Scarlett Macaw(Ara macao)
It is about 81 cm long, of which more than half is the pointed, graduated tail typical of all macaws, though the scarlet macaw has a larger percentage of tail than the other large macaws. The average weight is about 1 kg. The plumage is mostly scarlet, but the rump and tail-covert feathers are light blue, the greater upper wing coverts are yellow, the upper sides of the flight feathers of the wings are dark blue as are the ends of the tail feathers, and the undersides of the wing and tail flight feathers are dark red with metallic gold iridescence.
Some individuals may have green in the wings. There is bare white skin around the eye and from there to the bill. Tiny white feathers are contained on the face patch. The upper mandible is mostly pale horn in color and the lower is black. Juveniles have dark eyes; adults have light yellow eyes. It is frequently confused with the slightly larger green-winged macaw, which has more distinct red lines in the face and no yellow in the wing. Scarlet macaws make very loud, high and sometimes low-pitched, throaty squawks, squeaks and screams designed to carry many miles to call for their groups.
Habitat
The South American range is extensive and covers the Amazon forest ; extending to Peru east of the Andes, to Bolivia. In Bolivia, it is very present in the Aquicuana Reserve, located in the Beni Department, near the city of Riberalta, the Capital of the Bolivian Amazon.​ In Central America, the range extends from extreme eastern and southern Mexico and Panama through Guatemala and Belize, the island of Coiba and infrequently on the mainland of Panama, and in Costa Rica in isolated regions on the Pacific Coast; the Nicoya Peninsula the Carara National Park and Peninsula de Osa. The scarlet macaw has escaped or been deliberately released in to Florida, but there is no evidence that the population is breeding and may only persist due to continuing releases or escapes. Scarlet macaws inhabit humid lowland subtropical rain forests, open woodlands, river edges, and savannas.
Diet
They also love to eat insects and larvae.They are seen feeding heavily on bugs, snails and foliage. Snails and bugs are great source of protein, as they need additional protein during breeding seasons. They also add flowers and nectar to their diet as a supplement.
Breeding
While comparatively docile at most times of the year, scarlet macaws may be formidably aggressive during periods of breeding. Scarlet macaws are monogamous birds, with individuals remaining with one partner throughout their lives. The hen lays two or three white eggs in a tree cavity. The female incubates the eggs for about five weeks, and the chicks fledge from the nest about 90 days after hatching. and leave their parents about a year later. Juveniles reach sexual maturity at five years of age.
Population
According to the IUCN Red List, they are classed as Least Concern(LC). Partners in Flight estimated the population to number fewer than 50,000 individuals, thus it is placed in the band 20,000-49,999 individuals here. This species is suspected to lose 21.4-35% of suitable habitat within its distribution over three generations (38 years) based on a model of Amazonian deforestation. However, given the species's tolerance of fragmentation/degradation/edge-effects and/or the extent of overall losses, it is suspected to decline by <25% over three generations.
Threats
The main drivers of scarlet macaw declines are habitat loss and poaching for the illegal pet trade. Like many parrots, scarlet macaws depend on trees for feeding and nesting, making them vulnerable to deforestation.
Conservation
From the mid-1990s WPT has supported direct conservation, education programmes, captive breeding and release, and rehabilitation and release of birds caught in the trade, with in-country partners in Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica. With the Macaw Recovery Network in Costa Rica, WPT supports the confiscation of Scarlet Macaws from the wildlife trade, the rehabilitation of confiscated and surrendered birds, and captive breeding and release of birds to the wild to increase wild populations. PRO-ALAS (Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Reserve) in Honduras oversaw six releases in the Copan valley and with an increasing number of yearly births, the group of Scarlet Macaws flying free there exceeds 70. A second group of macaws was freed on a private island off the north coast of Honduras to add to a population currently residing there, and are now breeding. "Patrulla Con Alas” (Winged Agents), is a project involving children from local communities to act as guardians of the Scarlet Macaw and other wildlife. The initiative helps raise awareness of the species while producing future birding guides, thus developing a sustainable alternative livelihood. Elsewhere in Honduras, macaws have been released into an 870 square kilometre protected zone designated "The Sacred Valley of the Scarlet Macaw." In Mexico, a multi-year project to restore macaws to Los Tuxtlas Reserve with birds from Xcaret Eco-Archeological Park's breeding centre has seen over 160 Scarlet Macaws released there.
Focus of future work: WPT will continue to support local groups fighting to save the Scarlet Macaw.
With your help, we can continue to support actions to conserve this species.