A UTRGV professor received a $29,997 grant to help the endangered Red-crowned Parrot population in Brownsville. The parrot relies on large trees for nesting but habitat has decreased as cities have grown. The grant will allow the professor to install artificial nest cavities near known breeding sites to enhance reproduction. Around 200 parrots have been spotted in Brownsville but the species faces threats of extinction with a global population of just 1,000 individuals. The grant will also fund education to reduce poaching and increase awareness of the parrot.