Summary

In "Seeing Scarlet," Steven Hopp, a biologist and Kingsolver's husband, explores Costa Rica with a group of biologists in search of the rare scarlet macaw. He is interested in animals as symbols to champion the preservation of biodiversity (51). He sees a mural painted by school children featuring a bright macaw at its center, although they may have never laid eyes on one. He thinks that the "macao" is part of the country's iconography and that they take "their natural heritage to heart" (52). They reach Corcovado National Park and contemplate the dangers of the land, possible rock slides, dead cows surrounded by king vultures. Many educators want to create consciousness about stealing baby parrots and macaws from their nests. In addition, the organization Zoo Ave rehabilitates birds recovered from poachers (56). They begin their pilgrimage to Corcovado with the hopes of...