TRAVEL: BIRD WATCHING

Over the past few decades, bird watching went from being perceived as something “only the rich would do” to a popular recreational sport for travel enthusiasts and nature lovers. Those that practice bird watching as a hobby, read up on the different species of birds and then travel to areas where it is most likely to spot those bird species. The exciting part of bird watching is actually being able to spot a bird and be able to tell what species it is by its characteristics.

With the ever increasing popularity of bird watching as a travel activity, there are several bird watching tour operators in destinations where bird life is prevalent. Experts take varying sizes of groups of visitors on bird watching excursions.

PARROTS – BLUE MACAW

Did you know that there are approximately 350 parrot species on earth? That’s right, and about 50% or half of them are found in Central and South America. This month, we take a look at a parrot specie known as the Macaw, with specific focus on the blue macaw.

The blue macaw is a long tailed parrot and is an intelligent bird although it does take time for it to learn to talk. The blue macaw mostly found in Brazil, this species is an endangered species due to deforestation and poaching.

There are four types of blue macaw, namely: the Little blue macaw also known as Cyanopsitta spixi (spix), blue macaw – Anodorhynchus leari, blue macaw – Anodorhynchus glaucus (this bird is extinct), and blue macaw – Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus.

The blue macaw – Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus is the biggest of the blue macaws, it is sometimes referred to as Hyacinth (also said to be the biggest parrot in the world) and is found mostly in the northeast Brazil and along the southern parts of Brazilian Amazônia, northeastern Paraguay and eastern Bolivia. Some Hyacinth can also be found in northwestern Sao Paulo and northern Bahia.

The blue macaws are easy to spot, as it is a blue parrot with a long tail and the color from the lower part of the body, strecthing the tail, tends to be a greyish blue. The blue macaw feed on a palm species that bear fruit all year round.

An interesting bird to see, truly unique. Remember, when visiting Brazil, there are guided tours available to the Amazon rainforest where you can have the privilege of spotting the blue macaw and see an estimated 15,000 species of fauna. Don’t forget to pack your binoculars!