The true story of Blu the blue macaw

In the movie Rio the hero, Blu, and the heroine, Jewel, are the last surviving specimes of the blue macaw. Unless they can mate successfully, their species will die out. Efforts to prevent this dire outcome generate the film's thrills and spills.

Imagine, for a moment, being one of the last of our species…it’s pretty hard! There would be no one else for miles around, and you’d be very lonely!!
That is how it was for Presley, a lone Spix's Macaw living in a Colorado living room. He was one of the last of his kind. This bird was the inspiration for director Carlos Saldanha to make the movie!!

Presley the blue macaw

                                               

There has been a lot of buzz about the release of Rio: the Movie, a quirky tale about a hapless macaw and his journey to a new life. What many people do not realize is that this story is based on the real story of Presley, a critically endangered Spix’s Macaw that was found languishing in Colorado in 2002 after the death of his mate.
The story of how he was found and sent back to his native Brazil to meet a new mate is nothing short of miraculous!
The parrot was discovered by accident in Colorado when a woman from a Denver suburb called an avian veterinarian’s office in August. A parrot enthusiast, happened to answer the phone. The woman said she owned a Spix's Macaw and asked for suggestions on how to take care of the bird.

That's the fate of the vanishing species, which went extinct in the wild two years ago. Its numbers were decimated by smugglers, who snatched birds out of the rain forest and smuggled them to sell to wealthy collectors around the world. It’s a trade that outrages animal lovers, and the sight of a Spix's Macaw in a suburban American living room is unbelievable!
In the movie, Blu was unable to fly although he was fully feathered. Presley on the other hand became accustomed to a down low from being clipped.
Presley was estimated to be 25 years old and DNA confirmed to be a Spix's Macaw. After at least a quarter century of captivity in another country, Presley returned home.
At his first stop at the São Paulo zoo the veterinarian said that Presley was doing fine, he was eating well and was very healthy. Officials plan to move him to Recife, where the breeding program is underway. In 15 years, we hope we will be talking about Presley having reproduced! Untill then the bird is living  at the Lymington Foundationm in the state of São Paulo in Brazil.
In some way, he will contribute to the continuation of his species!!

 

Spix’s have been considered extinct in the wild since 2000, with fewer than 85 birds currently remaining in captivity. You can learn more about the Spix’s Macaw and other endangered parrots at the World Parrot Trust website: http://www.parrots.org/

So grab a friend, and go out to watch Rio this weekend. While you are at it, take the time to reflect on the deeper meaning of the movie. Blu and Presley’s stories have happy endings. Let’s make sure that other Spix’s Macaws do, too! Presley’s incredible rescue story is a true inspiration for all.




Rio 25ºC/77°F
Beautiful moon, tomorrow lot's of sun!!