Magic in the Trees: The Scarlet Macaw of Costa Rica — Threats, Triumphs, and a Path Forward
- Morgan Dansby
- Feb 23
- 5 min read
We laid beneath the beach almond tree (Terminalia catappa), waves of gratitude washing over us as its dense green canopy shielded us from the powerful Costa Rican sun. The sound of waves crashing against sand and coral rubble rhythmically grounded us, a sound shaped by countless years of movement and force. As we settled into this moment of peace, a rustling above drew our attention.
We looked up and found we were not alone.
Two Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao—Guacamayo in Spanish) were perched just overhead, effortlessly navigating the branches as they cracked open almonds with their striking white-and-black beaks. They squawked softly to each other, exchanging subtle gestures, a tender communication between two lifelong partners. Their scarlet, blue, and yellow feathers glowed against the green leaves and blue sky, turning the quiet afternoon into something beautiful and sacred.
Before visiting Costa Rica, my understanding of macaws was shaped by childhood memories of pet stores in the United States. I didn’t yet know the tragedy behind that—wild birds far from home, stripped of their freedom. I came to Costa Rica hoping to see them as they were meant to be in the wild and free.
That moment came on a guided hike in July 2023 in Bahía Drake. When two macaws soared overhead, their grace sparked a question that weighed on me: Were they or their chicks' victims of poaching—the illegal wildlife trade that threatens so many species in the jungle?
My guide assured me that here, in this remote region of the Osa Peninsula, scarlet macaws are revered. Local communities consider them sacred, and cultural respect has protected them in ways laws alone couldn’t.
My love for Bahía Drake only deepened. In this small, remote town, residents treat one another and nature as family. Their reciprocal relationship with the Earth reflected my own values and reminded me of what it means to live in harmony with the world around us.
You often hear scarlet macaws long before you see them. Their distinct calls weave through the forest canopy, announcing their presence with confidence. When they finally appear, their colors blaze, their energy captivates, and their flight embodies the essence of freedom. They take up space with their voices, their beauty, and their wild authenticity.
While researching their history in Costa Rica, I learned just how close we came to losing them. Habitat destruction and poaching once pushed scarlet macaws toward extinction but thanks to conservation initiatives including forest restoration, nest monitoring, environmental education, and community involvement, their story has transformed into a rare conservation success.
I share this experience to bring awareness to the magic and vulnerability of the scarlet macaw. Their presence is truly a gift. Scarlet macaws once filled 85% of Costa Rica’s forests, their calls echoing from the Pacific coast to the Caribbean lowlands. Today, their populations are reduced and fragmented, influenced by habitat loss and decades of poaching for the illegal wildlife trade. Despite this history, their story is turning toward hope.
A Species Under Pressure
Scarlet Macaws are long-lived birds with slow reproductive rates. Adults don’t begin breeding until age 3–4, lay only 2–4 eggs, and often breed every one or two years. High chick mortality and fierce competition for nesting cavities make their populations especially vulnerable.
Deforestation throughout the 20th century accelerated their decline. Costa Rica’s forest cover plummeted from 67% in 1940 to under 20% by the 1980s. The clearing of old-growth trees eliminated essential nesting cavities and fragmented macaw populations across Central America.
Poaching added further pressure. In the 1980s, demand from the U.S. and Europe fueled massive illegal trade. A single poacher could support themselves for a year by selling fewer than a dozen chicks—an impossible temptation in regions facing poverty and unemployment. Mortality during capture and transport was devastatingly high.
International import bans—first in the U.S. (1992), then in the European Union (2006)—finally slowed the trade. But within Central America, illegal trafficking persists, and nest poaching continues to threaten recovery.
A Conservation Success in Motion
Costa Rica has become a global model for macaw conservation.
Two main populations remain in the country:
ACOPAC (Central Pacific): ~450 birds
ACOSA (Osa Peninsula): ~800–1,200 birds
Excitingly, these populations are expanding and beginning to overlap, with sightings in the once-empty corridor between regions.
In the northeast, a smaller population of a different subspecies (Ara macao cyanoptera) has also become established.
Multiple conservation strategies have fueled these successes:
Reforestation and sustainable forest management
Elimination of chick poaching through monitoring and community partnerships
Environmental education initiatives
Construction of artificial nest boxes
Reintroduction programs releasing confiscated birds back into the wild
Cooperation among scientists, landowners, park rangers, tour guides, and local communities
The scarlet macaw’s comeback is proof of what happens when people choose care over exploitation.
Why Their Survival Matters
Scarlet Macaws are powerful seed dispersers, shaping the health and biodiversity of tropical forests. Remove them, and ecosystems unravel. Remove forests, and we lose natural carbon sinks, wildlife habitat, and climatic stability.
Both the birds and the forests they inhabit remind us of the interconnectedness of all life.
How We Can Help
Even from afar, we can play a role:
Shop local to reduce demand for imported agricultural products that drive deforestation abroad- palm oil is a big one that drives deforestation in this region and throughout Latin America.
Choose ethical ecotourism when traveling—guided hikes, nature tours, and community-led conservation experiences.
Never support wildlife as pets and educate others about the cruelty behind the trade.
Support reforestation in your community and beyond.
A Trail Worth Exploring
If you visit Drake Bay, the Bahía Drake Public Trail is a must. It winds 6.5 miles along the coast to Playa San Josecito, offering ocean views, wildlife encounters, and even a stop for coffee and hammocks. It was along this trail that we once again heard the call of scarlet macaws, a sound that never loses its magic.
If you go: follow the coastline and avoid turning left unless you want a longer and more challenging adventure! ;)
Give the macaws, monkeys, and all the beautiful wildlife my love.
A Final Thought
Scarlet Macaws belong to the sky and the trees, not cages.
Thank you for reading. May you one day witness a Scarlet Macaw flying wild and free.
Sources & Further Reading
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Ara macao species assessment
CITES – International trade regulations on parrots
SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación) – Costa Rica forest and conservation data
World Bank – Historical forest cover statistics for Costa Rica
Macaw Recovery Network – Reintroduction and nesting programs
The Ara Project – Scarlet Macaw restoration efforts
Transparency Note
All statistics referenced here come from international conservation databases, Costa Rican government agencies, and macaw recovery organizations actively working in the region.
If you'd like access to specific reports, feel free to reach out.
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