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Peru trip opens doors to world of parrots
(by Sali McSherry - February 25, 2010)
Peru trip opens doors to world of parrots
By SALI McSHERRY
A flock of hundreds of raucous macaws, majestic in their colored feathers, descended upon a steep riverbank to eat clay, a phenomenon witnessed by Chagrin Falls resident Leslie Mapes on a recent trip to Peru.
It was a dream come true for the parrot rescuer, who adopted Noah, a Meyers parrot, six years ago, and Phoenix, a macaw, four years ago through Parrot Education and Adoption Center Cleveland.
Ms. Mapes and five people from around the country traveled to Peru to learn more about macaws and other birds in their natural habitat. They visited Donald Brightsmith, director of the Tambopata Macaw Project, who is researching macaw nest activity, diets of the chicks, clay lick use and conservation and ecology of the nearly 20 species of macaws, parrots and parakeets. Parrots are threatened by poaching and the clearing of rain forests, she said.
They visited the Tambopata area of Peru, which is home to the highest concentration of parrot day licks in the world. Some species eat the clay, which is high in sodium and binds natural toxins to their diets.
Macaws are social birds that gather in flocks of 10 to 30, sleep in trees at night and may fly long distances during the day to feed on fruit, nuts, insects and snails. They typically mate for life, share food and groom each other. Several species are endangered.
Ms. Mapes learned that macaws typically have two to three eggs and will let the last chick that hatches, die, unless one of the others has health problems. It's like an insurance policy, she said. Ms. Mapes witnessed a nest with three good-sized baby chicks at the project headquarters and it was the first time that happened at the research site since the project began in 1996.
The rain forest was full of the sounds of birds, monkeys and insects. Ms. Mapes said she saw wild boar, or peccary, and capybara, the largest rodent in the world, as well as tarantula. The rain forest was dark because of the huge trees and layers of plant material, including vines wrapped around everything. It was humid and musty smelling. There was mud everywhere, she said.
She loved the breathtaking site of Machu Picchu, high above the Urubamba River in the Andes. The Incas were an amazing civilization of people that lived in close harmony with nature, in terms of how they worshipped and how they constructed buildings using only polished dry-stone walls they carved without mortar in 1400 A.D.
Ms. Mapes is active in Cleveland chapter of Parrot Education & Adoption Center, a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to educating current and potential bird owners on the proper care of birds based in San Diego with chapters in Anchorage and Pittsburgh. An educator and adoption coordinator for the Cleveland chapter, she will give a seminar from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 6 on parrot behavior at the Beachwood branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library.
To register call (440) 669-0082.
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