Parrot clay Lick Amazon Basin

In the Amazon Basin there are plants with seeds that are poisonous, to stop them being eaten by birds.

Unfortunately for the plant the parrots have worked out that if they eat a certain sort of clay that neutralizes the poison.

There is a national park with several of these parrot clay licks. The parrots come down and sit in the trees, gradually coming closer and closer to the ground as they see it's safe.

Some of the native peoples are developing these areas in a responsible way as they realise that tourists are keen to see them and pay for the privilege and the money goes to support the tribe's education plans etc.

It's very dark in the forest so not great for photography, but an amazing sight as literally hundreds of birds come down to eat the clay.

The only access is by boat and walking, and you must take at least one native guide.