http://www.photonette.net/
Blue-and-yellow Macaw
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blue-and-yellow Macaw
Jurong BirdPark, Singapore
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Psittaciformes
Family:
Psittacidae
Genus:
Ara
Species:
A.
ararauna
Binomial name
Ara ararauna
(Linnaeus,
1758)
The Blue-and-yellow
Macaw (Ara ararauna), also known as Blue-and-gold Macaw, is a
member of the macaw group of parrots which breeds in the swampy forests of
tropical South America from Panama south to Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. It is
probably now extinct on Trinidad.
They can reach 76-86 cm
long and weigh 900 to 1300 g and are vivid in appearance with blue wings and
tail, golden (some might say, "butterscotch") underparts and a green
cap on the head. Their beaks are jet black and very strong for crushing nuts.
In
captivity
Although popular as pets
because of their striking appearance and ability to talk, the price of a single
bird may be in excess of US $1,000-$2,000 in North America, and their large
size makes domestication difficult.
They require much more
effort and knowledge from owners than more traditional pets such as dogs or
cats. They are intelligent and loving, so for someone who can provide for their
needs, they make good companion animals.
Even the most well cared
for Blue-and-Gold Macaw will "scream" and make other loud noises,
nonetheless, it is possible to make them silent. Loud vocalizations and
destructive chewing are natural parts of their behavior and should be expected
in captivity. To some extent you can redirect chewing to toys, but a macaw left
alone, uncaged in a room will likely redecorate. By providing a number of toys
in cage, one can minimize the destructive chewing as the bird will focus
chewing on those appropriate objects.
They require a varied diet,
a seed only diet will lead to health problems such as vitamin deficiency. An
example of a good diet would be a quality pelleted mix, in conjunction with a
mix featuring seed, nuts, and dried fruits, with fresh vegetables and fruits
fed regularly; furthermore, it is quite common (and appreciated by the parrot)
to partake with their human owners of safe foods like pasta, bread, etc. It is
important to avoid foods with high fat content (generally) while striving to
provide a wide variety of foods.
There are some foods which
are toxic to birds and parrots as a group. Cherry pits, avocados, chocolate,
and caffeine are some foods that should not be fed. Chocolate and caffeine are
not metabolized by birds the same way they are in humans.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). Ara
ararauna. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006.
Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why
this species is of least concern
- Birds of Venezuela by Steven L. Hilty, ISBN
0-7136-6418-5
- ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of
Trinidad and Tobago, 2nd edition, Comstock Publishing. ISBN
0-8014-9792-2.
- My Parrot, My Friend by Doane and Qualkinbush,
Macmillan, 1994 ISBN 0-87605-970-1
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blue-and-yellow_Macaw&action=history
Blue-and-yellow Macaw
Jurong BirdPark, Singapore
Scientific classification
|
Kingdom: |
Animalia |
|
Phylum: |
Chordata |
|
Class: |
Aves |
|
Order: |
Psittaciformes |
|
Family: |
Psittacidae |
|
Genus: |
Ara |
|
Species: |
A.
ararauna |
Binomial name
Ara ararauna
(Linnaeus,
1758)
In
captivity
Although popular as pets
because of their striking appearance and ability to talk, the price of a single
bird may be in excess of US $1,000-$2,000 in North America, and their large
size makes domestication difficult.
They require much more
effort and knowledge from owners than more traditional pets such as dogs or
cats. They are intelligent and loving, so for someone who can provide for their
needs, they make good companion animals.
Even the most well cared
for Blue-and-Gold Macaw will "scream" and make other loud noises,
nonetheless, it is possible to make them silent. Loud vocalizations and
destructive chewing are natural parts of their behavior and should be expected
in captivity. To some extent you can redirect chewing to toys, but a macaw left
alone, uncaged in a room will likely redecorate. By providing a number of toys
in cage, one can minimize the destructive chewing as the bird will focus
chewing on those appropriate objects.
They require a varied diet,
a seed only diet will lead to health problems such as vitamin deficiency. An
example of a good diet would be a quality pelleted mix, in conjunction with a
mix featuring seed, nuts, and dried fruits, with fresh vegetables and fruits
fed regularly; furthermore, it is quite common (and appreciated by the parrot)
to partake with their human owners of safe foods like pasta, bread, etc. It is
important to avoid foods with high fat content (generally) while striving to
provide a wide variety of foods.
There are some foods which
are toxic to birds and parrots as a group. Cherry pits, avocados, chocolate,
and caffeine are some foods that should not be fed. Chocolate and caffeine are
not metabolized by birds the same way they are in humans.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). Ara
ararauna. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006.
Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why
this species is of least concern
- Birds of Venezuela by Steven L. Hilty, ISBN
0-7136-6418-5
- ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of
Trinidad and Tobago, 2nd edition, Comstock Publishing. ISBN
0-8014-9792-2.
- My Parrot, My Friend by Doane and Qualkinbush,
Macmillan, 1994 ISBN 0-87605-970-1
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blue-and-yellow_Macaw&action=history