Photos show how an Indonesian motorbike mechanic became a macaw trainer

With two brightly feathered macaws perched on his hands, their long tails brushing against him, Albi Albar Ramli balanced on his motorbike on a Saturday morning before heading off to an open field near his home. Behind him, six more macaws waited inside wooden boxes strapped to the passenger seat, ready for their training. Ramli was on his way to join fellow macaw enthusiasts from the surrounding area, turning a vacant lot into a lively gathering place for both birds and their keepers. On the training field, the 33-year-old Ramli taught the birds to fly and return within three minutes when he blew his whistle, in preparation for a competition of obedience and cohesiveness among birds within the group. Ramli’s passion for birds began in 2018 when he kept small parakeets, but soon he dreamed of caring for larger, more elegant species like macaws. Inspired by videos on social media showing birds returning faithfully to their trainers after flying freely, the 33-year-old decided to...