This magnificient blue and yellow hyacinth macaw grows to be40 inches (1 m) long, is the largest species of macaw. Hyacinths can weigh over 4 pounds. The female and male are nearly indistinguishable although the female is more slender.

Hyacinth macaws mate for life. They are very sociable birds. Widow and widower macaws seek the society of a couple who apparently welcome them. As dusk falls the macaws gather in one spot to have company during the night.

The hyacinth macaw is found in lightly forested and seasonally flooded grasslands in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. The Pantanal wetland is their home. Michael Portillo goes on a journey to visit the same. Braving loads of black caimans(sort of junior crocodiles) as their hot air balloon landed on the lake they moved ahead.

Why is this species getting endangered?

• Illegal pet trade is one of its worst enemies. Locals have been trapping and selling them as pets.
• Macaws only make their nest by hollowing out the trunk of the rare mondavi tree, but pick only those which are more than 70 years old.
• Hyacinths have two chicks at a time but reckon that only one will survive, so they desert the runt(weaker one).
• Destruction of habitats to provide pasture land, deforestation, thoughtless felling of trees kills off macaws.

What has been done?

• A nesting box acceptable to the bird has been devised, it can be hung from any tree, though the process is expensive.
• Conservationists take the abandoned ‘Runt’ and help it survive.

What can you do?
Stop giving solitary confinement to this sociable bird in a cage. Join the struggle to save this beautiful bird. Watch Michael Portillo’s film on the hyacinth macaw will be shown on ITV1 at 8pm on December 12 as part of the Extinct series.

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