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Birdwatchers visiting Costa Rica won't want to miss spotting the great green macaw, a vibrant avian species that has been the focus of intense conservation efforts in recent years.
Places to Spot ThemKnown as Ara ambiguus in the scientific community and the guacamayo verde mayor or lapa verde in Spanish, the great green macaw is a variety of parrot found throughout Central America and the northern parts of South America. In Costa Rica, the bird can be found in Tortuguero National Park, La Selva Protected Zone and Earth University. It also makes its home in Maquenque National Park, a new reserve created specifically to help protect the species from the threat of extinction. Once tourists make it to these attractions, they will be able to spot the great green macaw in the canopies of lowland rainforests.
A Few FactsAs one might guess from its name, the great green macaw is best known for its vibrant coloration. Most of the bird's body is a bright green hue, with colorful red and blue accents found elsewhere on the body. This species is the largest kind of parrot found anywhere in its geographic range, measuring up to three feet in length and weighing 2.9 pounds on average. Great green macaws can live for up to 60 years if they have enough territory in which to find food, and they are typically highly intelligent.
The great green macaw's diet consists almost entirely of the fruits of the swamp almond tree. This enormous tree produces nutritious nuts, which the birds crack using their massive bills. In addition to providing sustenance, the tree also serves as a habitat for the bird, housing nests and chicks in its hollow cavities.
Drop of PopulationBecause the fate of the great green macaw is so closely linked to this one species of tree, the bird is vulnerable to extinction. Between 1998 and 2000, this threat nearly came to fruition, as the population of the species in Costa Rica dropped by more than half in the span of just a few years. This precipitous decline sparked a slew of conservation efforts, leading many national parks to establish specific protection programs for the bird. Moreover, the government also established the aforementioned Maquenque National Park in large part to guard the macaw against further drops in population. | |
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