The Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna) is found in eastern Panama, western Colombia, western Ecuador and most of the Amazon Basin. Throughout much of this range the species is declining due to habitat loss and harvesting for the pet trade. The species disappeared from Trinidad in the 1960’s. In 1999, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden spearheaded a pilot project to reintroduce Blue and Gold Macaws to the protected Nariva Swamp. To date, 31 wild caught birds have been released, 26 have survived and 26 chicks have been produced in the wild over six nesting seasons. Trained local assistants document flight patterns and dispersal of the macaws throughout the 15,440-acre wetland. They determine the location of nesting sites, inspect nesting cavities and monitor usage of food sources. Innovative conservation education programs and local community involvement have made the Blue and Gold Macaw a flagship species in the protection of the Nariva Swamp in Trinidad.