Buffons Macaws, I sure lov'em

The Great Green Macaw

The Great green Macaw as they have been named in years past is one of the most beautiful large parrots I have ever seen! Yes they are predominantly green but the green is a vibrant beautiful color that "Glows" It appears to be tinted in blue. If you are a cool colored macaw person then this bird will amaze you. Their face is almost always a shade of flush red but gets deep red when excited. IMO they are nothing like a Millitary Macaw as they are so often compared with. Not that millies are bad ...just different. The Buffons is barrel chested and girthy, a heafty bird with a large jet black beak. Most weigh in at about 1400 to 1600 grams.

Buffons Macaw Personality

I don't have enough personal data to give a fair discription, but from what I have read they are not as gentle as a greenwing. My experience with my bird Sarge has been that he is more like a Scarlet in temperament. This macaw is definately an advanced to above handlers bird. Because of their size and strength a good bite can crush a finger, hand, wrist, or anywhere else you may get pinched...ouch. So here is the thing, this has been my personal experience and may not be the same with other individuals. For the most part they are content and quiet during the day which for me is purely a golden trait. I very much enjoy the greater challenge with the buffons and absolutely would place them in the top three macaws for serious owners to either breed or keep. On the other hand I would not recommend this macaw for bird owners new to the large macaws.

Buffons Macaw Diet

This macaw depends highly on almond trees! Very nice for us owners since we can easily feed one of the main components of the Buffons natural diet. The almond trees not only serve as a food source but also the trees provide nesting opportunities for these macaws. These macaws have done well in captivity using diets similar to those used for other large macaws. A diet of some vegetables, fruits, commercial pellets, seed mixes, and large nuts... especially almonds. I like to provide trace elements of extra protein, calcium, beta carotenes, and spirulina.

Buffons Distribution

The Buffons Macaw is found in Costa Rica as well as Nicaragua, Panama, Western Colombia, Ecuador and Easternmost Honduras. In 2008 Costa Rica passed a law to protect both the Buffons Macaw, and the yellow almond tree.

Blue Throated Macaws

Blue throated macaws are in fact a very new species in American aviculture. The very good news is that they are proving to be very productive for breeders here in the U.S. and as a result are finding there way into the pet market. This species is quite rare in it's natural habitat and apparently is critically endangered. It has been estimated that only 300 to 350 individuals are left in the wild. They are a protected within their range of distribution which is very small in comparison to other macaw species. They are thought to be endemic (only found) to a flatland area in Bolivia called the Beni savannah.

Major Problems

There are three major problems facing the Blue Throated Macaw that I can see based on their current situation. First problem is that they are an endemic species, meaning that they are only found up until now in a very small area. This is similar to an island species that is only found on a small island. The second problem is that they are not a forest dwelling parrot where their habitat and nesting areas would be protected by huge ravines or hillsides that are unusable to farmers or land developers. Because they are found in the flatlands, and nest in palm tree clusters, they are very susceptible to farming and land development that would threaten their food source and their nesting areas. The third problem is that they are competing with the larger more abundant Blue and Gold Macaw for valuable nest sites.

What is being done

From what I have found there are a few aviculturist working with the species to help generate more birds here in captivity. This is a noble task and should be commended, nonetheless, it will do nothing for the birds in their natural habitat in Bolivia. What it will do is help keep the species alive and available in american aviculture. True conservation of the species within Bolivia needs to be done in Bolivia. The latest information is that Armonia/ loro parque fundacion is spearheading the pure and true conservation of the species in Bolivia. These conservation efforts are being led by Mauricio Herrera. Notably, an organisation in Texas called Bird Endowment is breeding Blue Throated Macaws in a conservation effort, but more importantly is providing a way to help increase nest box availability in Bolivia by allowing people like me and you to become "beni factors." This means that for every 250.00 dollars donated an artificial nest will be constructed and placed in the range of the Blue Throats. Interestingly they are marking the nest box with the dona tor's initials and keeping track of what happens within each nest box each year. Sounds fun! but conservation is not without its challenges. Of the 40 some nest boxes that have been placed over the past two years only 4 or 5 have been used by the Blue Throats. Ironically the Blue and Gold Macaw has been detrimental to the success of the program by using 24 of the boxes provided. Unfortunately the more common Blue and Gold is in competition with the endangered Blue Throats for nesting sites. A perfect example of two like species occupying the same niche. If left unchecked the natural consequence of such a situation is that one species is either forced to extinction or adapts by finding a new niche that does not entirely overlap with the dominant species. Such an adaptation historically is rare. A huge abundance of nest boxes could help the situation but ultimately an alternative nesting arrangement needs to be found. This could be as simple as height at which the nest is placed by doing a study to find if there are differences in acceptable nesting heights by Blue and Golds and Blue throats, or it could prove to require more thought and research.

