Blue & Gold Macaws aka Blue & Yellow Macaws
Ara ararauna
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.
Natural Distribution / Range
Its natural range stretches from Eastern Panama through Columbia, except the Cauca Valley, and West Narino to eastern and western Ecuador and northern Peru. Through Venezuela and Brazil to Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. They inhabit lowlands up to 500m, and are found in forest, savanna, swamp, and riverine woodland habitats.
This species formerly occurred on the island of Trinidad, but became extinct due to human activities (over-hunting, capturing for the pet trade, habitat destruction, etc.). They are also believed to be extinct in Paraguay, North Argentina and West Ecuador, probably for the same reasons. Activities to reintroduce this species in its natural habitat are currently ongoing ( Article).
Description:Blue & Gold Macaws - like most other Macaw species - are large and magnificent in every respect. Theycan reach 76-84 cm long and weigh between 800 and 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.
A Bolivian sub-species is said to be also available in the United States. The Bolivian Blue & Gold is described to be much larger than the regular Blue & Gold. In fact, it is often as large or even larger than the Hyacinth Macaw. The blue feathers of the Bolivian Blue & Gold are said to be more of a true blue, while those feathers of a common Blue & Gold are more green-blue in coloration. Notwithstanding the physical differences, they are said to share the same personality traits. We were unable to confirm that this is a true sub-species. In fact, authorities list the Blue & Gold as a monotypic species (one single species - no sub-species). Unless there is evidence to the contrary, this larger bird was most likely the result of selective breeding (for size and color) or potentially, there was a Blue-throated Macaw in the mix (ancestry).
- Exciting Mutations of the Blue & Gold Macaw have occurred. Please check out this website for photos.
Blue & Gold Macaws as Pets: Even the most well cared for blue and gold macaw will "scream" and make other loud noises. 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 set-up that allows them to chew as much as they want, toys to keep them busy, an area that is easily cleaned and maintained. Not a bird for most households, but a source of great pleasure, wonderful companionship (and, admittedly, the occasional heartache over destroyed furnishings) - for the right owner. If their needs are not met, they are likely to develop behavioral problems, such as excessive screaming or biting, feather plucking (please refer to the photo to the right) - in extreme cases, they may begin to mutilate themselves.
I received an inspiring e-mail from a Blue & Gold Macaw owner who expresses very clearly what it takes to provide a macaw with a healthy and stimulating environment. She describes what it is like living with her "Blu" - who developed into a wonderful pet due to all the attention and wonderful care he receives at his home. Living with a Blue & Gold Macaw:
"I've had Blu for two years. I bought him from Pet Smart on his first birthday,May 5th 2004. Actually my 14 year old son begged me to buy him and Blu became my companion.
I knew nothingabout parrots, so I read everything I could about them. To my surprise, he was more than I anticipated in upkeep; however, I took on the responsibility and it paid off.
From day one, Blu spent every day out of his cage, in a play area in my bedroom, taking showers with me daily, and going on car rides at least 3 to 5 days a week. He has become such a delight, but I wouldn't recommend a parrot of this type to anyone who is not capable or willing to include him as an active member of the family. I include Blu in all activities I participate in daily. "EVERY DAY", and keep him supplied with plenty of wooden chewables, pecans, walnuts, and other whole nuts in a shell at all times.
He eats what my other family members eat, and fresh berries and fruit are part of his staple diet. As a result, his colors are shining and magnificent, and he often reminds me he thinks so too. "I'm such a pretty bird" he says with a smile in his eyes, "I'm good". And he is. He can be loud, but I control it to some extent by distracting him with "quiet conversation" and "soft voice levels". He loves to cuddle, says he loves me after a drenching shower, asks for nuts "cracker" he says, any time he see's anyone eating something "delicious" looking.
It amazes me how he uses the proper words for situations. For instance, he says "I'm a pretty bird: not "you are a pretty bird" like I tell him. He laughs when I trip or drop something, he smiles most of the day, and asks to go "bye bye" when he sees me getting ready to go somewhere. He tells me when he wants to go to sleep and back to his cage for the night, "night night"? he asks at the end of each day.
There is no doubt he is extremely intelligent because he speaks cognitively a large part of the time. He is a pain the in butt at times, but so are my other family members. Love him and he loves twice as hard. I never ignored him, or left him alone for more than an hour or two, so I'm not sure about how he would be if I didn't. He goes on vacation with us, every time. (We like the "Weston" hotels, they always welcome us with no problem. I leave the rooms clean so it will stay that way. He's cooky, loud, funny and loving. He's my little "chicken" and it cracks me up when he acknowledges it too. "I'm a chicken" he boasts. "I love"! So do I." (AvianWeb Note: Blu's "mom" has sent me some photos - one of which is featured to the bottom right. But she sent me others that I think you may also enjoy. Please visit this website for additional photos of Blu).
NOTE: Blue & Gold Macaws, like all macaws, will chew on your furniture, electric wiring, jewelry - any item they can get hold of. This is natural behavior. In the wild, they will spend a substantial time of their days on trees "customizing their environment" -- building nests, foraging for food, preening and interacting with heir mates, caring for their chicks. At your home, one of their primary activities will be chewing, exploring items (ANY item) with their beaks.
You have got to "bird-proof" the areas they are in, to make sure they can't chew through electric wiring (fire hazard). Bird owners usually find ways to hide cables or protect them with plastic tubing available at Home Depot (or like store).
Some people don't want to go through the trouble of birdproofing their homes and can't tolerate beak marks on furnishings. If this is so, a macaw is not the right pet for you.
Ideally, they should have a nice-size play area -- some people even provide them with a bird room.
Macaw ownership generally presents multiple challenges, such as excessive chewing - especially at certain stages in their life. They do discover their beaks as method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage" and they can generally be somewhat naughty, and it really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior beforean undesirable behavior has been established. Undisciplined macaws will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires.
They regard anything in your home as a "toy" that can be explored and chewed on; destroying items that you may hold dear or are simply valuable. Even a young bird that has not been neglected and abused requires proper guidance; this becomes even more challenging when it involves a rescued bird that may require rehabilitation. Not everybody can tolerate the natural loud call of a macaw and even though it can't (or should not) be entirely eliminated, there are ways to discourage screaming / screeching in your pet macaw.
Overall, it is important to guide parrot behavior, but even more so if your feathered family member is a magnificent and powerful macaw.
- AvianWeb Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training. If you found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.
- If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
- Stop Biting
- Perform Tricks &
- Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
- and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
Diet: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 conjuncture 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.
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.org) ... Additional information and photos added by Avianweb.
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