●). We email you at each stage.

Cross diet with nursery

Fauna ↔ tree picker

Pick a fauna species and see which trees serve it. Relationships with medium consensus (●●) come from field evidence at Los Loros — the videos above.

Flagship species

Yellow-crowned parrot

Amazona ochrocephala

Plant for this species (15)

  • Nesting●●P1

    Kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra)

    Cavity in emergent tree

  • Food●●P2

    Bay cedar (Guazuma ulmifolia)

    Young leaves and seeds

    Field-documented at Los Loros: native, common in cattle pastures; a bridge between wildlife and ranching.

  • Food●●P3

    Corozo machín (Achatocarpus nigricans)

    Small berries

    Field-documented at Los Loros: understudied native shrub; seasonal berries.

  • Food●●P2

    Earpod tree / Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum)

    Pods (ear-shaped)

    Field-documented at Los Loros: keystone tree of the dry forest; pod pulp rich in sugars.

  • Food●●P2

    Mamoncillo / Spanish lime (Melicoccus bijugatus)

    Pulpy fruits

    Field-documented at Los Loros: parrots share fruits as a social-bonding behavior.

  • Food●●P2

    Mother of cocoa (Gliricidia sepium)

    Seed pods

    Field-documented at Los Loros: nitrogen-fixing tree common in living fences.

  • Food●●P2

    Panama tree (Sterculia apetala)

    Flowers

    Field-documented at Los Loros: yellow-crowned parrots forage on its flowers during bloom. Native emergent tree of the tropical dry forest.

  • Food●●P2

    Papaya (Carica papaya)

    Ripe fruit

    Field-documented at Los Loros: fast-growing species, hydrating fruit in the dry season.

  • Food●●P2

    Red mombin (Spondias purpurea)

    Fruits and tender leaves

    Field-documented at Los Loros: fruits frequently eaten and, for the first time, young leaves.

  • Food●●P3

    Siam cassia (Senna siamea)

    Yellow flowers

    Field-documented at Los Loros: introduced species; parrots forage on its flowers during bloom.

  • Food●●P3

    Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)

    Pods (pulp)

    Field-documented at Los Loros: widely planted non-native; sweet-tangy pods.

  • Food●●P1

    Wild cashew (Anacardium excelsum)

    Fruits and seeds

  • Food●●P1

    Wine palm (Attalea butyracea)

    Fruits

  • Food●●P1

    Yellow mombin (Spondias mombin)

    Fruits

  • Food●●P2

    Yellow silk-cotton (Cochlospermum vitifolium)

    Flowers

    Field-documented at Los Loros: foraging on flowers during the dry season.

Consensus ●●● (strong) = ≥2 independent scientific sources; ●● (medium) = 1–2 sources or direct field evidence at Los Loros. The line is transparent so each visitor decides how much weight to give it.

Share what you saw

Add an observation to the atlas

You don't need to be 100% sure. Your observation helps us even if it needs verification — that's the point of transparent consensus.

The observation

If you know the scientific name, add it. If not, the common name is fine.

If it's a tree, plant, shrub or flower, just write it.

Type of relationship
Level of evidence

What kind of evidence backs the observation.

Confidence in the association

Pick the option that best describes what you saw.


Additional context

These fields are optional but they help us a lot to verify the observation.

Drive, Instagram, Vimeo, YouTube, iNaturalist, eBird…


Your details

We need to contact you to verify the observation and let you know when it's been validated.

For WhatsApp if we need details. Include country code (e.g. +57).


Consent

Your personal data (name, email, phone) is processed according to Fundación Loros' Data Processing Policy and Colombia's Law 1581/2012 (Habeas Data). We only use them to verify your observation and communicate the result. We do not share them with third parties without your express consent.

Frequently asked questions

What happens after I submit my observation?+
Your observation enters review. First we verify the fauna-flora combination is biologically plausible. If it is, we pass it to the field team to confirm during the next walk. When a second independent source backs it, we integrate it into the atlas with medium consensus (●●). We email you at each stage change.
Will my name be published?+
Only if you explicitly authorize it when submitting the form. If you leave that checkbox unchecked, your name stays private and the observation is generically attributed as "public contribution." Your email and phone are never published — they're only so we can contact you.
How long does it take to validate an observation?+
It depends on the nature of the observation. Some are validatable immediately because we already have backing evidence. Others require the next walk by the field team in the right season — that can take weeks to months. We notify you by email at each change.
What happens if my observation isn't confirmed?+
We notify you anyway. A relationship not being confirmed doesn't mean it's false — only that we don't have enough evidence yet. We keep it on file and revisit it if new observations supporting it appear.
How do you handle my personal data?+
Your data (name, email, phone) lives in a private Fundación Loros database and only the curation team uses it to verify the observation and contact you. We don't share them with third parties or use them for marketing. You can ask us to delete your data anytime by writing to info@loros.org. Processing under Colombia's Law 1581/2012 (Habeas Data).

Want to contribute more deeply?

Beyond the form, you can join as a field volunteer, bring a university program, or support the sanctuary directly.