Thursday, July 10, 2008

Adopt a Bird Spotlight: McCoy (Green Winged Macaw)

McCoy's Story

Species: Green Winged Macaw
Hatched: 2/14/94

McCoy was bred to be an education bird, and due to his sweet nature he began his career as a posing area bird. He was trained to step onto a guest's arm for photographs and has had literally hundreds of photos taken with members of the general public.

In addition to his sweet nature, he is extremely smart. He gives a "high four," waves, says "hello" and "What are you doing?" Recently he has become one of the stars at our Christmas Is For The Birds event. He takes a child's letter to Santa, puts it into our North Pole mailbox, and puts up the flag for the mailman.

McCoy has one other behavior that he invented himself to demonstrate his "cuteness" when he feels he is not getting proper attention. He covers his eyes with his wing and peeks out at you from under his feathers (see post from July 5th). He's confident this will earn him the attention he deserves, and possibly a treat.

To adopt McCoy, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $150, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: MCCOY. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:

  • *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
  • your personal visit.
  • * Certificate of Adoption
  • * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
  • * Sponsorship Card
  • * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
  • * Life History and Natural History of the bird
  • * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
  • * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
  • * Discounts on WBS Special Events
  • * WBS Decal
Natural History

green winged macaw (aka red and green macaw)
Ara chloroptera

Description second in size only to the Hyacinth Macaw; breast is bright red; lower feathers of the wing are green; characteristic red lines around the eyes formed by rows of tiny feathers on otherwise bare skin; long blue tail; grey legs; powerful bill horn colored with blackish sides; lower mandible blackish; iris pale-yellowish; feet dark grey; immatures have shorter tail, lower mandible paler and iris is brown

Sex: both sexes similar

Age: average in captivity 50-60 years; some individuals known to reach 80 years; several claims of birds over 100 years old

Length: 39”

Wingspan: up to 49”

Weight: 2.75-3.5 lbs

Habitat: tropical forests and swamps in Central and South America, including Columbia, Panama, Venezuela, Guyana and Trinidad

Status: commonest of the macaws, however in recent years numbers in the wild have declined due to habitat loss and capture for the pet trade

Range: forests of northern South America

Behavior: frequently seen in pairs or family groups, occasionally gathering in small flocks; larger groups found feeding in trees or on clay banks; breeding season is November to March; 1-3 eggs hatch within 28 days; young fledge at 90-100 days

Diet: nuts, fruits, berries, seeds and some vegetable matter

Vocalization: in captivity have been known to learn to talk, but are not considered the best mimics; considered quieter than other macaws

√ This bird’s powerful beak can generate a pressure of 2000 psi and is capable of snapping a broomstick in half.

√ Flies virtually every day to clay banks to feed on mineral soil which is believed to neutralize toxic content of unripe fruits

Adopt A Bird spotlights are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

2 comments:

brogensocute11 said...

um im inquireing about adopitng parrot but not buy credit card maybe buy like pound a week in an envilope that i can send off every friday um i know how to care for a parrot training what they eat kind off cages they need please get back to me at brogencartwright@hotmail.co.uk

Photog said...

Brogen, thank you for your interest in our Adopt A Bird program. Unfortunately, the term Adopt A Bird does not mean that you physically take charge of the bird. Adopt A Bird donations help us to feed and care for the bird of your choice here at the World Bird Sanctuary. Parrots, as well as the other birds in our care, require a great deal of care, specialized diets, and veterinary care, when needed, by a vet whose specialty is birds. Adopt A Bird parents receive an adoption certificate, an 8 X 10 photo of the bird they've adopted, life history and natural history information about their bird and a number of other benefits. Even if you cannot afford to adopt the bird of your choice at this time, we hope you will continue to support our efforts by following our blog to see what's happening at WBS. Perhaps some day you'll be able to come visit us to see the birds and other animals that we care for on a daily basis. You might want to go to our home page to find out about the internship opportunities that we offer.