African Crowned Crane
African Crowned Cranes are indigenous to West and Central Africa, and have become endangered because of threats to their wetland habitats. Humans are cranes' main competitors; they use the wetlands inefficiently and sometimes illegally for irrigation and farming, leaving the cranes to find new territories and food sources.

The crane acts as a barometer of how the wetland habitat is doing: If cranes are present, that indicates there are sufficient resources for other wetland animals, such as smaller birds, snakes, and insects. Also, if humans are using the space improperly, cranes and all the other species will disappear. They also occupy an important place in the cultural life of the Turkana pastoralists of Kenya as messengers of peace.

A Wisconsin-based organization, the International Crane Foundation, is teaching farmers how they can better utilize the land in a way that respects the cranes' habitat.

Hawk
Hawks are typically found in the northern and central regions of the United States. They spot their prey (lizards, frogs, mice, and other small mammals and reptiles) from the air and then swoop down and puncture the animal with their sharp talons covered with bacteria.

Also good housekeepers, hawks begin sending their feces over the edge of the nest by 5 or 6 days old; bird waste on the ground is a sign of an active nest.

The biggest threats to hawks in the wild are owls, larger hawks, and people. Hawks live in forests, and as we continue cutting down forests to build housing developments, we are taking away their homes. We need hawks, as they help control rodent, insect, and bird populations. It is important not to litter, as anything thrown out of a car (food or otherwise) draws the attention of mice, causing hawks to fly to the roadside to hunt, ultimately leading to collisions involving birds.

Hyacinth Macaw
Vibrantly blue hyacinth macaws are native to South America and make up the largest species of parrot in the world. Their diet consists primarily of nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Parrots, in general, are a popular pet, but the hyacinth macaw can be expensive, so there aren't as many in captivity. They have a naturally sweet disposition and gentle nature. With two toes positioned forward and two back, these birds are great climbers.

Because they are captured for the exotic pet trade (and also due to habitat loss), their status is endangered. There are less than 10,000 in the wild, but the Hyacinth Macaw Project is working with farmers and resorts to establish breeding habitats (encouraging them to put out nest boxes so the birds have somewhere to nest and root). For more information, visit parrotsinternational.org.

Toucan
The Toucan is the National Bird of Belize, and is a protected species, but toucans live in the rainforest, and habitat destruction has the potential to threaten their existence. With magnificent beaks serrated like a bread knife, the omnivorous birds cut into fruits, small animals, and eggs and swallow them whole. They don't fly well because of their big, bulky beaks -- even though a toucan's beak is lightweight and almost transparent. They get around the rainforest hopping from tree to tree.

Resources
Special thanks to Amy Eveleth, animal ambassador for Baltimore's Maryland Zoo, for sharing this information. Special thanks to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for bringing the hyacinth macaw to our studio.