A Good Read

THE LAST FLIGHT OF THE SCARLET MACAW

Typically we refrain from writing blog entries that promote the books we've read while living in Belize, but we couldn't resist with this particular one. "The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw: One Woman's Fight to Save the World's Most Beautiful Bird," written by Bruce Barcott, is probably one of the single best books that we've both read in Belize (and there have been many, many books). The story is based upon real life events that took place in Belize from the early 1990's to around 2005. Its main focus is centered around the controversy that arose when current government officials along with local and international hydropower electric companies attempted to build a dam in the area of Belize known as Mountain Pine Ridge. The corporations had convinced the people of Belize that the new dam would provide the additional power necessary to lower the cost of electricity across the board. At the current time Belize was only harnessing about 40% of the power it needed to run things and as a result, they were forced to buy additional kilowatts from Mexico at a much higher cost, which was in turn, passed on to the consumer. Even today, Belize continues to have some of the highest electricity costs in the world, due to lack of developed infrastructure, human resources, and other shortages. The controversy surrounding the story, however, is this new dam. It will essentially wipe out the last breeding ground for the scarlet macaws (currently listed as a threatened species due to loss of habitat, hunting, poaching and various environmental issues).

A member of the parrot family, the scarlet macaw is perhaps one of the world's most recognizable tropical birds. It feeds mainly on a diet of fruit and nuts and can live up to 75 years. Females will typically lay 2-3 eggs, which have a gestation period of 28 days (after hatching, chicks will flee the nest in about 90 days, and leave their parents after 1 year). Many of the chicks do not survive to adulthood due to their vulnerability to predators ranging from hawks to jaguars. Sharon Matola (Director of the Belize Zoo) has done extensive studies and observations of the macaws in Belize, specifically in the rainforests of Mountain Pine Ridge. She's been credited as being one of the first people to witness many behaviors of the bird outside of captivity. As it's habitat was threatened in the Macal River basin, Sharon Matola stood up and fought everyone and anyone related to the construction of the dam.

The book is an amazing story of Sharon's fight to save this bird. Since we spent so much time working directly with the zoo last year, and were fortunate enough to see Sharon in action with the animals that she loves so dearly, we had a special place in our hearts for this story. Not only does the piece deal specifically with Belize at the time, but it also talks in great detail about people, politics, geography, and how often they have meshed throughout the country's short, but eventful history. For all of you who have been reading our blog, sending us letters, talking with us on the phone, and providing support and encouragement, this one's for you. It's a picture of the Belize that we live in, a history, both past and in the making, the one that we often try to describe, but sometimes don't have the words. The story will help put Belize into perspective.

Currently the book is available in hardcover only, but in mid-January they will be publishing a paperback edition. Give it a read if you can, let us know what you think, and once again, thanks for reading.