They are victims of poaching and habitat loss

Nov 3, 2006 07:19 GMT  ·  By

Macaws - the largest parrots of the world, with some species as big as a pheasant - have seen their numbers declining in recent decades, and that trend is still unchanged.

There are 23 species of macaws, of which one is extinct, another survives only in captivity and seven are endangered. "The numbers for all macaw species are shrinking," said Don Brightsmith at Texas A&M University's Schubot Exotic Bird Center.

Macaws are found in tropical South and Central America, from Southern Mexico to Northern Argentina. Pouching and habitat loss are the main factors of the declining numbers.

These parrots are highly prized by the pet trade industry. Some indigenous tribes hunt them either for food or for their bright feathers. In many places, urbanization or deforestation led to macaws' habitat disappearance. "You have to admire them for their beauty, which is almost a curse for them and one reason why they are so highly prized. But surprisingly little is known about them - their movements, their habits, their reproduction, almost everything about them. We just don't know much about these beautiful birds." said Brightsmith.

Macaws are considered amongst the best imitators amongst parrots, and, of course, this rises their price on the pet market. They live up to 50 years and often outlive their owners. Macaws seem also to be affectionate birds. "It's believed they are very sensitive to human emotions," he adds.

Brightsmith have been studying macaw populations from the Amazon rain forests of eastern Peru. He discovered that the rise on popularity of the Aguaje palm fruit (only the city of Iquitos consumes up to 15 tons of the fruit per day) is a decline factor for macaws, which eat the fruit and, more importantly, nest on these palms. "Unfortunately, the locals have discovered that the best way to get the fruit is to chop down the whole tree, and these can grow up to 100 feet high," Brightsmith confirms. "So nesting areas and food sources for macaws are being eliminated."

"Other prime macaw nesting grounds are being lost by logging and clearing the land for agriculture," he adds.

Brightsmith wants to collar macaws and to follow their routes through the forest using satellite technology, hoping to learn more about their biology. "We have some macaws here in captivity on campus at the Schubot Exotic Bird Center, but we have much to learn about them in their native habitat," he says.

"We know that they tend to stay with one mate for a long time. But we need to learn more about their breeding habits, their migration routes, more about their diet and many other things. The more we learn about these birds, the better our chances to save them."

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