Rio the Green-winged Macaw

Green-winged Macaws are also known as Red and Green Macaws.  Covered in red feathers with blues and greens on the tail and wings, they are the second largest parrot species in the world, only behind the Hyacinth Macaw. 

Rio, WBS's resident Green-winged Macaw (photo: Gay Schroer)

These beautiful birds have an average length of about 2.5 feet, and a wingspan of over three feet!  Even though they are so large, they only weigh about 3 pounds.  In fact, most birds are relatively light.  This is because the largest of birds' bones have a honeycomb structure instead of being solid like mammal bones.  Also, they don't have heavy jaws and teeth.   

Just because their beaks are lightweight they should not be underestimated. Green-winged Macaws have roughly two-thousand pounds of crushing force with their beaks.  This allows them to break open the toughest nuts and shells.  However, if for some reason this parrot couldn't break open a nut, they have what is called a rasping edge on the inside and end of their upper beak.  This means they could file away at the shell to make it easier to break apart.  Instead they have lightweight beaks.

Because their feet are xygodactal, macaws are very adept at picking up items with their feet (photo: Mike Cerutti)

Here at World Bird Sanctuary we have one of these amazing birds.  His name is Rio, and I honestly do not know if he likes dancing in the sand (a pun on the song “Rio,” by Duran Duran).  Rio has xygodactal feet, meaning that on each foot the outer 2 toes face backwards along with back toe, and the two inner toes face forwards.  This makes picking up fruits and nuts very easy.  Birds of prey like hawks and eagles have to reach down with their heads to their feet to eat food, but parrots like Rio can bring that food all the way up to their mouth with the foot. 

Apart from having gorgeous feathers, a very powerful beak, and awesome feet, Rio (like many other parrots) can even mimic words!  He is known for quietly saying “Hello?” and screaming “Hi Rio!”  at his favorite trainers.  Rio is only eighteen years old, which might seem like a lot, but not for a parrot.  Green-winged Macaws can live to be 60 to 80 years old!

During the summer months, Rio spends his time at various zoos across the United States as part of World Bird Sanctuary’s bird shows.  There he flies over peoples' heads in a seemingly spectacular attempt to wow audiences.  In the winter he likes to eat bananas and play games with his trainers.  One of his favorites is to pick up aluminum cans, and then put them into a recycling bin. 

Even though recycling helps us save money at World Bird Sanctuary, we still need your help.  For just $150 you can adopt Rio through our Adopt-A-Bird program   That tax deductible donation will go directly toward helping us feed and care for our beloved Rio for 1 year.

Submitted by Mike Cerutti, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Why Birds? Why NOT Birds?

I am sure none of my old classmates would be surprised to see me working with animals today. I was the kid who volunteered to hold snakes and parrots during presentations even in elementary school.

Norbert the Bald Eagle gliding into the theater (photo: Carmen Volante)

Still, I get asked “Why birds?” often enough, and frankly struggle to come up with a short reply. Three general things do come to mind when I think about why I love birds and enjoy working with them, and I can conveniently use some of the birds gearing up for the World Bird Sanctuary’s Birds of Prey show at Boston’s Stone Zoo as examples!

The first reason I always give for my fascination with these winged creatures is simply the pure variety of birds in the world. It's thought that there are just under ten thousand living species of birds today. That's a number only surpassed by fish, insects, and spiders in the animal world.

Scarlett the Red-shouldered Hawk showing off her beautiful coloring (photo: Carmen Volante)

From Red-shouldered Hawks having slimmer, longer legs to better catch snakes and amphibians to Harris's Hawks hunting in groups to catch the elusive desert hare, bird adaptability has allowed them to occupy every environment and niche.

You may be thinking you see the same sparrows, robins, or finches in your backyard all the time, but take a walk to a nearby park or field and the occupants can change dramatically, no matter what time of year it is! This doesn't just apply to what the bird is eating either. Color, song, flight pattern, what a nest is made of – and keep your eyes and ears open and you may find those sparrows in your backyard are actually three different species.

Rio flying across stage (photo: Flannery O'Brien)

Of course, bright colors and flight are usually what people think of when picturing birds. Whether it's one of our raptors gliding over the seats or Rio the Red & Green Macaw flashing her colorful wings across stage, the beauty of birds easily grabs attention. Feathers have been a part of fashion for centuries, and I doubt I need to go into how our admiration of flying has played a role in human history.

