Effects of Deforestation on Macaws

Macaws depend on their tropical ecosystem for every aspect of life, from food to breeding to protection. They can be found in tropical areas from northern Argentina through central Mexico. Unfortunately, deforestation strips the land of vegetation, destroying the natural habitat macaws need to survive and reproduce. These brightly colored birds are experiencing diminishing populations as their habitat is razed for wood and farmland.

  1. Macaws' Natural Habitat

    • There are many species of macaws that inhabit different ecosystems. According to Stanford University's report on the Macaw Conservation in Peru, macaws can be found in palm swamps, savannahs and primarily rainforests. Macaws depend on the protection tall trees offer for nesting and nutrition. As deforestation claims the macaw's natural habitat for ranching land and timber, these birds and many other animal species are left without home, food and breeding capabilities.

    Ecosystem Dependency

    • Macaws are dependent and influenced by their ecosystem. According to Stanford University, "Macaws depend heavily on specific ecological conditions, and even slight changes to their environment can have massive impact on population." They rely on their environment for appropriate food and nesting sites, while the ecosystem relies on these birds to disperse seeds to repopulate trees and other vegetation. Hyacinth macaws are responsible for dispersing seeds from the manduvi tree, which is one of the most coveted trees for macaws. As deforestation becomes more widespread macaws lose their habitat and are unable to continue dispersing seeds, which diminishes the establishment of new trees. The lack of suitable trees further negatively affects macaw populations.

    Diminishing Food Sources

    • Macaws generally indulge in a diet of flowers, nuts, fruits and plant nectar. They eat large amounts of unripe fruit, seemingly taking the food sources that other animals are unwilling to eat. Macaws also eat clay from around river banks. Deforestation strips the rain forest of vegetation that macaws rely on for nutrition. Without the trees and vegetation, macaws will starve. The slash and burn method of deforestation not only burns the vegetation macaws consume, but can leave dangerous residuals in the clay they eat.

    Nesting Sites

    • Some macaws, particularly Hyacinth macaws, use trees with pre-existing holes. As secondary cavity nesters, they find trees that have begun to rot from the inside creating a cavity. Macaws build their nest and hatch their young in the resulting tree cavity. Trees usually do not develop these cavities until they are at least 60 years old, so competition for mature trees for nesting sites is fierce. Scarlet macaws prefer Dipteryx trees for nesting and breeding. They will use the same tree for nesting every year. If mature forests have been cut down, macaws are left with no places to build nests or rear their young. They will cease breeding, and macaw populations will decline.