#snake discovery

[davy-jones-yaoi]

jokes on you emily i already know how to do that

bam

[rabid-goblin-freak]

I went to a Snake Discovery event at my local library! 🌿🐍

I've been watching their YouTube channel on an off again for years. It was so cool to meet some of the staff and snakes in person!

Here's the two snakes I got to hold! (For privacy reasons I have blurred both myself and others in the pictures)

[randomanimaloftheday]

Day 10#: Blue-and-Yellow Macaw

Today's animal of the day is the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna)!

Photo credit: Mike Owyang

Also known as the blue-and-gold macaw, this species of large parrot can be found throughout the rainforests, savannahs, and woodlands of South and Central America. Like other macaw, they are highly intelligent, with their cognitive abilities often being compared to those of a three-year-old human child!

Photo credit: Oswaldo Hernández 

They are very vocal birds and are known for their loud vocalizations, which can be heard from around two miles away! These macaws also have the ability to mimic human speech, which has made them extremely popular in the pet trade. In fact, the blue-and-yellow macaw is one of the most common birds in captivity and is considered to be the most widely available of the larger species of macaw. However, I wouldn't recommend getting one as a pet unless you're willing to have what is basically a super-intelligent flying toddler with a powerful beak and a passion for screaming living in your house for 35-50 years. (Note: some individuals in captivity can live up to 70, but 35-50 years is around the average lifespan).

Photo credit: Allison Hales

In the wild, these macaws have a very wide range and are listed as least concern, though in some areas they have almost gone regionally extinct due to habitat loss and poaching from the exotic pet trade. They use their powerful beaks to crack open the shells of seeds and nuts, and in captivity, they need to receive constant attention and enrichment or else these powerful beaks can turn into tools of destruction. While they are primarily herbivorous, they have been reported to eat snails and insects on rare occasions.

Photo credit: Ryan Candee

These birds are highly social and form extremely close bonds with their flock members. In captivity, they can also form close bonds with their human keepers, however, as I stated before they are extremely intelligent and require a lot of time, care, and attention. If they're not properly taken care of it can lead to a lot of problematic behaviors that negatively impact both the bird and the owners. Bored macaws are more likely to destroy things and if there's nothing to destroy they can begin plucking their own feathers out! This can also happen if the macaw is in an overly stressful environment.

Photo credit: snake.discovery on Instagram

Sometimes, if caught and corrected in time by providing proper care and enrichment, the feathers will regrow. However, often this behavior isn't corrected in time and the feather follicles end up being damaged beyond repair and the feathers never grow back. This is what happened to Cheyenne from Snake Discovery, though that was because she was living in a very stressful environment in her previous home before being rescued. However, because she had been plucking for so long she continued doing it even after being provided with the proper care. That's why she's usually wearing a cute little sweater since it prevents her from plucking and also helps keep her warm. This is why you should always do your research and make sure you have the time, resources, and willingness to take on a new pet before purchasing it. DO NOT IMPULSE BUY ANIMALS! ESPECIALLY MACAWS!!!

[crownsandbishops]

Moonbow, do you ever dream of doing something different with your life?

[godslush]

I don't check into the Snake Discovery zoo stream that often, but I laughed out LOUD to see that right now they have live Sharon-back cam

Edit: The fact that even after exploring into the unknown realm of the back rooms, she knows how to put herself away when she's tired is so cute.

Edit2: LITERALLY SHOVING HER SLEEPING BOYFRIEND OUT OF THE CORNER TO HOG THE LIGHT

[insanelyadd]

Saw the snake discovery display at the DNR building. So many little danger noodles! <3

[rowanheart0205]

Guys!!! Guyyyyss guys!

I'm getting a snake. I've been wanting a snake for 7 years. And guess what. I'm adopting a rescue. Not just any rescue, rescued by Snake Discovery. Snake Discovery is that channel I've been watching that fostered my love of snakes to the point that I've been pining for one so long. I've already paid for him and I'm getting him in a week and a half.

[feralfaelife]

Before we left town, we stopped by Snake Discovery! It's a small zoo focused on reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. They have a YouTube channel (where it all started) my husband has been watching since before they bought the building for the zoo. We got to meet Emily from the channel and talk to her about animals and possibly having them come for a library program in the future. We decided that we want to make visiting them an annual thing.