My breeder is apparently having problems with finding successful homes for her Red Fronted Macaws. These guys do not travel well for some reason and every time she ships one it turns into a problem bird. I can't imagine that the birds are really the issue rather I think people don't know what they are getting into with them and the owners become the issue. Some of these birds have been there for years and several have been returned more than once. She has kept these guys at a financial loss because she cares a great deal for the birds but after years it is becoming a problem and she is considering not breeding them anymore.

The breeder in question has not asked me to solicit people. I am doing this of my own free accord. They are not free and come with a couple catches.

You may not clip them. These birds need to be able to fly and every one of them that has been clipped has been returned due to resulting behavioral problems that disappeared when their feathers grew back. In accordance with keeping them flighted children may be a bad idea as they would be less cautious about leaving doors/windows open.

You need to pick them up in Colorado. I'd be willing to drive one a couple hundred miles to meet in between but it would be better for you to visit them in person first.

You need to understand that these are noisy, high energy, extremely attention demanding birds. They are not a good mix for a very busy person as they require pretty constant attention.

Finally, dogs would be bad for these guys, they tend to be pretty fearless and a flighted Red Front and a dog would be a bad mix.

I know all of the birds in question from visiting the aviary over the years and would be happy to have any of them. I don't understand why I've had such tremendous success with Merlin and other people have had such poor luck other than for the reasons I've outlined above.

I've tried to take one of these guys home (Merlin's brother) but they pair bonded and I had to return him or else I would have lost Merlin as a friend. I plan on paying 'rent' for one of these guys and taking him home in 1.5 years when I move into a house.

They are fantastic little creatures and while they do take a good bit of effort it breaks my heart that my breeder, one of the very best in the country, may no longer be breeding these guys.

They will go extinct in the wild at some point and each breeder that stops is another nail in the coffin of these wonderful little birds.

Please see my macaw page and the videos at the end of Ariel's page to get an idea of how wonderful Red Fronts are. Jared's Macaws

If you've got it in your heart to keep one of these guys in your home and give it the care and freedom it needs please contact me.

Thank You,
Jared Workman


PS - You can do just about anything with a well socialized Red Fronted Macaw. I love these guys.

I wish I were closer I would take one in here for our educational programs.Ok how far is Rochester NY from them?

they sound like truly amazing birds i hope they are able to find good homes. i don't have the space, time or money for another macaw right now, unfortunately. and i do have dogs as well. i do love the photo of the backpacking macaw!

HyacointhLove, that's actually Merlin hanging out with me during our rapell down this rock, I just heavily cropped the full photo to show him on my shoulder. (The guy in the photo below is not me but it is the same rapell)


I take him rock climbing with me because he loves topping out a few hundred feet off the ground and seeing the expansive views of the mountains and plains here in Colorado. I'd wager Merlin gets up more rock climbs and peaks than most of the people in my department.

Some more info-

Chaco was actually doing quite well in his last home and was a sweet little dream with me today. What happened was that the wife did not like him and the children were afraid of him. He and the husband got on well but it was a situation wherein he was likely neglected when the husband was gone and all of the tension with the wife and children drove him a bit batty.

The little girl was shipped to a new home in Florida to a man who had no real understanding of the need for patience with birds and when this little girl was stripped from her home with all the other birds and shipped away she was understandably upset. He became agitated which worsened the situation and when she didn't instantly turn into his mental image of what she should be he returned her.

Rio is a nutty, fun little bird but went insane when clipped and had to be returned. He is not as affectionate but has been harnessed and I believe could be much more handleable with the right amount of care.

I think they don't sell well because they are not the big extravagant macaws and aren't the little easier to handle ones. They are well worth the effort and patience. The picture above is one of Merlin sitting on my shoulder during a 200 foot rapell after a multi pitch rock climb. I've taken my guy with me on 16 mile 6500 vertical foot multi peak bagging days and all over town. He's my best little friend and worth every ounce of patience he requires. For the right people these birds are absolutely fantastic. For the wrong people I could see how they would be a screaming needy nightmare.

I stopped by and spoke with Sally Blanchard who agreed to give a free phone consultation with a new owner if a problem arose.

Baby Girl on the left Rio on the right


Rio up top Baby Girl on the bottom


Chaco, I love this bird and would bring him home now if it weren't for Merlin, I might even try again


Baby Girl and Rio


Chaco

Wow! They are beautiful. A specialty bird store I go to has a couple babies and they are the sweetest things. The owner is great too, if you want to buy a bird he has you work with the bird there. He also tells you honestly if that bird is not for you. I guess you could say he profiles the people to best match them and the birdie.

Any chance you want one, you look like you know a thing or two about macaws

I'd fly out to Philly with one under my seat.

Jared,

Love the pic of Merlin on you shoulder! We have on RFM and they are truly amazing birds. Our RFM, Zetta, lives with Victory a Blue and Gold. They are best friends and still love lots of human interaction.

A picture of your bird sitting next to a Hyacinth is my desktop picture for my work computer. It's hysterical to see the two of them together.

what amazing looking birds and that's really cool about all the rock climbing stuff! merlin must be one well-traveled bird !!