Monday, March 8, 2010

The neighborhood clowns

We have a flock of six turquoise and yellow macaws around here. They make a horrendous call that can be heard from a long way away and is particularly harsh when they are overhead. This was taken from the garden last week.

11 comments:

Floridagirl said...

That is pretty cool!

Meredith said...

Wow! Now that is exotic to me -- although I guess I wouldn't love a bird with an unpleasant sounding cry. I love how all their heads are tilted at an angle in the pic.

Terra Mirabilis said...

I think they were watching me.

If you're a beautiful bird, you don't need to have a beautiful call; you just need to be heard across dense tropical rain forest.

Yes, it is cool. We have lots of exotic birds, mostly escapees from the pet trade, that found South Florida to their liking and began breeding. The birds aren't so much a problem, but iguanas, fish and snakes are major environmental pests.

Ami said...

You were good to capture that picture! I find it is difficult to take pictures for moving targets such as birds, butterflies, and bees. Still learning...

Terra Mirabilis said...

Thanks, Ami. Sometimes you get lucky. I took a whole bunch on my cheapo digital, and this was easily the best. Besides, they were obligingly still!

NanaK said...

That is really a sight. They do look like they are eyeing you. Great shot with the camera.

Terra Mirabilis said...

Thanks, Nana!

James David said...

These are such beautiful birds - I guess these are from Amazon? Hope they are not shot down as pest especially when they multiply and consider invading native species.

Wonder if they would crossbreed with the native parrots - that surely be a native hybrid isn't it?

Terra Mirabilis said...

Hi, James. These macaws are found throughout much of South America, not just the Amazon basin, and also in parts of the southern Caribbean. I don't think they present a threat to any native birds (there are no longer any native parrots in the US), but since they are "exotic," they may be trapped and kept for breeding.

Andrea said...

Hi i just came in via James Missier's. How lovely the positions of those 3 are, they look like they are singing as a trio, same uniform and movements. Beautiful photo!

Terra Mirabilis said...

Thanks, Andrea. That's exactly what they look like!