Great Green Macaws officially listed as critically endangered by IUCN
Only 500-1000 individuals left in the world.
An intelligent and beautiful bird streaked with blue feathers, the Great Green Macaw is nearing extinction primarily because of deforestation in their Central and South American habitats and the poaching of chicks for pets. Their classification on the IUCN Red List signals the real possibility we will no longer be able to see these magnificent birds in the future flying the blue skies.
The Great Green Macaw lives in tropical forests of Central America, ranging from Honduras, Panama, Colombia and South America. In Costa Rica, they breed from December through July and prefer the Mountain Almond Tree and the Titor. Because of the threats they face, Macaws may not breed or successfully fledge a chick.
The nonprofit Macaw Recovery Network in Costa Rica works toward the conservation of the Great Green Macaw and its sister species, the Scarlet Macaw. Thanks to the efforts of this organization, a fieldwork program led by Mario Jiménez, helps monitor Great Green Macaws in their natural habitat. His team tracks the progress of these birds weekly, climbing up into trees where the Great Green Macaws nest. The team also supports chicks when needed to ensure their survival.
“Macaws often only produce one chick a year and are inconsistent with their breeding attempts,” explains Jiménez. “Ensuring that wild adults live as long as possible and are able to fulfill their breeding potential can dramatically help endangered parrot populations recover. This success brings us one step closer to our goal.”