Partner Spotlight: Macaw Conservation
Intertwined Conservation Corporation partners with organizations that share the same commitment of preserving the biodiversity in Latin America through educating communities and collaboration. One of ICC’s partners is Macaw Conservation Costa Rica, an organization devoted to protecting and rehabilitating wild Scarlet Macaw and Great Green Macaw populations throughout Central America.
Macaw Conservation Costa Rica was founded by Chris Castles in 2014 as one of the many Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release centers he set up throughout Costa Rica. Located in the Osa Peninsula, the center built its first aviary in 2015 and has welcomed 51 birds since then. The mission of the organization is to save and rehabilitate macaws and to release them back into the wild once healed. The center also provides a sanctuary to former pets and badly wounded birds that aren’t fit to be released back into the wild. MCCR does this in conjunction with community engagement, environmental education, forest restoration, captive breeding, and soft release techniques.
Macaws are brilliant and socially oriented birds located in Central and South America. Great Green Macaws and Scarlet Macaws are commonly mistaken for each other; however, the colors of their feathers set them apart. They sleep in trees and fly in flocks of 10 to 30 birds during the day hunting for nuts, berries, and seeds. Sadly, macaws are listed as an endangered species, and it’s estimated that there are only 400 Great Green Macaws and 3000 Scarlet Macaws left in wild populations in Costa Rica. The largest threat that macaws face is habitat loss due to deforestation. These great birds are also captured by people for the illegal pet trade.
Macaw Conservation works to rehabilitate these beautiful birds with the goal of reintegrating them back to their homes in the wild. For instance, Mila, a scarlet macaw, was found on the forest ground near Drake Bay in 2019 by Javier Morasegura, a Nature Guide from Happy Feet Backpackers of Drake Bay. At roughly two or three weeks old, Mila was severely malnourished and dehydrated, weighing only 250 grams, and was borderline hypothermic. MCCR took in Mila and rehabilitated her. Within a few months, Mila grew to be 1000 grams! It took Mila a year and a half to recover and through the soft release process, she was able to experience her first flight back into the wild. MCCR has also welcomed Lapita, a macaw that was donated into the sanctuary in 2018 by her owner in hopes to find her a mate.
MCCR is building a new rescue clinic which is in the final stages of construction. The clinic is critical to the center as it will provide a safe, clean, and properly equipped area to treat and heal the injured birds. ICC has raised all the funds for the building along with supplies and is excited to see it completed and ready to use. All that’s left to complete the construction is to purchase interior furniture such as sinks, shelves, tables, etc. If you would like to contribute to the completion of the clinic, you can make a donation to the GoFundMe page here. Any donation is greatly appreciated and will make a difference to paving the way to recovery for the rescues!
There are many ways to help Macaw Conservation Costa Rica achieve its mission. The easiest way is by liking their Facebook page to keep up with updates on the rescues, fundraisers, and educational posts. Another way to help is by donating to MCCR, as every donation goes towards the center’s running costs, supplies, and volunteer fees. As MCCR continues to expand its facilities, the organization is accepting volunteers through their volunteer program and would appreciate any help on the field!