Ara ararauna (AKA Blue & Gold Macaw)

**CarolsCritterCare** · 10-08-2007, 11:21 AM

The Blue and gold Macaw is 32-34 inches long

Forehead and front top of crown is an emerald green, which blends into a bright blue for the rest of the head. The throat has a black "beard" and the rest of the underside of the bird is a bright, saffron yellow. The cheeks of the bird are bare (as are the cheeks of most macaws) with black stripes of tiny feathers. Primaries are a dark, almost royal blue, the tail coverts a light electric blue, and the bill is black, the feet dark grey. Babies have dark eyes, while adult eyes are an ice-blue.

This is the most available macaw. They are adaptable, and enjoy being in social situations. Blue and Golds are very curious, even more so than other macaws. They are people pleasers, love to performing tricks, and just enjoy being around people.

These macaws, like all large parrots, require lots of wood to chew on and will not distinguish between your house's trim and a piece of two by four, so make sure they have a ready supply of chewing toys.

Macaws need more fat in their diet than most parrots, and mixed nuts in the shell are a favorite treat that helps supply this need. Most macaw owners also offer their Blue and Golds a variety of foods including pellets, a high-quality seed mix, various bean and pasta mixes and bird breads, fresh vegetables, fruit, and healthy human foods from the dinner table.

With care, these birds may live a human life span, so plan accordingly.

**CarolsCritterCare** · 10-08-2007, 11:23 AM

Endangered Macaws

Right now, today, the only species not endangered in the wild is the Blue and Gold Macaw. Macaws are in trouble for a number of reasons, but mostly due to deforestation. Macaws nest high up in dead trees, where they gnaw a nesting hole. With the removal of trees from the forests, the competition for nesting sites becomes very great, and crowded conditons occur. With many of the high nesting sites gone, some macaws roost lower, and the babies are easy prey by animals who would not normally be able to get to the babies.

Macaws in the wild do not have a high reproductive rate, because of the time it takes to raise a baby. The loss of one baby really has an impact.

Hyacinth Macaws have run into trouble because they are specialized feeders, and the palm trees which they feed on are being destroyed.

Scarlet Macaws and Red Fronted Macaws are also on the endangered list.

Some macaws are nearly extinct.

The Spix's Macaw has only seven surviving in captivity, with one wild bird left.

Many macaws are on the CITES appendix I, which means no LEGAL exportation of the bird may occur at all. Please be aware of this, and make sure you have a domestic baby, because if it's not, it's very likely smuggled. Smuggling is a problem with the Red-Fronted Macaw.

**CarolsCritterCare** · 10-08-2007, 11:25 AM

whoops my link did not work to CITES appendix I above..... lets try again

Appendices I, II and III

**CarolsCritterCare** · 10-08-2007, 11:37 AM

Chemicals should never be used around any birds because they can easily damage their small, sensitive lungs. Scented candles, plug-ins, and cleaning products are hazardous, and anything that contains teflon (pans, self-cleaning ovens, etc) is deadly.

