My moments with the Scarlet Macaw

I leap from my perch, the wind glides through my feathers. I feel alive!

I am an endangered species. I am the Scarlet Macaw vibrant in colour, red, blue, yellow…I really am radiant!

I have seen the tourists come and go. They always ooh and awe when they spot me. I feel I am what I am, but others view me as magnificent. I see the flashes of light while the pictures are taken, blinding me at times but they don’t seem to notice. Are birds allowed to have feelings?

Have you ever wondered if birds can feel, if they react based on their emotions, well they do and this is my story….

My name is Mary. It was a hot humid day as I sat by the pool in the middle of the Belizean jungle, while staying at a luxury treehouse. This would be the adventure of a lifetime! Surrounded not only by the thick abundant lush forest but the sounds and sights of the wild birds, it is mesmerizing. As I read a few pages from my bird watching book I take moments in between to just stop, look, listen, as the tropical birds pass by. I arrive at the Scarlet Macaw page. This bird is spectacular. The colours just pop off of the page and make me crave one spotting, just one, of this endangered beauty!

My first day is done, I crawl into bed, hoping that the next day can be the reward, it is bird watching excursion day! It is so dark when I turn out the dim light next to the bed. I hear the jungle noises. Funny, that just a screen separates me from these wild hungry predators out there. I try to drift off, my mind wandering as I start dreaming about the birds.

The morning is gorgeous. Sun is shining. Birds are chirping. The howler monkeys are loud today, throwing coconuts at the roof of the neighboring tree house, that seems risky, I laugh to myself…

The excursion begins with a walk down the winding path through the thick trees. Watch for snakes, we are reminded. Not really excited to see a snake, in the woods! We trek on. We come to a large clearing. Our guide is amazing. He can spot everything, he has eagle eyes, he helps us capture photos of numerous bird types. No Scarlet Macaws today.

Supper is delicious. This chef makes everything from scratch, even his own cheeses and ice cream. I guess being in the middle of the jungle doesn’t allow a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up a “few things”. I am stuffed and head for my tree house. I feel so luxurious having a large deck with a claw foot tub situated in the middle, towering over the jungle canopy…I feel alive!

I run the luke warm water, it is still hot outside but the sun is setting and I am going to relax and enjoy every moment. I slide into the tub and lay my head back, taking it all in.

First I hear it, I have never actually heard it before, a honking noise, it is the Scarlet Maçaw and it is coming in for a visit. I am ready!

The tail, long, light blue feathers...the wings full of vibrant yellows…the upper sides of the flight feathers a dark blue…and then the scarlet red…it is breathtaking!

He perches on the railing close to me. I admire the grace, the poise, the bird.

I feel I can trust her, after all she is naked and laying in a giant bath of water. I think she is speaking to me? Hello? Hello? What is your name? I am cautious but I want to trust again. “Hello”. Wow, the look on her face, did she know that I could mimic the humans? Surprise!

I hop a little closer, curiously eyeing the water. It looks refreshing but do I trust this person. She appears to be alone. I cock my head to listen for any indoor movement, sounds, nothing. So she is traveling alone. I have a flashback to my mate for life. She was a beauty. The mother to my babes. I imagine her souring and cooing around me, we were so in love. Three long years have passed and our babes have long left the nest. Memories of the fateful day haunt me but I want to trust again, love again. Today is the day.

I lean closer and almost feel the mist from the refreshing water. I peer in and startled, I jump back. I see someone that looks like..ME. For a moment it takes my breathe away but realize it is only my reflection, I am a handsome one aren’t I. I honk, startling the water beauty, she laughs, I mimic her. The trust has begun. I stick my leg into the water and it gently splashes. She laughs again. She is speaking to me, telling me how much she misses her husband. It is hauntingly similar, her husband was taken too soon, it still seems fresh to her.

I think back to the cage. Just the two of us then. She was a beauty and mine for life, but it was so short. The human starts to get tears. I saw this before, the shedding water from his eyes when my mate went to sleep for the last time. I hop a little closer and she smiles, thru the tears, I think we have mutual trust. She continues talking to me and I can feel the emotion. I remember, the humans and the compassion shown to my mate.

The moment seems to last a long time. We exchange the looks, we seem to look deep, my large white circled eyes into her bright blue eyes, the connection is there. I fly away feeling full, full of life, love and purpose. Mary wipes away the remainder of her tears feeling full, full of life, love and purpose.

It is an interesting concept that an animal can bond with a human and vice versa. The thought that humans maliciously and intentionally harm another living being is incredibly sad. The Scarlet Macaw is as valuable an asset to this world as you and I. So happy to report that when kept in captivity, under the right circumstances, the Maçaw can be reared by human hands and released into the wild boosting the population. I have read that this is being done by the Tambopata Macaw Project! Let’s continue to protect and respect the Scarlet Macaw…