A scarlet macaw takes to the sky above the beach on Costa Rica's south Pacific. They are beautiful to see in flight; too often these birds are found in zoos and private residences, victims of the expanding pet trade - the same syndicate that has introduced Nile crocodiles into the Everglades and encouraged the spread of infectious pathogens across the globe. The pet trade will be deadly to these exotic animals and species that adopts them. It is important to remember that these threats to biodiversity exist, and it is imperative that we work to stop them; but it is easy to become discouraged, so it is also important to remember this-- a lone macaw in flight above the breaking waves that pound the beach, alive and free and painting the sky with life.