Breeding and Conservation by Joanne Abramson Fort Bragg, California

The ingredients necessary to breed in captivity are relatively simple; a healthy, compatible hen and cock of the to be bred, an appropriate sized aviary (depending on the species of macaw), a well balanced diet, a nesting box, and time (patience helps). Pioneer macaw breeders chose wild caught specimens as they didn't have the option of obtaining captive bred . The current trend, how­ ever, is to start with domestic bred macaws. Wild caught specimens take many years to settle down and breed, while the domestic stock breed in two to five years. In some of the rarer species, there have been few domesti­ cally raised birds, making it necessary to use wild caught specimens. In addition, wild caught specimens may be necessary on occasion for the enhancement of the species. To have Hyacinth Macaws 19 and 22 days old sleeping on their backs. Though this might a genetically sound breeding program frighten a breeder, this is a normalposition to find Hyacinths sleeping. Clutch mates for any given species, more than one are kept together for warmth} humidity and companionship. Macaws possess a pair of birds is required. A serious unique sense ofhumor. For instance} even at thisyoung age of19and 22 days} I have breeding program should have no less experiencedHyacinths enjoying trying to catch their handfeeder offguard byplaying than three unrelated pairs and five dead. Since handfeeders are basically brain dead from two hour round-the-clock feedings} this often works. pairs would be even better.

Female Hyacinth awaiting her turn in the bath.

Courtship display of a Blue and Gold Macaw.

40 June / July 1991 The Aviary the inside of the aviary. The door size requires me to bend over to enter. But Our large macaws are housed in the birds, which sit on the perch at a outside aviaries. After experimenting claw height ofsix feet, do not attempt with several different sized aviaries, to fly out over my head. A four sided we settled on a structure 8 feet high shelter (4 feet wide by 4 feet deep by ,... by 8 feet wide by 12 feet long. There 8 feet high) in the back corner of the > is one pair to each aviary. This was aviary provides the birds with a pri­ g not an accidental design. The smaller vate, weather protected spot for their ~ g: ~.t. Q size widths were not conducive to nest box and feed. Most of our birds ~C' 4-7 de enero ;0 "0 del 1991 't-~ flying since the wingspan of most of sleep in their shelter and use it to ~y c,,'3 the large macaws is over three feet escape the hot afternoon sun as well 4fA.NEJO Of. \.",e;, and, in the case of the Hyacinth, the as the rain. An entrance hole 16 wingspan exceeds four feet. The inches by 16 inches allows them PRE-PUBLICATION OFFER width and length of the aviary allows access to the shelter by walking on a A limited number of copies of the proceedings of them flight and exercise. The height perch. The lower portion of this eight the First Mesoamerican Workshop on the Conserva· was chosen after much experimenta­ foot high shelter structure is removed tion and Management of Macaws will be available April 1, 1991. tion with shorter sizes. We found that to allow me access to feed and check Thirteen original papers are included in the the six foot tall aviaries were too the nest boxes. There are no common proceedings, including: short for our initial wild caught walls; all the aviaries are single, free • Status of the Scarlet Macaw in , Rafael breeding stock. The taller aviary standing units. We can walk around Manzanero allowed them to look down on us, each of the aviaries. The aviaries are • Status and Conservation of Macaws in Nicaragua, Juan Martinez-Sanchez giving them a feeling of security located around the outside of a rec­ • Management and Conservation of the Scarlet much like in the wild. Twelve feet in tangle, with the flights in the front Macaw in Carara Reserve, Costa Rica, Michael length is the minimum, 16 to 20 feet and the shelters in the rear. The birds McCoy long is even better. The framework is are in full sight of each other and we • Conservation of Lear's Macaw, Judith Hart • Macaw Research in Manu Park, Peru, David made of welded 3/4 inch pipe with put several pairs of each species Recalde 11 gauge chain link fencing wired to grouped together in adjoining • Plus workshop resolutions the structure. A door 40 inches high aviaries. To reserve your copy, forward $25 to csm, and 30 inches wide allows access to (Continued on next page) P.O. Box 20219, Charleston, South Carolina 29413. Specify either Spanish or English editions MACAW DEVELOPMENT CHART with your order.

