Photographer Santiago Pérez Rincón

Santiago Pérez Rincón photographed a Yellow-eared Parrot in Colombia's Cañón del Río Anaime valley during a wedding trip.

“Some of the country's last wax palm forests survive here, even as multinational corporations continue clearing these ecosystems to make way for monocultures of Hass avocado crops”

Conservation Award Recognition

Rincón's image won the Conservation category at the 2026 Audubon Photography Awards.

Yellow-eared Parrot Habitat Threat

Multinational corporations clear wax palm forests for Hass avocado monocultures, endangering the Yellow-eared Parrot.

“Some of the country's last wax palm forests survive here, even as multinational corporations continue clearing these ecosystems to make way for monocultures of Hass avocado crops”

Photographer's Warning

Rincón warns that avocado plantations could reverse the parrot's recovery from near extinction.

“I hope this image of the bird and palm surrounded by crops conveys a message of vigilance: Thanks to the tireless efforts of environmental advocates, the species was saved from near extinction, but if avocado plantations keep encroaching, the parrot's story of recovery could take a turn for the worse”

Judge's Perspective

Judge Jaír F. Coll noted the photograph shows the parrot's resilience against monoculture crop encroachment.

“This photograph captures the poignant resilience of the Yellow-eared Parrot. The scene contrasts the bird's solitude with a background dominated by the geometry of monoculture crops, highlighting the fragmentation of the species' habitat.”