The sound of falling trees is normal in the Mexican forest. For people, the sound can mean more space. They can use that space to farm. It can mean more money and more jobs for them. But many, many animals live in Mexico too—as many as 10 percent of the world’s species! For them, falling trees often mean big trouble.

Many of Mexico’s animal species are endemic. That means they exist in no other countries. So when forests come crashing down, many species could easily become extinct. But that may not be the case for the red-crowned Amazon parrot. No one would have guessed it, but the illegal pet trade might actually save the parrot species!

Do you remember the story of Joseph in the Bible? Joseph’s brothers sin against him. They throw him into a pit. They sell him. But at the end of the story, Joseph becomes a ruler in Egypt. He is able to save his brothers from famine. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph has a message for his brothers. “You meant evil against me,” he says, “but God meant it for good.”

Something similar may have happened with the parrots. Traders broke the law. They hurt many birds. The parrot population in Mexico suffered. One day, the birds may totally disappear from Mexico. But the species will not be gone. A backup supply will be flying between buildings in American cities!

Biologists are studying the birds to make sure this is the case. In order to act as a good backup supply, the parrots in America must be pure-blooded red-crowned Amazons. If they are, the species has a brand-new chance for survival.