There are also some plants that are toxic to birds;
ARUM LILY
AMARYLLIS
ARALIA
ARROWHEAD VINE
AUTUMN CROCUS
AUSTRALIAN
FLAMETREE
AUSTRALIAN
UMBRELLA TREE
AVOCADO
AZALEA
BANEBERRY
BEANS: (CASTOR,
HORSE, FAVA,
BROAD, GLORY,
SCARLET RUNNER,
MESCAL, NAVY,
PREGATORY
BIRD OF PARADISE
BISHOP'S WEED
BLACK LAUREL
BLACK LOCUST
BLEEDING HEART OR
DUTCHMAN'S
BREECHES
BLOODROOT
BLUEBONNET
BLUEGREEN ALGAE
BOXWOOD
BRACKEN FERN
BUCKTHORN
BULB FLOWERS:
(AMARYLLIS,
DAFFODIL,
NARCISSUS,
HYACINTH &
IRIS)
BURDOCK
BUTTERCUP
CACAO
CAMEL BUSH
CASTOR BEAN
CALADIUM
CANA LILY
CARDINAL FLOWER
CHALICE (TRUMPET
VINE)
CHERRY TREE
CHINA BERRY TREE
CHRISTMAS CANDLE
CLEMATIS (VIRGINIA
BOWER)
CLIVIA
COCKLEBUR
COFFEE (SENNA)
COFFEE BEAN
(RATTLEBUSH,
RATTLE BOX &
COFFEEWEED
CORAL PLANT
CORIANDER
CORNCOCKLE
COYOTILLO
COWSLIP
CUTLEAF PHILODENDRON
DAFFODIL
DAPHNE
DATURA STRAMONIUM
(ANGEL'S TRUMPET)
DEATH CAMUS
DELPHINIUM
DEVIL'S IVY
DIEFFENBACHIA
(DUMB CANE)
ELDERBERRY
ELEPHANT EAR (TARO)
ENGLISH IVY
ERGOT
EUCALYPTUS (DRIED,
DYED OR TREATED
IN FLORAL
ARRANGEMENTS)
EUONYMUS (SPINDLE
TREE)
EUPHORBIA CACTUS
FALSE HELLEBORE
FLAME TREE
FELT PLANT
(MATERNITY, AIR &
PANDA PLANTS)
FIG (WEEPING)
FIRE THORN
FLAMINGO FLOWER
FOUR O'CLOCK
FOXGLOVE
GLOTTIDIUM
GOLDEN CHAIN
GRASS: (JOHNSON,
SORGHUM, SUDAN &
BROOM CORN)
GROUND CHERRY
HEATHS: (KALMIA,
LEUCOTHO, PEIRES,
RHODODENDRON, MTN.
LAUREL, BLACK LAUREL,
ANDROMEDA & AZALEA)
HELIOTROPE
HEMLOCK: (POISON &
WATER)
HENBANE
HOLLY
HONEYSUCKLE
HORSE CHESTNUT
HORSE TAIL
HOYA
HYACINTH
HYDRANGEA
IRIS
IVY: (ENGLISH & OTHERS)
JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT
JASMINE (JESSAMINE)
JERUSALEM CHERRY
JIMSONWEED
JUNIPER
KY. COFFEE TREE
LANTANA (RED SAGE)
LARKSPUR
LILY OF THE VALLEY
LILY, ARUM
LOBELIA
LOCOWEED (MILK
VETCH)
LOCUSTS, BLACK/
HONEY
LORDS & LADIES
(CUCKOOPINT)
LUPINE
MALANGA
MARIJUANA (HEMP)
MAYAPPLE
(MANDRAKE)
MEXICAN BREADFRUIT
MEXICAN POPPY
MILKWEED, COTTON
BUSH
MISTLETOE
MOCK ORANGE
MONKSHOOD
MOONSEED
MORNING GLORY
MTN. LAUREL
MUSHROOMS,
AMANITA
MYRTLE
NARCISSUS
NETTLES
NIGHTSHADES:
(DEADLY, BLACK,
GARDEN, WOODY,
BITTERSWEET,
EGGPLANT,
JERUSALEM CHERRY)
OAK
OLEANDER
OXALIS
PARSLEY
PEACE LILY
PERIWINKLE
PHILODENDRONS:
(SPLIT LEAF, SWISS
CHEESE, HEART-LEAF)
PIGWEED
POINCIANA
POINSETTIA
POISON IVY
POISON HEMLOCK
POISON OAK:
(WESTERN & EASTERN)
POKEWEED
POTATO SHOOTS
POTHOS
PRIVET
PYRACANTHA
RAIN TREE
RANUNCULUS,
BUTTERCUP
RAPE
RATTLEBOX,
CROTALARIA
RED MAPLE
RED SAGE (LANTANA)
RHUBARB LEAVES
RHODODENDRONS
ROSARY PEA SEEDS
SAND BOX TREE
SKUNK CABBAGE
SORREL (DOCK)
SNOW DROP
SPURGES: (PENCIL
TREE, SNOW-ON-MTN,
CANDELABRA,
CROWN OF THORNS)
STAR OF BETHLEHEM
SWEET PEA
SWISS CHEESE PLANT
(MONSTERA)
TANSY RAGWORT
TOBACCO
UMBRELLA PLANT
VETCH: HAIRY/COMMON
VIRGINIA CREEPER
WATTLE
WEEPING FIG
WHITE CEDAR, CHINA
BERRY
WISTERIA
YEWS
YELLOW JASMINE

