Blue-Throated Macaw

The blue-throated macaw is a beautiful blue and yellow parrot with a distinct blue stripe on its throat. This species is one of the rarest birds in the world ("Blue-Throated Macaw" Endangered List). Blue-throated macaws eat fruits, berries, seeds, and nuts and drink immature fruit. This species has a lifespan of up to 80 years ("Blue-Throated Macaw" Sea World Parks).

The blue-throated macaw typically lives in monogamous pairs; however, on occasions, they live in small groups, consisting of seven to nine birds. Larger, rarer colonies consist of up to 90 birds. Macaws climb trees and stay active during the day. The blue-throated macaw breeds once a year; however, if their nest or eggs get lost, they often will lay another clutch of eggs that same season. A clutch consists of one to three eggs that take roughly twenty-six days to incubate ("Blue-Throated Macaw" Endangered Wildlife). Baby macaws typically stay with their parents for about a year or until they can scavenge for food for themselves. At age four, the birds reach their sexual maturity ("Blue-Throated Macaw" Sea World Parks). Macaws build their nests on palm trees using dead palms. The nesting site rotates every year. All macaw species and other creatures such as woodpeckers and bats compete for breeding grounds. When the blue-throated macaw detects danger, it makes a high-pitched cry that warns the other birds ("Blue-Throated Macaw." Endangered Wildlife).

The species is geographically isolated, being found in Bolivia only ("Blue-throated Macaw" National Geographic). There are two subpopulations of the bird, the northern blue-throated macaws and the southern blue-throated macaws. The macaws of the north are located west of Santa Ana eastwards and throughout Beni to the eastern savannas. The southern subpopulations are found throughout the Maraban province in Beni, near the town of Loreto. A few macaws can be found in the savannah and gallery forest; however, their natural habitat continues to shrink as they become one of the most endangered animals. The blue-throated macaw’s largest nesting site is in palm trees on the plains in Bolivia's Gran Chaco of the Beni department ("Blue-Throated Macaw" SeaWorld Parks).

The species' population declined 80% during the 1970s and 80s. For years after the blue-throated macaw was thought to be extinct in the wild until 1992, about fifty macaws were rediscovered in northeastern Bolivia ("Blue-throated Macaw" National Geographic). Today, the species is on the most critically endangered list. Thanks to the fifteen years of conservation led by ABC's Bolivian partners and Association Armenia program, the population has slowly been increasing. Seventy-six macaw chicks have been released into the wild from their artificial nest boxes, leading to a significant increase in the population, approximately four hundred fifty macaws. Today, it is believed there are between fifty to two hundred fifty wild adult blue-throated macaws remaining ("Blue-Throated Macaw" American Bird Conservancy).

Why Are Blue-Throated Macaws Endangered?

1. Illegal Trade

A primary threat macaws face is capture for the illegal pet trade. Tracing back to the 1970s and 80s, more than a thousand blue-throated macaws were caught in the wild, exported to be pets out of the country. The species was banned from shipment; however, the wildlife trade still remained their most prominent threat ("Blue-Throated Macaw" National Geographic). Thanks to the U.S. Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 and Europe's 2007 ban on importing wild birds, the number of blue-throated macaws poached for the global pet trade has reduced significantly; however, they are still sold on the black market at very high values ("Blue-Throated Macaw" American Bird Conservancy)

2. Cultural Reasons

Macaw feathers are used in traditional headdresses for indigenous celebrations, mostly in the region's Moxeño native communities ("Blue-Throated Macaw" National Geographic). There has been an ongoing effort to replace the feathers with artificial ones and the replacement has already saved around 6,000 macaws of all species ("Blue-Throated Macaw" American Bird Conservancy).

3. Habitat Loss

Habitat loss also poses significant threats to the macaws. Blue-throated macaws require large palm trees with cavities, and with their palm trees being burned, they lose their nesting trees and food source. In the Beni region there are few trees left that meet the specie’s requirement ("Blue-Throated Macaw" Endangered List) The bird's habitat is situated directly next to Trinidad, a major city. As the city has expands, the blue-throated macaw's population decreased ("Blue-Throated Macaw" American Bird Conservancy).

Ranchers also pose a considerable threat to the species, expanding their cattle farms, taking over the macaw's habitat. Cattle ruin the growth of tree seedlings by trampling and grazing. Humans also cut down too many trees for fuel and fence posts. Yearly, ranchers also burn the savanna intending to improve grassland pasture, but, instead, destroy animal habitat ("Blue-Throated Macaw '' National Geographic).

Why Blue-Throated Macaws Are Important

Blue-throated macaws are important as they are a key contributor in dispersing seeds through the ecosystem. When the birds swallow the seeds, they help fertilize it as they germinate and then grow. They also knock the seeds off the trees and plants, allowing the seed to make contact with soil and grow (Moon).

Change

To raise awareness for the rare macaw species, Asociación Armonía's National Blue-throated Macaw Community launched a campaign in 2003, installing Bolivian pride in the country's struggling bird species. In 2005, action was taken, and the nest box program was established. They installed artificial nest boxes because of the lack of natural nesting sites, and the birds quickly adapted to them in only a year. These nests helped nest 80 young birds ("Blue-Throated Macaw" American Bird Conservancy). In 2008, American Bird Conservancy and ABC helped create the first protected area for these macaws, the Barba Azul Nature Reserve in Bolivia. This reserve provides habitats for three hundred other bird species and some mammals as well ("Blue-Throated Macaw" American Bird Conservancy). In the past decade, the reserve significantly expanded its size, to now spread over 1.5 million acres. Over a third of the blue-throated macaw population are thought to live there now ("Blue-Throated Macaw" National Geographic).

Blue-throated macaws are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Although their population numbers are low, they are stable now, and with numerous conservation efforts Bolivia has created a recovery plan for the species. Many trees were planted in the local and private ranch lands and conservation project areas, providing food and habitat for the species and nest boxes continue to be installed to increase breeding success ("Blue-Throated Macaw" National Geographic).

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Artist Statement

This paper layering pieces took time and precise withl sizes and perspective view. It was a challenge to use paper, as it is a much lighter material, and it is much easier to make little mistakes. Sometimes the smaller art pieces are the hardest. With less of a surface to use and see, you can’t hide mistakes when making a precise piece. One of the obstacles I faced during this project was using a dull exacto knife. The paper was not cut straight and there were little pieces of paper folding up and fuzzes glued down. I soon realized though this was the texture I needed to make the detailing more fascinating. I used sticky foam to layer these pieces. It was a trial and error process with the yellow wing feathers, trying to make the layering look intriguing and pop. I like the different shades of yellows used in the piece and how the blue compliments those tones.