Mac the Blue and Gold Macaw

Name:

Mac.

Species:

Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna.)

Sex:

Male

Age:

16 years.

Favorite Foods:

Mac's Mom, Lisa, says that he loves all fresh fruits and vegetables, but grapes are his very favorite!

Favorite Toys:

Mac's favorite thing to play on is his boing. He also enjoys swinging on rope perches and playing with wicker balls.

Favorite Perches:

"Mac's favorite place to be is on his playstand near wherever I am." says his mom, Lisa. Luckily for Mac, his playstand is on wheels, and Lisa rolls it wherever she goes!

Dislikes:

Mac's least favorite activity is definitely getting his wings trimmed. "I swear, it's like he knows that when those flight feathers grow in, it's coming!" Lisa says. "He will act up and cause a ruckus until I've clipped them and it's over with. Then he's right back to the same sweet, well behaved bird he always is."

Special Talents:

Mac's greatest talent is his unbelievable singing voice. "He sings and speaks very clearly for a Macaw." Lisa explains. "He is great at doing different voices, so when he learns a new song, he usually sings it exactly like the artist does." Mac has enjoyed performing for children at several local schools, and even placed second in a community talent show. Talk about a popular bird!

Life with Mac:

Lisa found Mac in a pet shop in 1994. He was two years old at the time, and had lived in the shop for his entire life.

Mac wasn't in very good condition when he lived at the shop. He was underweight and had plucked his chest feathers. He was being fed a seed only diet, and offered minimal socialization and exercise time.

"I knew immediately that he had to come home with me." says Lisa. "I was in college at the time and had little money, but I was able to get a small loan to buy him. From the moment we got home, I think Mac knew that his life was going to change for the better."

And change it did. Within a couple of months, Lisa coaxed Mac into eating a varied diet, his feathers started growing back, and he became more comfortable with human interaction. After a year or so, Lisa could take Mac anywhere and enjoy sharing him with other people.

Now Mac has a pretty busy schedule for a bird. He makes many appearances in his community to show off his great singing voice. Once a month, he performs at a retirement home for some of his biggest fans. "He loves being around the people" Lisa says, "And they love watching him. He's just a real character."

Lisa and Mac's relationship shows that even though a bird may be born into bad circumstances, rehabilitating them and making them into great pets isn't impossible. With the right amount of love and hard work, just about anything can be accomplished.

Congratulations, Mac, on being chosen Bird of the Week!

Do you think that your bird should be the next "Bird of the Week"? If so, email me at birds.guide@about.com with photos and information about your pet. Make sure that all images are clear and bright, in .jpg format, and at least 200px.