Macaw Mountain Reserve

April 13, 2016

My first day in Copan I had been planning to head straight out to the ruins. However I slept through several alarms that morning, which really isn't too surprising considering

1. I had gotten a half hour of sleep the night before 10 hours of bus journey, and
2. this is me we're talking about.

However it put a kink in my plans to bust down the doors right when they opened, so I visited the Macaw Mountain Reserve instead, a bird sanctuary 2km out of town.

It was amazing. There were around 250 birds total, in large aviaries along a path in the woods by a river. All the birds are rescued, donated by owners who can't keep them, or seized from trafficking operations. They rehabilitate and release the birds they can, and care for the rest that can't survive in the wild.

They have around 60 scarlet macaws currently, and have a breeding program that releases birds to join the wild flocks at the nearby ruins.

Such beautiful colors

Great Green Macaw

There was a sign saying 4 of their Great Green Macaws were just temporary. They had been seized in a bird trafficking ring, and the birds had their tail feathers cut off. They are being cared for until their feathers grow back and they can fly again, and then they'll be released back to the wild. They looked pretty pathetic, all short tailed in the meantime.

Poor tail-less birdie

White Crowned Parrot

Red Lored Amazon

This guy was literally bat-hanging from the ceiling pulling down all the fallen leaves off the top of the cage.  He cracked me up.

Red Throated Parakeet

Orange Fronted Conure

Keel Billed Toucan

You could walk through the toucan enclosure. This guy was either overly curious or a bit territorial, as he followed me through. When he looked like he was eyeing my shoulder, I got out of there. I didn't like the idea of his beak near my face.

Black Mandibled Toucan

So photogenic!

Highland Guan

Collared Aracari

Emerald Toucanet

Yellow Crowned Amazon

These guys were super curious, and had a blast tearing apart a stick I gave them through the bars.

There was a swimming hole, and I took a dip in the pleasantly cool waters. Unfortunately once you got out and dried off it got hot again.

Blue and Gold Macaw

And I got to hold them!

Selfie with the zoom on

Macaw selfie!

Then he stole my glasses...

Better macaw selfie, this is Piña

Great Horned Owl

Great Black Hawk (said the sign, but there were a couple different species in the cage)

This guy followed me from perch to perch as I circled the cage, looking like he wanted to eat my ancestors.

Give them to me

I had a fantastic day watching all the beautiful birds, I made two loops through the cages. So many beautiful colors. I don't ever want one as a pet though, they're LOUD!

Mayan macaw carving