The mystery photo is of a blue and gold macaw. Macaws are some of the noisest birds in the rainforests, and perhaps the only animal louder is the howler monkey.
Macaws are mostly herbivorous, living primarily on fruits and nuts. However, they will eat small animals, birds, and insects.
Macaws come in a variety of colors: scarlet, green, and blue and gold. The blue and gold macaws are the rarest to see in the wild.
Macaws are a very social animal, living in groups of up to 25 individuals. And when they get together they squawk and squawk and squawk. They are mostly found in the emergent and canopy layers of the rainforest, and when they fly it's like having a rainbow overhead.
Macaws are still highly endangered, but thanks to efforts of governments and local people, laws have been enacted to keep macaws from becoming pets. It's now illegal to import macaws, and without the world market for illegal birds, the macaw is making a nice recovery. With some luck and educating people about the illegal pet trade, macaws will return once again to the rainforest in huge numbers. Because for me, the rainforest without macaws just wouldn't feel right!
