Flying Free in Costa Ballena, Costa Rica
Macaw's sexual dimorphism does not exist, so both male and female look exactly alike.
Book Top Experiences and Tours in Costa Rica:
If youʻre booking your trip to Costa Rica last minute, we have you covered. Below are some of the top tours and experiences!- San José: Arenal Volcano, Hot Springs, & Zip Lining w/ Meals
- San Jose: Walking Nature Tour with Sloths, Birds, and Trees
- La Fortuna: Waterfall, Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Tour
- Aquiares: Hacienda Horseback Ride & Coffee Tour
- Manuel Antonio: Rainmaker Park Night Tour with Dinner
Scarlett Macaws, or “Lapas” as they are natively known, once one of the most popular natural Costa Rica attractions, are starting to return to Costa Ballena after being absent from the area for many years. This is a source of great pride for local groups such as Asana who have spent years protecting the natural environment so that jungle animals can safely inhabit Costa Rica. These colourful Macaws have made a comeback and can now be seen routinely flying along the beaches that stretch between Playa Tortuga and Playa Uvita. They have even spotted as far north as Rancho La Merced which is just north of Uvita.
Belonging to the Psittacidae parrot family, the Scarlett Macaws never go unnoticed due to their distinctive bird song. Found in Central and South America, from Southern Mexico to Argentina, these unique creatures are renowned for pecking the almond trees that line the countless beaches of Costa Rica. At high risk of extinction, these beautiful birds are mostly seen as exotic trophies living in cages around the world. Local organizations hope to ensure that future generations can see them in their natural habitat, campaigning for the prevention of the illegal trafficking and sale of this species.
Commonly seen flying in pairs, the Macaws species are monogamous, meaning they have only one single partner throughout their life (even if their mate dies)! Macaw's sexual dimorphism does not exist, so both male and female look exactly alike. Laying one or two eggs at a time, the Macaws search for a few natural hollows in the trees so that they can tend to their young. They hatch the eggs for as long as 25 days and then care for the chicks for the first 105 days of their life. At the age of one, offspring separate from their parents and will wait another 3 years until they start looking for a partner to share their 30 to 40 year-long life with.
So, when you next find yourself in Costa Rica, keep an eye out for these extraordinarily beautiful creatures that can now be seen flying as free as a bird…
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Main Photo: Marco Gutierrez
