A call for action was initiated by the World Parrot Trust (WPT) on the platform formerly known as Twitter, now ‘X’. The organization is appealing for Elon Musk to grant them the rights to use the platform’s original – and now obsolete – blue bird emblem. The trust contends that deploying this symbol could substantially bolster conservation endeavors for a threatened blue Macaw species.
The shift in brand identity by Musk from Twitter to ‘X’ in July caught many off guard, with suspicions of it being an elaborate prank. It took time for the reality to dawn on the public that this was a permanent change. Twitter’s distinguishing blue bird had been retired.
Since the introduction of the ‘X’ logo, Musk has introduced a few alterations, such as intensifying its weight (and subsequently retracting) and more recently, adorning the insignia’s backdrop with striking white patterns.
Nonetheless, these embellishments haven’t eased the nostalgia for the old Twitter blue bird. Its absence has been a hard fact to accept for many.
Now, a path to commemorate the blue bird has emerged through the World Parrot Trust’s strategy. The group has started an initiative on ‘X’ genuinely requesting that Musk hand over the retired logo for their usage.
The global conservation group proposes that the iconic blue bird could ignite public intrigue and assist in the preservation of the Lear’s Macaw, a critically threatened parrot species that calls Brazil its home. They argue that the popularity of the previous symbol could aid the trust in spreading the word and supporting their preservation missions.
What action Musk will decide to take remains uncertain. With no indications of reanimating the Twitter label, why not offer it for a noble endeavor? This could potentially mend some of the damage done to his public image, particularly after a less-than-stellar year in 2023.
But history has shown that those with vast wealth often require a compelling personal benefit to part with their assets. Would the fate of the Lear’s Macaw touch Musk deeply enough to relinquish the trademarked logo? Only the future can reveal this outcome.
With less than 1,700 Lear’s Macaws left in nature, pressures from environmental degradation, hunting, and the trade of wild birds threaten their existence. Further details and support options for this species can be explored through the WPT’s campaign.
