Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Today could not have been a better day! Waterfalls, waterholes, three species of monkeys, a snake species, agoutis, clear blue seas and skies, a picnic on the beach, body surfing, horseback riding, but without a doubt, the most spectacular show of all was given by the five or more couples of scarlet macaws flying over us, hanging from palm tree fronds and squawking their love – pair bonding – away.
Scarlet macaws primarily eat fruit and nuts, occasionally supplementing their diet with nectar, flowers, and have been known to consume fruits before they are ripe. They are also able to break open the toughest nuts. Parrots have more movement in their beaks than do other birds, which allows for a more powerful bill. This ability creates an important food resource for the parrots because not a lot of other animals are able to access such a large variety of nuts. There are structures on the inside of their beaks that allow scarlet macaws to press the hard seed between their tongue and palate and grind the seed so that it can be digested. They will occasionally consume clay found on the banks of rivers. This aids in digestion of the harsh chemicals such as tannins that are ingested when eating premature fruit.
Scarlet macaws, and parrots in general, frequently use their left foot in handling food and in grasping other things. The right foot supports their body when they are utilizing the other leg as an appendage to aid the beak. This left handed condition seems to be based on the same principle as the preferential hand that humans utilize. This may be due to the development of the macaw's right side of the brain over that of the left side
They gather in flocks to sleep at night, but maintain a monogamous pair bond for life. Macaws are mostly found in pairs either in their nests or flying together. Mates may show affection by licking each other's faces. Once paired with a mate, they are rarely found alone except to feed when one bird must incubate the eggs.
Breeding in macaws occurs about every one to two years. The clutch size is 2 to 4 white, rounded eggs with an incubation period of 24 to 25 days. Females mainly incubate the eggs. After hatching, the young may stay with their parents for one to two years. The male feeds the young by regurgitating and liquefying food. The parents will not raise another set of eggs until the other youth have left the nest. Scarlet macaws reach sexual maturity at three or four years of age.
Nests are made in hollowed areas in trees, usually in the upper canopy of rainforests. There, in the protection of the thick foliage, they are camouflaged so predators are less likely to spot them. Typical predators of macaws are toucans, snakes, monkeys and other large mammals.
Today could not have been a better day! Waterfalls, waterholes, three species of monkeys, a snake species, agoutis, clear blue seas and skies, a picnic on the beach, body surfing, horseback riding, but without a doubt, the most spectacular show of all was given by the five or more couples of scarlet macaws flying over us, hanging from palm tree fronds and squawking their love – pair bonding – away.
Scarlet macaws primarily eat fruit and nuts, occasionally supplementing their diet with nectar, flowers, and have been known to consume fruits before they are ripe. They are also able to break open the toughest nuts. Parrots have more movement in their beaks than do other birds, which allows for a more powerful bill. This ability creates an important food resource for the parrots because not a lot of other animals are able to access such a large variety of nuts. There are structures on the inside of their beaks that allow scarlet macaws to press the hard seed between their tongue and palate and grind the seed so that it can be digested. They will occasionally consume clay found on the banks of rivers. This aids in digestion of the harsh chemicals such as tannins that are ingested when eating premature fruit.
Scarlet macaws, and parrots in general, frequently use their left foot in handling food and in grasping other things. The right foot supports their body when they are utilizing the other leg as an appendage to aid the beak. This left handed condition seems to be based on the same principle as the preferential hand that humans utilize. This may be due to the development of the macaw's right side of the brain over that of the left side
They gather in flocks to sleep at night, but maintain a monogamous pair bond for life. Macaws are mostly found in pairs either in their nests or flying together. Mates may show affection by licking each other's faces. Once paired with a mate, they are rarely found alone except to feed when one bird must incubate the eggs.
Breeding in macaws occurs about every one to two years. The clutch size is 2 to 4 white, rounded eggs with an incubation period of 24 to 25 days. Females mainly incubate the eggs. After hatching, the young may stay with their parents for one to two years. The male feeds the young by regurgitating and liquefying food. The parents will not raise another set of eggs until the other youth have left the nest. Scarlet macaws reach sexual maturity at three or four years of age.
Nests are made in hollowed areas in trees, usually in the upper canopy of rainforests. There, in the protection of the thick foliage, they are camouflaged so predators are less likely to spot them. Typical predators of macaws are toucans, snakes, monkeys and other large mammals.
