Benito and Sapphira

Mar 2023, National Aviary @Pittsburgh, PA

The two hyacinth macaws in the photos are Benito and Sapphira. Benito arrived at the aviary in 1993, and Sapphira in 2018; being a big parrot lover, they have always been my favorite birds among all the residents of the aviary that I have seen. The staff has told me that they were mates, which is not at all surprising given that during the couple times I visited the aviary in 2022 and 2023, I have mostly seen them staying close to each other and sometimes playing.

I came back to Pittsburgh for a visit recently, one year after I graduated and left the city, and was so excited to finally be able to visit the aviary again. But it was also only then that I learnt that Benito had passed away earlier this year. It was an unexpected news that has filled my heart with an immense amount of sorrow, so I just want to share some more of the only photos I’ve had the chance to taken of Benito and Sapphira together. I will certainly miss Benito.