Even though many people have macaws as pets, they are actually threatened in the wild (the rainforests of Mexico and Central and South America) thanks to habitat destruction and the pet trade. Every year, it is estimated that about 500,000 parrots are caught and shipped to the United States for sale in pet shops. Many of these beautiful birds die in transit. It is illegal to import and sell wild parrots, but it does still happen. If you are interested in buying a parrot, be sure to ask about his background before you buy to make sure that he was captive bred and not taken from his home in the wild! The practice of catching and selling wild parrots can only be stopped if people quit buying wild-caught birds.

What Are Macaws Like?
Macaws are very intelligent, and they are also unusual in other ways. They have unique feet, with two toes facing forward and two facing backward. This arrangement is useful when climbing trees and helps them hold and manipulate food, too. Like humans, macaws tend to be right or left "handed," favoring one foot over the other when picking up food or some other object.

Can Macaws Really Talk?
Yes! Walking through the forested area on the west side of the Zoo, visitors will often hear the macaws talking. Our macaws, Shiloh and Mrs. Roberts, are all excellent talkers and will pick up on words that are often repeated to them. Macaws (and other parrots) love attention and conversation. In the wintertime, the birds must come indoors to warmer quarters, and to keep them from getting too bored, the keepers will sometimes turn on the television and let them watch (and listen)!

What Do Macaws Eat?
Macaws eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruit, bulbs, berries, worms, insects, and even some vegetables! Because they eat both plants such as fruits and seeds, but also eat worms and insects, macaws are considered omnivores. Watching them eat is a treat, too. Their large, hooked beaks have hinged jaws that are very strong, strong enough to snap a broomstick! Their beaks also have a sensory organ at the tip that makes it easy to husk seeds. They then use their tongues to remove the seeds and discard the husks.