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ZooNooz Article - march 2005
Big, bold and beautiful
Macaws are the giants of the parrot world in more ways
than one, writes MAGGIE CRUTCHER.
Photographs Cathy Hattersley
Illustration Katerina Sakkas
As the morning sun burns off the
mist hovering over the Tambopata
River in south-eastern Peru, flashes
of brilliant blue and yellow appear
through the shrouds. A pair of Blueand-
yellow Macaws, flying wing-tip to
wing-tip, follow the serpentine bends
of the river, with purpose.
Macaws - the giants of the parrot |
Their destination is, as many
scientists and researchers believe,
the parrot version of a medicine
cabinet - a mineral-rich bank of clay,
some 50 metres high, extending for
about 500 metres along the west
bank of the river. Here, throughout
the day, as many as 1000 parrots
(including macaws) will present a
living, squabbling palette of red, blue,
yellow and green as they peck into
the clay, believed to neutralise the
effects of some of the toxic fruits and
seeds they eat.
The morning session here
belongs to the giants of the parrot
world, the macaws, and this
particular clay 'lick', one of the
largest, is the only one that Blue and-
yellow Macaws are known to
frequent. Before they fly down to
the bank, however, the birds gather
noisily in the surrounding treetops,
screeching, squabbling, 'urgling
and purring' at each other, leading
some scientists to hypothesise that
the birds also come here to socialise
- the parrot version of a get-together
over the backyard fence. Whatever
the purpose, these gatherings
represent a wildlife spectacle of
almost unparalleled beauty.
These birds have a range of habitats, from lowland or highland rainforests to more open, even deciduous forests, but all seem to favour a similar diet of nuts (particularly palm nuts), seeds and fruits.
Ranging from central to southern
South America there are many
species of macaws, most of which
are big, bold and very beautiful.
The Scarlet Macaw, one of the
biggest, is probably the most familiar
and most brilliantly coloured,
sporting plumage in paint-box
colours of bright red, yellow, blue
and green. The smaller macaws
are usually mostly green in colour,
providing superb camouflage amid
the treetops.
Macaws differ from other parrot
species in that they have bare facial
patches, very prominent on some and
not so prominent on others.
These birds have a range of
habitats, from lowland or highland
rainforests to more open, even
deciduous forests, but all seem
to favour a similar diet of nuts
(particularly palm nuts), seeds and
fruits. Even the famous and very hard
Brazil nuts are no match for macaws
because of their most prominent feature - a huge, very strong, hooked
beak. Using a combination of beak,
mobile tongue and claws, macaws
can rip open the toughest of nuts and
seeds with great dexterity.
Sadly, the beauty of the macaws is one of the reasons for their decline in numbers.
Our knowledge of the many
species of macaws in the wild is
somewhat limited. However, they
appear to be monogamous, generally
mating for life, and can live up to
60 years. Pairs of macaws will often
be seen mutually grooming and
preening and will mirror each other's
movements while sitting on branches
and when flying. Although they gather
and move about in flocks, especially
when feeding, at breeding time three
(or more) is definitely a crowd!
Breeding macaws nest in tree
hollows or dead palms and lay two or
more eggs, but usually only one chick
will be raised. The female appears to
be the egg-sitter whilst the male both
guards the nest from interlopers and
feeds the nesting mum. Observations
of Blue-and-yellow Macaws show
that the chick is still naked and blind
at one week old. Feathers begin to
erupt at four weeks, the beak darkens
and the eyes open. The chick is fully
feathered at 10 weeks, but won't leave
the nest until three weeks later. At
six months the chick is as big and
beautiful as its parents.
Sadly, the beauty of the macaws
is one of the reasons for their decline
in numbers. In some cases macaws
are critically endangered, with one
species, Spix's Macaw, at the point of
extinction. Their gorgeous feathers are
in demand for ceremonial headdresses,
while in most habitats, logging and
clearing of forests plus the live bird
trade, which encourages the taking of
chicks from nests, has led to further
decline. The beauty and intelligence of
macaws means that they are also much
sought after as pets.
Blue-and-yellow Macaws |
Taronga Zoo holds two species
of the large macaws - the Blue and-
yellow Macaw and the Greenwinged
Macaw, also known as the
Red-and-green Macaw. Of the latter,
the zoo has seven (three males and
four females) plus one female and
two male Blue-and-yellow Macaws.
All enjoy a diet of fruits (such as
pawpaw, kiwi, banana and pineapple),
vegetables (corn and tomatoes), and a
mixture of seeds and nuts.
Their exhibit has recently been
undergoing a major 'renovation
rescue', involving a total gutting,
replacement and upgrading of all
substrate, plants, 'furniture' and wire.
When it is ready, and the macaws
return, they will be joined by the
beautiful Sun Conures, the Nanday
Conures and the unusual Razor-billed
Curassow.
It will be a wonderful opportunity
to see all these spectacular birds in
an environment that will be as close
as possible to their South American
home.
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