Blue Throated Macaw
Look up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Oh wait, yeah it’s a bird. It’s not just any bird however; it’s a Blue-Throated Macaw! If you want to see one of these beautiful, harmless birds fly high and free in the sky, you better hurry up because as we speak, their numbers are decreasing. Because of us they wind up dying in cages from the illegal bird cage trade, searching for a home because of habitat destruction, and face to face with a hunters’ gun. The sources of these threats are all human greed. We want that pretty bird in the pet store when it belongs in the wild. We choose to destroy their homes. We enjoy killing them for “sport” while we could be playing another fun game. Despite the fact that the Blue Throated macaw is on the verge of extinction, there is still hope.
Possible the most deadly, and likely to be the most preventable threat to the Ara Glaucogularis is the illegal bird cage trade. For every one bird in a pet shop, several others die. Poor travelling conditions are one factor of this tragedy. There is little water, little food, they are confined into cages that they barley fit in, and the surroundings are swarming with harmful bacteria. These bacteria spread disease, which is another cause that makes the death rate that much higher. Disease can also do a lot of damage in many different ways. For example, even when a Blue Throated macaw is released, if it ever is released, that macaw will never fully recover. Weather the disease itself kills it, or the effects disable or kill, it will never be able to live a normal life. Also, disease may be transferred to the offspring creating an unhealthy generation of these birds drastically affecting population. Behaviour disorder is also a problem that the illegal bird cage trade creates. As the Blue throated macaws are being transported, behaviour problems begin to occur. Because of this, by the time they get to their destination, being put up for sale is unsuitable because of these behaviour problems. If an Ara Glaucogularis is released into the wild with these disorders, then it will be unable to accomplish basic survival tasks to meet needs. This will soon lead to death and an even more quickly decreasing population. The illegal bird cage trade is clearly a deadly, wasteful, and preventable leading thread to the Blue throated macaw.
Looking away from the illegal bird cage trade, habitat destruction is also a leading cause of the constantly declining population. Habitat destruction not only limits food, water, and other survival utilities, but it also limits the range. At the moment, the Blue throated macaws range is only 12900km². This creates very little room for population growth and hunters know where to look. Despite this fact, actually finding them is very difficult because of the tiny numbers. A less notices factor of habitat destruction is the destruction of migration habitat. This can change migration patterns having an effect on the entire life cycle. Clearly, a leading cause of the declining population of blue throated macaws is habitat destruction.
Think that’s too much for a blue throated macaw to carry on its tiny shoulders? Hunting is yet another problem these parrots face every day of their lives. Hunting, obviously, drastically cuts down on the number of blue throated macaws left today. Poachers kill them mainly for souvenirs, but they may also be kill for their feathers; surprising. The rarity of this animal is actually what attracts hunters along with other aspects. Rarity makes it more desirable and valuable for hunters. It also means that there are less of these magnificent creatures for conservation efforts. Hunters also hunt Blue throated macaws for sport and profit. Money is made by selling parts and feathers that are made into souvenirs. In some cases, the whole birds is preserved then sold. Also, many practices involve killing animals such as these. Hunting is a strong problem these parrots face every day.
No matter how much these macaws can take, no matter how many threats there are, there will always be at least one that will push them to the brink of extinction; possibly even past that. They don’t have a voice, so someone must speak for them. That person should be you. So just think of what our world will be like if Blue Throated macaws weren’t flying free and beautifully in the sky, making the world a more colourful and happy place. They were already once extinct, don’t let it happen again. Save the Blue throated macaw and what best to like about it then that fact that its colours are the same as our school theme colours. Help out this fellow, blue and yellow!