Blue and Military Buffon's Green- Hyacinth Gold LJ winged Days to Hatch 26 days 26 days 26 days 26-28 26-28 26-28 days days days

IEyes Open 12-15 13-16 14-15 12-15 10-16 10-15 I days days days days days days Banded 1/2" 12-17 13-21 15-19 17-19 11-18 15-24 Greenwings or 9/16" days days days days days days 1/2" 1/2" 1/2" 9/16" 9/16" 9/16" Buffon's Weight When 300-392 228-385 280-315 350-400 285-468 285-350 Hyacinths Banded grams grams grams grams grams grams Militarys Peak Weight 1150-1355 1075- 955-1095 1265-1430 1230-1435 1455- grams 1345 grams grams grams 1670 Blue and Golds grams grams Scarlets Age at Peak 47-59 47-62 49-55 55-60 51-73 58-77 Weight days days days days days days Redfronts 51-60 49-60 52-61 58-62 55-64 57-76 • ALL BIRDS ARE CLOSED BANDED Weaning and VETERINARIAN CHECKED Food Started days days days days days days • UNRELATED PAIRS AVAILABLE Perching 62-73 58-67 62-64 64-69 56-66 71-86 days days days days days days ~oanne Abramson Fledged 78-82 75-82 76-81 78-82 83-88 93-103 ~~~~~~~~~~S days days days days days days P.O. Box 1271. Fort Bragg, CA 95437 85-104 110-119 IWeaned 90-110 85-112 112-119 141-156 I days days days days days days 707-964-4380

