The Whisker Chronicles
Whiskers are also known as vibrissa, from the latin vibrare "to vibrate". Vibrissa are the specialized hairs on mammals and the bristlelike feathers near the mouths of many birds. Their resonant design is symbolic of the energies, good and bad, that are reverberating throughout the natural world. Every living thing is connected and, by birthright, deserves to exist.
Hyacinth Macaw
Photo from the Creative Commons
Scientific Name: Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
Where Hyacinth Macaws Live:
Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay in semi-open habitats, usually in forests that have a dry season that prevents the growth of a tall closed-canopy tropical forest.
What Hyacinth Macaws Eat:
Seeds, grains and nuts but mostly palm nuts. Most feeding is done on the ground but macaws can climb trees and pick nuts as well.
How Long Hyacinth Macaws Live: Up to 50 years
Why Hyacinth Macaws are Awesome:
They are the largest of all parrots at almost 40 inches in height and weigh up to 3.5 pounds.
Conservation of Hyacinth Macaws:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the Hyacinth Macaw on the Endangered Species List because it faces significant threats, particularly due to high deforestation rates, which could destroy remaining native habitat as early as 2030. Hyacinth macaws nest in tree cavities and cliff cavities. Habitat loss, hunting and competition for food have adverse effects on macaw populations.
Photo from the Creative Commons
The Hyacinth Macaw is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix I and II, is protected under Brazilian and Bolivian law and banned from export in all countries of origin. Many property owners in the Hyacinth Macaw range no longer permit trappers on their properties.
The single most effective way any of us can help all parrot species is to avoid purchasing birds or other exotic animals, especially if their birth location is unknown. Purchasing locally bred exotic animals can increase the demand for wild born exotic animal species. If you really must have an exotic animal, look first at Petfinder.com, which is a resource for adoptable cats, dogs, bunnies, rodents, snakes, hamsters, parrots and more.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The Whisker Chronicles 
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