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story was transmitted over time and distance because it is amusing. It might have originated with the Bororo of The Hyacinth Macaw: Brazil, but I am uncertain of this and have not been able to verify it. I relate a South American Indian Folktale it here for your enjoyment. Hyacinth Macaw by Jonathan E. Reyman, Ph.D. In the beginning, Hyacinth Macaw Research Associate - Anthropology Illinois State Museum resembled some other birds, but he Research and Collections Center was much bigger. He was all blue, so Springfield, IL 62703-3535 it was often difficult to see him against the sky when he flew above the forest. And his beak was straight so that he could peck at trees to eat the insects­ olktales about the Scarlet Macaw another lowland group, and peoples his favorite food-that lived under and Amazon parrot recorded living in the Andean foothills and their bark, and so that he could sip F during my 1967 fieldwork mountains, most often Otavalan Indians nectar from flowers like his smaller among the Cayapa Indians of (Map 1) who traveled widely selling brother, hummingbird. Esmeraldas Province, northwestern their hand woven textiles. Each group Hyacinth Macaw lived a carefree Ecuador (see Map 1) were published had a distinctive style of clothing spe­ life. Because he was so much bigger in the July/August 1997 issue of the cific to them (photo 2). I learned much than most other birds, he had nothing a/a Watchbird. As I wrote, one of my about these other peoples despite the tasks was to accompany the Cayapa fact that we communicated in Spanish on trading expeditions to record what that was not the native language of any they sold or exchanged and what they of us. received in return. The two folktales Evenings were enjoyable, especially were collected while traveling along if the Cayapa were pleased with the the rivers with my Cayapa guides. success of their trading activities. We Some trips were in the general area ­ gathered around the hearth in a house, not more than a day's journey from the or an outdoor firepit, and the Cayapa house ofthe family with whom I lived. and other Indians exchanged news, Other trips took several days as we gossip, and stories (including folk­ went to towns such as Borbon (photo tales). One folktale concerned the 1.) and Limones on the Rio Cayapas, Hyacinth Macaw (Andorhynchus and to the coastal town ofSan Lorenzo hyacinthinus), a bird not native to at the mouth ofthe river. The most dis­ either Ecuador or Columbia; its habitat tant destination was Tumaco, across is the Amazon Basin of Brazil, an area the border in Columbia (Map 1). which most of these people never vis­ The Cayapa sold or traded a num­ ited (see Map 2). I assume that the MAP 2 ber of forest-derived and homegrown horticultural products and a few man­ Map of South America. The darkened area is ufactured goods: bananas and plan­ the general area of Brazil inhabited by the tains, cacao beans (for chocolate), balls Hyacinth macaw (Andorhynchus hyacinthinus). of raw rubber, balsa and other logs, EQ "TOR PERU • QUITO tobacco, dugout canoes and paddles, ~ and rum, if the sugar cane harvest had o u ECUADOR 6 been especially good. In exchange the u HAWKEYE PARROTS Cayapa purchased or received in trade, ~ Queen of Bavaria Conures cotton and satin cloth, needles and • Parent-reared for thread, kerosene, matches, fishhooks, ~ Cultural Identity shotgun shells, rubber boots and hats, ~a.k'" • Microchip Implanted machetes and other tools, and, infre­ for I.D. turetl • Health Guaranteed quently, a Coleman™ lantern. • Pairs and Individual PERU MAP 1 These trading expeditions were Queens Available interesting for several reasons. For P.O. Box 802 • Iowa City, IA 52244 Map of Ecuador and neighboring countries with example, I met members of other phone: (319) 338-2231 locations of the Cayapa area and the towns website: www.hawkeyeparrots.com Indian tribes such as the .Colorado, mentioned in the text. the afa WATCHBIRD 19 to fear from them. And because he closer he came to the sun. He was very La()~ Gou[()ians lived so high up in the trees, he did not warm and very happy, but he now • Normal have to fear other animals, except for was also very tired. Indeed, he was so ~- Ye{{ow, Blue, silver the snakes that can climb trees to steal tired that he lost control of his wings ~~ Pegg~ Dalr~mple -- macaw chicks. But with his long, and fell toward the sun. Splat! phone/fax (30 9)342 -9665 pointed beak and great size, Hyacinth Hyacinth Macaw hit headfirst into the Macaw was unafraid of most snakes, sun. The sun was extremely hot, so and few snakes would risk slithering Hyacinth Macaw quickly walked off its up a tree to steal his chicks. There surface. were other birds less able to defend But now Hyacinth Macaw found themselves and their young. himself falling rapidly away from the As I said, Hyacinth Macaw was sun, tumbling downward through the carefree. He was also a foolish bird sky, toward the forest. Over and over who thought he could do anything he he turned as down he plummeted. wanted. And what he wanted most Finally he was able to regain his con­ was to fly up high, so high that he trol, and he spread his wings. This xxxxxXXXXXXXXXXXX could touch the sun. Hyacinth Macaw slowed his fall, and just before he was ~~~ loved the sun's warmth that swept the about to plunge into the tallest trees of Counted Cross Stitch Designs morning mists from the forest and the forest, Hyacinth Macaw straight­ over 350 exotic birds allowed him to fly above the trees. ened out his flight and landed safely and more There he would spread his wings and on a high branch. Send $1.50 for full color catalog, let the air currents, heated by the sun, For many hours Hyacinth Macaw carry him even higher. perched on the branch at the top of refund with first order. One day, Hyacinth Macaw decided the tree, resting. Then, he realized he Beakers Graphic Designs to fly up to touch the sun. He told the was hungry, so he flew to a nearby 3217 Italy Avenue other birds and forest animals of his tree to eat some nectar from its flow­ Missouri Valley, IA 51555 plan. They told him that he was being ers. But Hyacinth Macaw was unable XXXXX~XXXXXXXXX foolish, as usual. to eat; his beak was now bent and "The sun is our Father," they said, curled downward because he had "And you must treat him with respect. flown so hard into the sun. He tried to You cannot just fly up and touch him." peck the bark of another tree to reach An old, wise shaman named the insects beneath it, but his newly Our 61st Bird Mart Tupiyama overheard Hyacinth Macaw curved beak was useless for pecking EVERYBODY'S telling of his plans. After the other trees. birds and animals left, Tupiyama called Hyacinth Macaw began to cry from BIRD MART Hyacinth Macaw to him. When he hunger and frustration, and soon the June 14, 1998 perched on Tupiyama's shoulder, other birds and animals gathered L.A. County Fairplex, Bldg. #4 Tupiyama told him, "My friend, you around him. When they saw what had Pomona, California should not do this thing. It is not happened, they began to laugh. respectful. Besides, it is not your Hyacinth Macaw was angry. "I am 9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. nature to fly so high. Only Harpy hungry and cannot eat, and all you can Admission $5.00 Eagle, Condor, and King Vulture fly do is laugh at me!" Kids under 12 free this high, and they are much bigger The other birds and animals replied, The Pomona Bird Mart has and stronger than you are. Even so, "Yes, because your beak is bent, and Condor and King Vulture had the you look so strange. And you have yel­ become the marketplace for feathers on their heads burned off. low splotches on your face" (photo 3). buyers and sellers. Stay where you belong just above the Hyacinth Macaw flew to the river BIRDS- CAGES - FEEDERS forest." and looked at his reflection in the NEST BOXES - VITAMINS Hyacinth Macaw thanked Tupiyama water. He saw that he now had yellow SEED-PERCHES-GIFf ITEMS for his advice and concern but said spots around his eyes and the sides of parking $4.00 that he wanted to fly up to the sun to his mouth where some of the sun's Use White Ave. parking lot touch it. With that he took off, and color had rubbed off onto him when (Tram service from parking lot to building G) soon he was high above the trees. he flew into it. He ducked his head a division of Up and up flew Hyacinth Macaw, into the water, but the color would not J. Williams Financial Services Inc. higher and higher, and nearer and come off. He put his beak into the P.O. Box 794, Acton, CA 93510 nearer to the sun. Never had he been crook of a tree and pulled, but he (805) 269-0424 so high before, and it took all his could not straighten it. Hyacinth The Orginal, The # 1 Bird Mart strength to fly that high, even with the Macaw again began to weep. warm air currents helping him. Ever Soon, along came Tupiyama. He 20 May/June 1998 looked at Hyacinth Macaw and c ca laughed.

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