afa WATCHBIRD 41 Young macaws are kept together Diet We prefer tame birds in our breed­ until mates can be found for them. Our macaws are fed a three-part ing stock, birds that will accept food But, no more than four adolescents diet. The first part consists of a seed from our hands. Generally, it is fairly are ever kept together in this size mix of safflower seed, whole corn, easy to realize when the chicks have aviary. Even the young macaws have pumpkin seed, alfalfa pellets, buck­ hatched by the change in the male nest boxes in their aviaries. We have wheat, peanuts, pine nuts and macaw's aggressiveness when we found these immature babies fre­ Zupreem. Sunflower seeds are added approach the aviary. Lunging for your quently asleep in their nest box. This to this mix in varied amounts depend­ hand is a common occurrence. Care relaxed environment can only be an ing on the time of the year. In the fall should be taken to leave the aviary asset to them as they mature. and winter when the temperatures with as many fingers as when you There are two ways to approach drop, the high fat foods (sunflower arrived! When breeding season starts, your aviary. One, you never walk in it seeds and nuts) are increased. Nuts it is best to abstain from handfeeding and do all the feeding from the out­ make up the second portion of the the parent birds. side or two, you walk in it all the diet with the same variety of the Hya­ We use large water crocks that hold time. I walk in at least two to three cinth's diet below except for the two to three gallons of water. Macaws times a week to feed, water and hang macadamian nuts, which are fed only love taking baths. During the breed­ new perches. The birds adjust to occasionally as a challenge for the ing season the hen will soak herself in whatever is routine to them. If they macaws to open. The third portion of the water dishes and then climb back are not used to you going into the the seed-eating macaws' diet consists on the nest, presumably to humidify cage, then they will react on those of a wide variety of fruits and vege­ the eggs. In the dead of winter I have few occasions that you do. tables which are fed daily to all the found water soaked macaws, espe­ macaws. Apples, pears and plums are cially Hyacinths, even on frost home grown and fed fresh when in covered mornings. No ill effects have Nesting Boxes season. ever been observed from this unusual The difference between a During breeding season the practice. collector and a bird breeder is an amounts of Zupreem, fruits, vege­ Pair bonded macaws are character­ available, clean nest box. Our nest tables and nuts are increased, with ized by sitting close together on the boxes for the large macaws are made several selections being given daily to perch, preening, feeding each other, from 30-gallon galvanized trash cans hens with babies on the nest. Corn is and as nesting approaches, the (40-gallon for the Hyacinths). We a most notable favorite during this breeder will notice frequent wing have an eight-inch hole welded open, period. But despite their favorites, a opening and wiping the perch with an expandable metal ladder (1" by variety is fundamental. their . Constriction and dilation 1-1/2"), about eight inches wide and Some breeders feed a soaked seed, of their eyes is common during this the full height of the container, fruit and vegetable diet. This is also a period. welded inside from top to bottom, healthy diet. Pellets are fine as a sup­ Copulation occurs side by side. and two truck hooks welded on the plement, but I am not fond of an Hyacinths are real show-offs and outside back for easy hanging of the exclusively pellet diet. In my opinion, don't seem to mind people watching. nest boxes. We do not use the can besides being boring, I feel they are Most other species are not so brazen. tops except on a few pairs with too high in protein for a macaw's Several of my producing pairs I have aggressive males. Large macaws have metabolism. Food toys such as whole never seen copulate, and yet they pro­ also successfully nested in oak barrels sunflower heads are provided occa­ duce young, so it must occur. as well as 55-gallon plastic drums and sionally for fun. I expect them to eat A variety of different sized eggs are both on the ground and in horizontal some of it and also have fun destroy­ produced by macaws. All of them are or vertical raised boxes. Small ing it. white, which would befit a dark tree macaws have laid in L-shaped nest Hyacinth Macaws are highly spe­ hollow nest site. The Hyacinth, boxes (24" high by 18" base by 12" cialized in their eating habits, primar­ although the largest of the diameter) and again horizontal and ily eating palm nuts in the wild. Their species, does not have the largest egg. vertical boxes have been used. The diet is high in fats and carbohydrates If infertility or dead in shell is a nest box is lined with dampened pine and low in protein. Smuggling of problem, cloaca cultures and Chlamy­ shavings and shredded eucalyptus these birds has reduced their numbers diosis titers are recommended. leaves to about 1/4 to 1/3 high in the to far below acceptable levels. It is barrel. The birds eliminate the estimated that only 2,500 to 5,000 of Status in the Wild shavings down to a level with which them are left in the wild. Their low Blue and Gold Macaw: Appendix they are content. The nest box is hatch rate adds to their problem of II. Still being imported into the cleaned every six to eight weeks survival. In captivity, their diet con­ United States. Their wild population during nesting season, from January sists of filberts, walnuts, macadamia continues to be decimated in the bird through September, unless the hen is nuts, almonds, nuts, peanuts trade. Currently being raised in cap­ actively sitting on eggs or young. We and Zupreem. Occasionally pecans tivity in amounts that could sustain a keep extra nest boxes and simply are also available and fed. The Hya­ ban on further importation. switch them. We have been amazed at cinths also get daily fruits and vegeta­ Blue Throated Macaw (Caninde what we have found in non-nesting bles as stated above. Of these nuts, we Macaw): Appendix I. Very small pop­ birds' nest boxes. Sometimes bugs feel the macadamia nuts are the clos­ ulation of between 500 and 1000 invade the nest box, and sometimes est to the palm nuts they eat in the