Hand-Raised Chicks Boost Guatemala’s Critically Endangered Macaws
In an inspiring move to save one of nature's most vibrant birds, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Guatemala has initiated a hand-rearing program for scarlet macaw chicks that would otherwise face dire prospects in the wild. The conservation status of the scarlet macaw (Ara macao) is least concern due to its large population in various regions. However, the Central American subspecies, Ara macao cyanoptera, is critically endangered with only a few hundred individuals remaining in a limited habitat range.
Rony García-Anleu, a scientist with WCS Guatemala, highlighted the challenges this subspecies is facing, primarily due to poaching and habitat loss, which have drastically reduced its numbers. "Over the years, we have consistently observed that, although nests typically contain four to five eggs, only one or two chicks usually survive to fledge. Three fledglings are rare," he explained.
The program aims to intervene during a crucial period of the chicks' lives. As García-Anleu detailed, the parents often leave their nests to forage for food, resulting in inadequate incubation of the remaining eggs. This leads to a cycle of smaller, weaker chicks that struggle for survival. Thus, WCS technicians collect the later-hatching eggs to rear them in a specialized field laboratory, equipped with solar-powered incubators that mimic the warmth of a natural nest.
These hand-raised chicks are eventually released into the wild in a truly heartwarming twist of fate. García-Anleu noted that, "Scarlet Macaws are excellent foster parents and generally don’t distinguish between their own and newcomers." When the foster chicks are introduced into wild nests, the adult macaws immediately begin caring for them, significantly increasing their chances of survival.
When there are more chicks than nests, WCS has adopted a “soft-release” method, allowing the chicks to leave once they can fly and feed independently. This innovative approach is bolstered by the cooperation of the local Q’eqchi’ community in Paso Caballos, which has transformed from poachers to conservation allies thanks to years of collaborative engagement with WCS and the Guatemalan Park Service.
Since launching this initiative in 2011, WCS has successfully released 131 scarlet macaw chicks back into their natural habitat, a remarkable achievement that represents 36% of all recorded chicks within the Laguna del Tigre National Park over 14 breeding seasons. García-Anleu emphasized the program's impact: "By increasing fledgling survival rates and supplementing the wild population, we have helped stabilize numbers in key nesting areas,” showcasing the power of community involvement and dedicated conservation efforts.
