Animals & Environment
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22 Sept 2026
Scarlet macaws are known to intentionally starve their youngest chicks (Credit: Getty Images)
Scientists Rescue Amazon Macaw Chicks to Give Them Foster Families
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Section: Warm Up
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) Scientists rescue weak baby parrots from rainforest trees.
b) Parrots learn to swim in a deep river.
c) Macaw chicks build houses out of small rocks.
Ask:
(1) Have you ever seen a bright parrot or macaw in real life or in a picture?
(2) Why do you think baby birds need help from their parents in the nest?
VOCABULARY
colourful (/ˈkʌləfl/, adjective)
Meaning: Having many bright colours.
Example: The colourful parrot flew over the green rainforest trees.
nest (/nest/, noun)
Meaning: A home built by birds to hold their eggs and baby chicks.
Example: The macaws built a safe nest inside a large tree hole.
hatch (/hætʃ/, verb)
Meaning: To break out of an egg when born.
Example: Three small bird eggs hatch on a warm morning.
rescue (/ˈreskjuː/, verb)
Meaning: To save someone or something from danger.
Example: Scientists climb tall trees to rescue helpless chicks.
centre (/ˈsentə/, noun)
Meaning: A place where special work or care takes place.
Example: The hungry baby birds stayed at the animal centre.
foster (/ˈfɒstə/, adjective)
Meaning: Taking care of a young animal that is not your own baby.
Example: The foster parents gave food to the new chick every day.
programme (/ˈprəʊɡræm/, noun)
Meaning: A plan or project designed to help achieve something.
Example: This wildlife programme helps protect rare tropical birds.
Scarlet macaws are beautiful birds in the jungle. They have bright red, blue, and yellow feathers. Their colourful bodies shine in the green forest. These large parrots live high in tall rainforest trees. The parents build a nest in a tree hole. Mother macaws lay three or four eggs.
The baby birds hatch from the eggs. The parents give food to the biggest chick first. The smallest chick receives no food at all. Sadly, the weak chick often dies. The parents do not help the tiny baby.
Now, smart scientists help these helpless chicks. The scientists climb high trees in the jungle. They carefully rescue the hungry baby birds. They feed the weak chicks at a bird centre.
Next, the scientists find new bird parents. Other macaw parents accept the baby in their nest. The foster parents feed the new chick every day. Soon, the rescued chick grows strong and flies away safely. This special programme saves many young birds.
Parker was snatched from his nest before he had even opened his eyes (Credit: Gabriela Vigo-Trauco/ The Macaw Society)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) Why do you think macaws live high in rainforest trees?
(2) How do scientists help weak baby birds in the jungle?
(3) Would you like to climb tall trees to help animals? Why or why not?
(4) How do foster parrot parents help the rescued chicks?
(5) Why is it important to protect bright jungle birds?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: colourful, foster, hatch, rescue
Scarlet macaws are beautiful birds in the jungle. They have bright red, blue, and yellow feathers. Their _______(1) bodies shine in the green forest. These large parrots live high in tall rainforest trees. The parents build a nest in a tree hole. Mother macaws lay three or four eggs.
The baby birds _______(2) from the eggs. The parents give food to the biggest chick first. The smallest chick receives no food at all. Sadly, the weak chick often dies. The parents do not help the tiny baby.
Now, smart scientists help these helpless chicks. The scientists climb high trees in the jungle. They carefully _______(3) the hungry baby birds. They feed the weak chicks at a bird centre.
Next, the scientists find new bird parents. Other macaw parents accept the baby in their nest. The _______(4) parents feed the new chick every day. Soon, the rescued chick grows strong and flies away safely. This special programme saves many young birds.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this story?
a) Macaws like to eat sweet fruits in the jungle.
b) Scientists save weak macaw chicks and give them foster parents.
c) Parrots build giant nests out of mud and grass.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
(1) Scarlet macaws have red, blue, and yellow feathers. T/F
(2) Macaw parents always feed the smallest chick first. T/F
(3) Foster parents accept rescued chicks into their nests. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put these events in order (1-3):
[ ] Scientists feed the weak chicks at a bird centre.
[ ] Mother macaws lay eggs inside a tree nest.
[ ] Rescued chicks grow strong with their new foster parents.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. Colourful
2. Nest
3. Hatch
4. Rescue
5. Foster
a) To come out of an egg
b) To save someone from danger
c) Having bright red, blue, and yellow colours
d) Caring for a young animal that is not your own
e) A bird's home in a tree
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) Scientists climb high trees to _______ hungry chicks.
a) rescue
b) swim
c) sleep
(2) The new _______ parents give food to the baby bird.
a) foster
b) cold
c) heavy
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) Unscramble the sentence:
A) live / B) in / C) Scarlet macaws / D) tall trees / E) rainforest
(2) Unscramble the sentence:
A) feed / B) Foster parents / C) every day / D) the chick / E) carefully
ANSWER KEY
Answer Key - Level A1
Warm Up Answer: a
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) colourful
(2) hatch
(3) rescue
(4) foster
Section 2: Main Idea
Answer: b
Section 3: True or False
(1) True
(2) False
(3) True
Section 4: Put Events in Order
[2] Scientists feed the weak chicks at a bird centre.
[1] Mother macaws lay eggs inside a tree nest.
[3] Rescued chicks grow strong with their new foster parents.
Section 5: Vocab Match
1-c, 2-e, 3-a, 4-b, 5-d
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) a
(2) a
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) C - A - B - E - D (Scarlet macaws live in rainforest tall trees.)
(2) B - A - D - E - C (Foster parents feed the chick carefully every day.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
(1) Macaws live high up in trees to stay safe from predators and find hollow nest holes.
(2) Scientists climb trees, collect weak chicks, feed them at a centre, and give them foster parents.
(3) Answers will vary (e.g. Yes, because I love climbing trees and rescuing wild animals).
(4) Foster parents accept the baby birds into their nest and feed them every day like their own chicks.
(5) It is important because macaws keep rainforests healthy and help spread plant seeds.
Thank you for your feedback!