April 19, 2006
Update 11: Macaws in the Wild
| I've just known parrots as caged
pets, so discovering them for the first time in their natural habitat has
been strange and bewildering for me. The only previous experience I have
had with Macaws
is at the pet shop and at my grandma's neighbor's house in Florida. When
visiting my grandma once, I investigated a loud noise coming from down the
street. I found a beautiful Red-and-Green Macaw
in the hand of a man who treated the bird like a child. I did not think
birds made good pets but after seeing it on a leash, hearing it squawk at
the dog, and watching the bird kiss the man, I realized that Macaws
have quite the personality. Unfortunately, the bird he was keeping is an
endangered species because of deforestation, loss of habitat, and the pet
industry.
I am no longer surprised that people make parrots their pets, because they are very impressive creatures. Parrots are incredibly noisy, highly social seed and fruit eaters. Whenever we hear a little rustle in the trees and a plop-plop in the water below, it is usually a Blue-and-Yellow Macaw going after more fruits. These enormous birds can stand over three feet tall but remain out of sight in the trees overhead. We will inevitably hear them long before we see them appear. The macaws have the loudest voices of all 50 species of parrots in Peru. Once in view, we marvel at the spectacular array of colors- scarlet, yellow, green and blue. Macaws use their hooked beak like a third foot to aid mobility. The bill has a hinge on its upper half that helps with handling food and climbing around in trees. Their feet have toes which are also highly adapted for gripping; if you have ever gotten too close to a Macaw's cage, you may know what I mean. |
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Macaws, like most parrots, are usually found in flocks; often roosting with several other parrot species. During early morning, flocks of Macaws leave the roost, moving out to cover the forest in search of fruiting trees. They may travel more than 50 miles in a day! We normally see Blue-and-Yellow Macaws flying slow and steady, usually in pairs. We have learned that macaws usually breed monogamously, meaning that pairing is often for life. We also read that their helpless offspring are nest-bound for 3 to 4 months. I wonder if it is husband and wife that we see flying the forest canopy together. Do you think it would help them to raise young together? Flying High! Patrick
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