I also can't help but throw the word cute in here. Has anyone else noticed owls taking over the fashion world lately? Even if someone is nervous around our larger birds, most cannot seem to resist an owl's fluffy appearance and huge eyes.

My final point is brains! I dare say that birds are greatly underrated when it comes to their intelligence. When flying in free-flight shows we rely on the birds to recognize their flying pattern well enough to not be looking to every perch or platform before finding the trainer, but also to wait for said trainer to call them to the spot before taking off.

Nemo the African Grey parrot responding to a cue word (photo: Flannery O'Brien)

It’s mostly common knowledge that parrots are smart enough to mimic human speech, but did you know there are crows in Japan that drop nuts in the road at red lights and wait for cars to crack them open when it turns green? Some wild Corvids (the family of birds that includes crows, ravens, jays, etc.) use twigs just like chimpanzees do to find insects! I am fascinated by how resourceful and quick birds can be. I could go on and on with particular species and examples.

Being a part of the summer live bird show is my way of hopefully rubbing some of my love for birds off on others, and maybe even inspiring a future wildlife rehabilitator or biologist. I don't expect everyone to run home and watch an avian documentary, but next time you hear a birdsong you don't recognize or glimpse a hawk flying overhead take a moment to enjoy the feathered part of our world.

Submitted by Carmen Volante, World Bird Sanctuary Boston Zoo Show Trainer

Rio The Gentle Giant

Welcome to this very special blog!  There are around 350 species of parrots in the world and I'm going to give you some insight about a very extraordinary parrot species and individual parrot!

Rio, is this bird’s name and he is a Green-winged Macaw (Ara chloroptera).  These are very colorful parrots that can be found throughout Central and South America, more specifically Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guiana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, and Suriname.  The type of terrain inhabited by this species includes mangrove swamps, savannas, and tropical forests. 

Throughout their native land these beautiful and colorful birds feed on nuts, seeds, vegetables, flowers, and fruits.  Some fruits they eat are poisonous but they can eat them without being harmed because they also eat river clay to neutralize the toxins in the fruits. 

Green-winged Macaws are the second largest macaws, eclipsed only by the Hyacinth Macaw.  Green-wings weigh up to three and half pounds and are about three feet in length.  Their great size gives them a wingspan of around four feet long!  Males and females are not sexually dimorphic, meaning that both sexes look identical.  The only way to determine their sex is from DNA sexing.  Rio has not been sexed so we do not know if Rio is a male or female.  I tend to see Rio more as a male because I have heard and witnessed that male parrots tend to bond more strongly to women than men and vice versa with female parrots. 

  

Parrots in general have a longer lifespan than domestic animals such as dogs and cats.  Green-winged Macaws can live up to 60 years in the wild and possibly longer in captivity.  Rio was hatched in 1996, so he is 17 years old this year.  These macaws are also known as the Red and Green Macaw, Green Wing Macaw, and the Gentle Giant.  These beautiful parrots have green, blue, and red plumage (feather color).  Below you can see a picture of Rio on my leg.

  

Rio is a very lovable parrot . . . towards certain people…like me.  Some parrots bond to some people better than others.  I have been interested in parrots since I was 12 years old and have had my own parrots including Budgerigars (budgies) and a Green-cheeked Conure.  When I met Rio I was drawn to him right away because of his beautiful colors and his curious personality.  A few things that I just love about parrots are that they are intelligent, can see colors (like we humans, where many other mammals see only black and white) and also in another color that humans cannot see.  Also, they can mimic sounds and words so well that people can understand. 

Rio came to the World Bird Sanctuary in 2002.  He loves to compete with loud noises such as the vacuum cleaner.  Rio is trained to give kisses on command, say, “Hi, Rio!” and, “Hello.”  His best talent, which he shows off for World Bird Sanctuary audiences, is his free flying!  He has flown from trainer to trainer at various Zoos in World Bird Sanctuary Zoo Shows during the summer to help educate people about parrots.  He is a great ambassador for his species and for the World Bird Sanctuary, and I love him very much!

Rio is available for adoption in our Adopt a Bird program.  To find out more information, click on the preceding link or call 636-861-3225.  All adoption donations are tax deductible.  This winter he can usually be seen in the Nature Center at the World Bird Sanctuary, which is open daily from 8am-5pm.

Rio is a very intriguing parrot; you should stop on by and visit him!

Submitted by Lisbeth Hodges, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist