Greetings dear Steemit friends. Today while I was in my university, I saw a flock of red macaws passing by, which settled in the trees of that place making a whole spectacle worth looking at.
For centuries, macaws have been the most charismatic bird in the world. Besides colorful and showy, they have a capacity that no other bird possesses, that of imitating the sound of human voice. As pets they are excellent companions and friends and even become members of the family.
However the illegal trade that has meant possessing such precious pets, as well as the destruction of their habitat, have made these unique birds are in danger of extinction.
For years these birds have been among the most charismatic and attractive around the world. The chronicles of the time tell us that Christopher Columbus after his arrival in America saw that the natives had peculiar animals as pets, small and colorful birds that were able to imitate the human voice. On his return to Europe, he decided to bring 40 specimens of these birds that in the new world existed in large quantities to the Queen Elizabeth of Spain.
Especially in the zones of pretty vegetation can be observed these birds of colorful colors, a treasure of the skies that the Mayas called "Ara Macao", that means the sun before its creation.
Macaws generally live near rivers and lagoons to easily dispose of water, most important for their survival.
Macaws in particular feed on berries, fruits and seeds for which they have a powerful beak capable of breaking the corozo of the coconut palm, extraordinarily hard. They are gregarious birds, which fly in caravans of sometimes 20 pairs or more in search of food near their nests.
Macaws are among the few species of monogamous animals on the planet. They form pairs for life, and that is how they are seen most of the time, especially at the beginning of the year when the reproductive stage begins. Later in the summer they can be observed in family groups with one or two juveniles flying in freedom, but that in case they have not faced any danger.
Macaws are known to be the most commercialized birds in the world, only in the 1980s in Central and South America, they exported an approximate 1.8 million copies to Europe, the United States and Japan.
There are communities that protect macaws from the illegal trade that takes place in wild areas, for this reason, private breeding grounds have been created, breeding centers for macaws with excellent results. This in order to contribute to the reproduction of wild macaws, and then are released to natural areas. The commercialization and donation of guacamaya is currently prohibited, the only way to obtain them is for educational purposes.
A species in danger of disappearing and different ways of coping with the problem. The stories are complemented, the participation of communities with authorities and private foundations, ecotourism, captive breeding and species research are synonymous with good news. After learning about conservation efforts to maintain and recover bird populations, we have learned that they need large areas for their daily flights, various types of rainforests to meet their feeding needs, and alternative areas for their migration and dispersal
And most importantly, it is necessary to integrate the protected areas where macaw parrots live through biological corridors that help to curb their illegal capture and sale.
Saving the macaws of extinction and enjoy the joy that gives us their flight in freedom is worth more than having them repeat what we like most in the patios of our homes.
Source of images