In 2022, we wrote an article about the international census of the Great Green Macaw (Buffon’s Macaw). Three years later, we spoke with Maarten van der Beek, founder of the foundation and research biologist at the reserve in Costa Rica. He talks about the efforts to provide a home for this beautiful bird, and with success…
Since the 2022 census, there has been a lot of activity surrounding the Buffon’s Macaw project. Due to different censuses being conducted by different organizations, it is difficult to track exact developments. Every time a census is organized, Adopt Rainforest participates. However, there are plenty of signs of change coming from the reserve:
From 0 to 25 Aras!
When Maarten and Matthijs started the foundation in 2017, macaws never came to this area, San Miguel. A few years later, occasional sightings began. Nowadays, from September to December, we have a group of about 16-25 Buffon’s macaws that live permanently in and around the reserve. At the end of December, they leave again for the north to breed.
Maarten: “We have noticed that more and more macaws are coming to our area. They are creatures of habit, both in terms of feeding and breeding behavior. Most of the macaws in Costa Rica breed in the north of the country, between January and April. After that, the young birds fly the nest and in the second half of the year, the macaws migrate to the foothills, areas such as the Adopt Rainforest reserve.”
Breakthrough in 2025: two couples
However, this year two pairs remained in the area throughout the year. They seem to be making use of the adjacent Barbilla National Park, Nairi Awari Indigenous Reserve, and the Adopt Rainforest reserve. They are clearly two pairs, but no one knows yet whether they have stayed here to breed. Maarten: “In any case, it’s another indication that the macaw feels at home with us. Now we just have to wait and see if they will use the nesting boxes!”
Nest boxes in use?
Nest boxes have now been placed high up in the trees, an exciting operation as no crane can drive into the reserve. In true Costa Rican style, the nest boxes were hung using rope and (will)power. In the video, you can see how this was done in 2024.
Maarten: “Normally, macaws use cavities in almond trees, for example where a branch has broken off and the wood has started to rot. Since many almond trees have been cut down and it takes a very long time (about a hundred years!) for them to grow large enough and reach nesting cavity size, breeding sites are scarce.” As an experiment, Maarten and his team are installing nesting boxes to see if the birds consider them a good alternative. In the north, these boxes have already been used by macaws (Cinco Ceibas). There is also a population in Manzanillo, on the Costa Rican coast, where confiscated macaws have been released, rescued from illegal animal trade. This population breeds exclusively in artificial nesting boxes. The design of these nesting boxes is now also being used in the Adopt a Rainforest reserve. “No one knows whether macaws outside their usual breeding areas would use an artificial nest box; it’s something new. We do know that the area (the reserve, Barbilla National Park, and the Indian reservations) is suitable for macaws.”
Macaw feathers spotted under a nesting box
The first successes have been achieved, such as macaw feathers under a nesting box. During a maintenance round, the team also found breeding barn owls and toucans in the nesting boxes. The research team will continue to keep a close eye on the nesting boxes in the coming period. Thanks to the new observation tower, it is now easier to monitor the birds in and around the reserve, including the Buffon’s macaw, of course. Our foundation can also make a greater contribution to bird counts. The research is ongoing, and we are hopeful that the Buffon’s macaw will make a permanent return to this area!
Almond trees planted in 2021
The macaw’s main food source is the fruit of the almond tree. Since 2021, the Adopt a Rainforest team has planted hundreds of almond trees. This is where human patience comes into play; it takes at least 8 years for these trees to bear fruit. This is one of the reasons for the disappearance of the macaw, because the trees simply do not have time to grow. In the foundation’s reserve, they do have time; we are waiting patiently…
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