An extract from Notes from South America

on a visit to Buenos Aires Zoo by Sydney Porter published in the magazine of the Avicultural Society in October 1938 (Fifth Series, Vol. III, No 10, Page 290)

There were quite a few interesting parrots, however, the rarest of which was a Glaucous Macaw. It was the first time I had seen an example of this very rare bird. It had, I was given to understand, been in the collection for over 20 years and was known to be over forty five years of age. Although its plumage was in very good condition, the bird was evidently suffering from senile decay.

(Website editor note: there has been some discussion in recent times about whether this bird was really a Glaucous Macaw. I have been sent a very old picture accompanying a newspaper article of the time by Claudio Bertonatti from the Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina in Buenos Aires. I have little doubt that the macaw pictured is a Hyacinthine Macaw, although very senile.)

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Quotes

 " Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret "

( If you drive out nature with a pitchfork, she will soon find a way back)

Horace (65-8 BC)