Too many bird species are finding it hard to cope with habitat destruction, illegal pet trade trapping, and climate change. Macaws are some of the most beautiful parrots in South America, and the easiest to spot in the forests; take a look at how much their original range has changed over the last century or so.
This article says the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) shows that two Macaw species are critically at risk, three species are endangered, one is threatened, two are unguarded, and nine are of least concern. The article also includes the Glaucous Macaw on its list of these birds, even though it is considered extinct in the wild.
The Scarlet Macaw had a range that included Mexico, Central America, and the northern states of South America. This graphic below shows the difference between their former home and current home. They have been fortunate to not lose as much land as other species.
Owlcation has a wonderful article on the Spix Macaw, a parrot extinct in the wild but hanging on to the edge of existence in captivity. They once inhabited a large area of South America, mainly Brazil, but their blue feathers made them very popular for illegal trapping. The animated movie Rio focuses on Spix macaws.
Another nearly-gone species is the Blue-throated Macaw, once common in Bolivia. This map from Research Gate shows the distribution range of the species when it was first discovered and now; you can see how vast their range once was. This is another species that is being raised in captivity to prevent its extinction.
Zoo New England shows the range of habitat currently supporting the Hyacinth Macaw in the wild. This is divided into three sections, a condition that adds to the dangers of their going extinct: the small groups can become genetically limited and have difficulty finding mates, nest sites, and food.
The list of macaw species that are extinct is eye-opening: Cuban, Dominican, Guadeloupe, Green and Yellow, Martinique, Saint Croix, and Yellow Headed. It’s difficult to even find photos of these species.
An article from the Prague Zoo points out that the majority of the extinct macaws and the ones most threatened now originally lived on islands. Introduced predators, of course, was always a problem, but when there is limited habitat and it is cleared for any reason, the birds are left with nowhere to find food, nowhere to nest, and no way to adapt. Throw in the occasional hurricane and numbers are depleted.
Fortunately, there have been some steps taken to raise macaws in captivity and then reintroduce the offspring into the wild: the Scarlet Macaw is doing well in Mexico now, Lear’s Macaw is coming back in Brazil, and the nearly extinct Blue-Throated Macaw is being protected and studied in Bolivia.
The Punta Islita Wild Macaw Reserve in Costa Rica has an on-going recovery program that brings in the local communities, helps preserve habitat, and watches the macaws to monitor their health and breeding abilities. They can always use a little help from others who are fans of macaws, and you can even “adopt” a macaw like Westley or Buttercup and help them live their best life.
Conservation is not easy, and not something that is always a winning endeavor: there are ups, downs, and days that make everything appear to be going wrong, but sticking with the only solutions we have to prevent extinctions makes more sense than just giving up.
Thanks for reading; I’ll be back next Sunday.
In Loco Parrotus 