104



A. F. Moody—The Nesting of Macaws



again disappeared, and, we rightly concluded, had laid a second

clutch of eggs. After some weeks, rather than allow the bird to

continue sitting, we decided to investigate. No ladder long enough

for the purpose being available, the fire escape was commandeered,

and fully expanded to its 50 rungs, rested against the tree. Even

this necessitated a climb of about 9 ft. to the nest. After a struggle

with the parents, three beautiful, but clear white, eggs were

removed. These were somewhat pointed, not so round as the eggs

of the Blue and Yellow Macaw, and with considerably more polish

than the eggs of that species laid here.


With a view to avoiding the necessity of again scaling this very

tall, and, from its decayed state, dangerous tree, the entrance to

the cavity was securely blocked with stout wire netting. Not satisfied

with their two attempts at breeding, the birds, a few days later,

circumvented our precaution by forcing another entrance into the

nesting cavity, and, as events proved, laid one, or probably a third,

full clutch of three eggs. Owing to the dangerous nature of the

tree, we felt that nothing further could be done, and it was decided

to let matters take their course, relying upon the male keeping the

hen well nourished and upon their natural instinct to discard the

eggs if bad.


The possibility of young was, of course, considered, nevertheless

it came as a surprise when a young bird descended from the nest

during the night, or early morning, of 19th December. News of

this was brought me by an assistant, who said the Macaws had been

fighting, and that a damaged bird had been picked up under the

nesting tree, and put into a warm shed.


On going to view the invalid, I was surprised to find a young

bird, which greeted me with the Macaw’s usual croak, and as far

as first impressions went, differed only from the adults in having

a decidedly smaller bill, and the black of the under mandible not

so pronounced (more grey). The parents had free access to this

youngster, and hopes were entertained that it would be fed.

Unfortunately, however, it died within two days, and as a sub¬

sequent autopsy proved, from an internal injury, no doubt received

in its descent from the nest.