birds in the wild. They are only found the birds themselves use them as a wild. The Hyacinths open these nuts in a restricted area in . They storage container. Hyacinths are with amazing ease and truly relish are being raised in limited amounts in famous for storing huge quantities of them. These nuts are harvested the U.S. and elsewhere and are in nuts in their nest boxes. throughout the year. need of further captive breeding to 42 June / July 1991 sustain their numbers. Buffon's Macaw: Appendix I. Threatened Sometimes confused with the Mili­ tary Macaw. See A.F.A. Watchbird Oct/Nov 1986 and Dec/Jan 1990 for ofthe Neotropics clarification. These birds are seri­ by Nigel J. Col/ar ously declining throughout their International Council for Bird Preservation range in . Captive Cambridge, United Kingdom breeding is desperately needed. Green-winged Macaws: Appen­ dix 11. Still being brought into the U.S. Parrots as Problems the deletion of Yellow-sided Parakeet The wild caught birds have proven Parrots are colourful, vegetarian, hypoxantha (an invalid difficult to breed. Better success is playful and mimetic, so people find species), the relegation of Yellow­ possible utilizing captive bred birds them attractive, easy to keep, com­ faced Amazon Amazona xanthops to for breeding. panionable and entertaining. In popu­ near-threatened status, the promotion Hyacinth Macaws: Appendix I. lar consciousness, they are the most from near-threatened status of White­ Current population is estimated at high-profile of birds, commonly fea­ headed Amazon Amazona leuco­ 2500 to 5000 total population. lllegal tured in advertisements that seek to cephala, and the addition of El Oro trade continues to decimate their assert the tropical authenticity of a Parakeet Pyrrhura orcesi, Fuertes' population. Further captive breeding product, and often humourised in Hapalopsittaca fuertesi and Fire­ is necessary to maintain adequate cartoon form to assure the conviv­ eyed Parrots H. pyrrhops, Blue­ amounts ofbirds. iality of and complicity in the experi­ cheeked Amazona dufresniana and Military Macaws: Appendix I. ence the product offers. Alder Amazons A. tucumana. Disappearing and threatened It is all the more curious, then, that Currently, therefore, ICBP considers throughout their range due to con­ scientifically parrots remain so little 42 species at risk. tinued illegal trade. More captive known. The truth is, however, that All but one of these species are dis­ breeding is currently needed. for all their colour and noise, parrots tributed within six general areas, as Red Fronted Macaws: Appendix are highly cryptic (being mostly follows. Central America () I. Recently discovered in the 1910s, green) and capable of long periods of holds four (Thick-billed Parrot only a small population estimated to silence, feeding invisibly in the high Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha, be below 5000 remains in the wild. crowns of trees, and when they fly it Maroon-fronted Parrot R. terrisi, Serious avicultural attention needs to is often with such speed or over such Red-crowned Amazon Amazona be given to this species. distances as to prohibit further obser­ viridigenalis and Socorro Conure Scarlet Macaws: Appendix I. vation. These factors discourage rig­ Aratinga brevipes)j the Caribbean Several different wing patch color orous study to obtain quantitative holds seven (Cuban Conure Aratinga variations have been noted. One with dataj so we have many major gaps in euops, White-headed Amazon a wide band of yellow on the wing, our understanding of the ecology and Amazona leucocephala, Puerto one with emerald green as well as biology of the family in general and Rican Amazon A. vittata, St. Lucia yellow on the wing, and a third vari­ almost all ofits individual members. Amazon A. versicolor, Red-necked ety with royal blue on the yellow The majority of the world's 330­ Amazon A. arausiaca, St. Vincent wing patch. Breeding the variations odd parrot species are indeed found Amazon A. guildingii, Imperial separately would be appropriate. in tropical regions, and most of this Amazon A. imperialis); the lowland Conclusion majority are tropical forest dwellers, forests of northern South America Captive propagation allows the the lowlands being especially rich in hold four (Golden Conure Guaruba aviculturist a unique chance to con­ species. Although dispersed widely guarouba, Pearly Parakeet Pyrrhura tribute scientific data on macaws. through the Pacific Ocean and Old perlata, Blue-cheeked Amazon Using computers to analyze weight World in general, the parrots reach Amazona dufresniana, Yellow­ records and other data, artificial incu­ their maximum diversity in South shouldered Amazon A. barbadensis)j bation, photography and personal America, Southeast Asia and Austra­ the Andes of northwestern South observation, aviculturists can contri­ lia. ICBP's preliminary checklist of America hold 11 (Golden-plumed bute otherwise difficult-to-obtain the threatened birds of the world, information. The last 20 years has Birds to watch (1988), treated no seen monumental achievements by fewer than 71 parrot species (21.5% Bird private aviculturists in breeding most of the family) as at risk of , Pet and Supplies of the 17 species of macaws. The and listed a further 29 as near­ Retailers - creative variety of breeding tech­ threatened (birds in this second cate­ niques has contributed to successful gory were either genuine borderline did you know that one ofthe breeding. Continued advances in cases or species considered most vul­ most prestigious bird publications, avian medicine create an environ­ nerable to future decline). Hence no The Watchbird ment ripe for future progress and fewer than 100 (30% of the family's is available for resale success. total 330 species) were identified as in your store? It is the hope of aviculturists to giving cause for concern or worse. Call or write for information: create genetically viable captive Threatened species lists are always American Federation of Aviculture breeding stock, so that in the future, subject to change, and that in Birds to p.o. Box 56218 release of captive reared birds into an Watch was intended for regular Phoenix, AZ 85079-6218 ecologically sound environment will update. Subsequent information has (602) 484-0931 be possible. • led to some adjustments, involving afa WATCHBIRD 43