In closing

The Blue Throated Macaw is a fabulous species, definitely, worth the efforts being made to save it both in american aviculture as well as in its' native habitat. People are getting involved and things are being done which is very encouraging. A huge amount of time and resources will be needed in Bolivia for the Loro park foundation to be successful. If you want to help check it out

http://birdendowment.org/inbolivia/nidoadoptivo.shtml

Scarlet Macaws in Costa Rica

Zooave, a quiant little zoo in San Jose Costa Rica is having a huge impact on the Scarlet Macaw population that was in danger not too many years ago. As of 2008 captive raised scarlets started producing babies in the wild. This is a huge success story as many conservation efforts with wild parrots are barely sustaining critical numbers of endangered parrots. Apparently the transition from captivity to the wild even for completely parent raised birds is very difficult. I personally visited the zoo when I was in Costa Rica recently and I have to say it is the most beautiful zoo I have ever been to. Every enclosure was built around the natural tropical jungle. Enclosures were very large and spacious. Beautiful Motmots flew around loose as well as other softbills like the simple sparrows I'm accustomed to here in Californian zoos. Artistic cement paths meandered through the tropical lush. Traditional steel pet cages lay crushed and stacked at the exit leaving a deep impression on ones soul and driving home the point being made by Zooave founders that birds weren't made to be caged. I certainly left feeling a stronger desire to limit the amount of time my birds have to be caged. If you ever are in Costa Rica it's worth checking out. http://www.northerncostarica.com/zoo-ave.html

Free flight Macaws

Wings at Liberty! I found a new website that gives step by step info. on how to train your birds to fly. "Wow, I thought birds already knew how to fly." Yes, but in order to get them back once they fly off is something they need to learn.... it's called recall. How amazing would it be to take you bird out for a fly, kinda like taking the dog out for a walk, how many behavior problems could be eliminated if we could get our birds to do some real exercise. Hell, if I was pent-up in a cage or the house all day I'd scream and pull my feathers out too!!! Personally I thrive on excercise, and if that was taken from me well I'd be toast. Feather plucking is the most discouraging problem out there to date and I believe excercise is at the root of the problem. Even if we only flew our birds inside from perch to arm and back again for ten min. a day I believe we would notice a big difference in unlocked, unsolved, behavior problems. Check out Wings at Liberty ... http://wingsatliberty.com/

Reintroduce Red Fronted Macaws

A new website is being launched to promote tourism in south american countries. The dollars spent on these exciting tropical adventures are also going towards efforts to conserve the treasures of interest "wild parrots."Among the species of focus is the Santa Marta conure, and of great interest here, the Red Fronted Macaw. The Santa Marta conure is found in Columbia and occupies a range of about 19,000 acres of which 1,600 is protected forest. The Red fronted Macaw is protected within its range, a small mountainous area in west and south central Bolivia. Apparently some conservation efforts are being organized and launched from the Center for Biodiversity at the university of Cochabamba in Bolivia. The Red Fronted Macaw has been estimated in numbers as low as 150 left in the wild! Every effort needs to be made to breed this macaw in captivity as well as help support conservation efforts on its behalf. This new website is found here http://www.conservationbirding.org/

Clean Water Source for Birds

Our birds water is the number one source by which harmful bacteria is introduced into our birds systems. The new flush and fill water system is an excellent way to provide our birds with clean water all the time. No more "poop soup" and no more water bottles. If this is news to you check it out.