CREATURE FEATURE the great green macaw by Cyril Brass A s a member pairs evaluate the nesting conditions Green Macaws in flight moving of the parrot and feeding territory before mating. through the forest searching for fruit- family and a They stake out an area with sufficient bearing Almond trees. However, close relative to the brightly colored food resources to raise a family. If looking for a green bird in the lush Scarlet Macaw, the Great Green they do not find a viable location, green vegetation is like looking for a Macaw possesses vibrant lime green mating does not occur during that white rabbit in the snow. The intense plumage with blue wing tips and tail season. green plumage blends into the feathers of red and blue. surrounding vegetation pro- This gentle green giant in viding excellent camouflage. the parrot world, also I have yet to see these known as Buffon’s Macaw, magnificent birds in the is highly endangered in the wild, only in zoos and world today. nature parks. Being able to The life cycle of this watch these birds in their arboreal bird species is natural habitat would totally connected to a indeed be an incredible single tree species; the sight. Swamp Almond tree, which Once abundant and grows only in the humid widespread throughout lowlands of the Atlantic Central America and plains of Central America. northern South America, the This is an example of one Great Green Macaws are species, the Green Macaw, now critically endangered dependent on the existence due to loss of habitat, of another species, the poaching of young birds for Swamp Almond tree. the pet trade and hunting of Without this particular adult birds for food. tree, there is no habitat for Because macaws are this macaw. known to be extremely The Swamp Almond selective regarding what tree provides all the living they eat and where they live, essentials for the Green it is challenging to determine Macaw; food, water, a specific habitat in which to shelter and nesting. rebuild their decreasing The large fruit population. But it is happen- produced by these endemic ing. Ongoing efforts are trees is the preferred food supply for These enormous Almond trees being made to rebuild a protected this picky eater. The large curved bill can reach some fifty to sixty meters corridor of private reserves and with a puffy red brow above, is adapt- in height and one to two meters in national parks, which are home to ed to cracking open the hard golf ball diameter. It is one of the hardest, the Swamp Almond tree, from size nuts in order to reach the tasty heaviest and densest woods in the southern Nicaragua and into seeds inside. The macaw’s drinking world. Those qualities make this tree northern Costa Rica. water is provided from rain water a profitable natural resource for The Great Green Macaw.... an collected in small cavities in the humans to harvest. But for this endangered species... a picky eater tropical tree. threatened green parrot, it means ... a stunning green parrot. ca This towering tree is the macaw’s lost habitat. chosen habitat with nesting sites high Finding the Great Green Macaws Cyril Brass is a Wildlife and Sports in the canopy, built in large cavities in the wild can be very challenging, Photographer living in Calgary. created when a branch breaks away given their dwindling numbers. You www.cyrilbrass.com from the massive trunk. Breeding may hear a loud squawking flock of 403-999-1908 page13.