Every day household Toxins
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
AMMONIA
ANTIFREEZE
ANT SYRUP or PASTE
ARSENIC
ASBESTOS
AUTO PRODUCTS
BATHROOM CLEANERS
BLEACH
BORIC ACID
CAMPHOPHENIQUE
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARPET CLEANERS
CARPET FRESHENERS
CHARCOAL FLUIDS
CHLORDANE
CHLORINE
CIGARETTE SMOKE
CLINITEST TABLETS
COPPER/BRASS CLEANER
CORN & WART REMOVER
DEODORANTS
DETERGENTS
DIAZINON
DISINFECTANTS
DRAIN CLEANERS
EPOXY GLUE
FELT TIP MARKERS
FLEA PRODUCTS
FLOOR POLISH
FORMALDEHYDE
FURNITURE POLISH
GARDEN SPRAYS
GASOLINE
GUN CLEANERS
HAIR DYES & SPRAYS
HERBICIDES
INSECTICIDES
IODINE
KEROSENE
LIGHTER FLUID
LYE
MATCHES
MELALEUCA OIL
MODEL CEMENT
MOTHBALLS
MURIATIC ACID
MUSHROOMS
NAILPOLISH/REMOVER
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
OVEN CLEANER
OVERHEATED NON-STICK
COOKWARE
PAINT & THINNER
PERFUME
PERMANENTS(HAIR)
PESTICIDES
PHOTO SOLUTIONS
PINE OIL
RX DRUGS
RODENTICIDES
RUBBING ALCOHOL
SCENTED CANDLES
SHAVING LOTION
SHELLAC
SHOE POLISH
SNAIL BAIT
SPOT REMOVERS
SPRAY STARCH
STRYCHNINE
SULFURIC ACID
SUPER GLUE
SUNTAN LOTIONS/OILS
SURGICAL ACRYLICS
TEA TREE OIL
TURPENTINE
WAX
WEED KILLERS
WINDOW CLEANERS
WOOD PRESERVATIVES

**CarolsCritterCare** · 10-08-2007, 11:39 AM

Safe Foliage

Acacia
Aloe
African Violet
Baby's Tears
Bamboo
Begonia
Boston Fern
Bougainvillea
Chickweed
Christmas Cactus
Cissus (kangaroo
Vine)
Coleus
Corn Plant
Crabapple
Dandelion
Dogwood
Donkey Tail
Dracaena Varieties
Ferns: (bird's Nest,
Boston, Maidenhair)
Figs: (creeping,
Rubber,
Fiddle Leaf, Laurel
Leaf)
Gardenia
Grape Ivy
Hen And Chickens
Impatiens
Jade Plant
Kalanchoe
Magnolia
Marigolds
Monkey Plant
Mother-in-law
Nasturtium
Natal Plum
Norfolk Island Pine
Orchids
Palms: (areca, Date,
Fan, Lady, Parlour,
Howeia, Kentia,
Phownix, Sago)
Pepperomia
Petunia
Pittosporum
Prayer Plant
Purple Passion
Rose
Rubber Plant
Schefflera
Sensitive Plant
Snake Plant
Spider Plant
Swedish Ivy
Thistle
Velvet Nettle
Wandering Jew
Wax Plant
White Clover
Yucca
Zebra Plant
Zinnia

**CarolsCritterCare** · 10-08-2007, 11:44 AM

THese are safe branches to add to your cage

Before adding any branches to your cage, scrub all branches with a non-toxic disinfectant (such as diluted chlorine bleach), then rinse and dry well.

ASH
CITRUS (ANY)
DOGWOOD
ELM
EUCALYPTUS
GUAVA
MADRONA
MAGNOLIA
MANZANITA
NUT (EXCEPT
CHESTNUT & OAK)
PAPAYA
PINE
PRUNE
RIBBONWOOD
SASSAFRAS
THURLOW
VINE MAPLE
WILLOWS:
(GOAT, PUSSY &
WEEPING)

**AJE** · 10-09-2007, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarolsCritterCare

THese are safe branches to add to your cage

Before adding any branches to your cage, scrub all branches with a non-toxic disinfectant (such as diluted chlorine bleach), then rinse and dry well.

ASH
CITRUS (ANY)
DOGWOOD
ELM
EUCALYPTUS
GUAVA
MADRONA
MAGNOLIA
MANZANITA
NUT (EXCEPT
CHESTNUT & OAK)
PAPAYA
PINE
PRUNE
RIBBONWOOD
SASSAFRAS
THURLOW
VINE MAPLE
WILLOWS:
(GOAT, PUSSY &
WEEPING)

Good to know thanks Carol!

**CarolsCritterCare** · 10-09-2007, 12:12 PM

No problem Amber. Good info to share. Those of us with big birds are always looking for things for them to destroy............we wont even talk about the picture frame my blue and gold ate on my yesterday. Forget all the wood toys he has to destroy...he wanted to add texture and art to my already very nice picture frame

Carol

jmacek07 · 02-28-2008, 11:57 AM

I found some good Blue and Gold Macaw information at this link. Blue Gold Macaw Facts I was having problems with my bird being a little aggressive but there is a method Chet calls the power pause that really helped me.