Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational however, it is also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. These macaws are monogamous, therefore the pairs had to be matched properly.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a tiny population of the birds kept in captivity, and hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to them as little blue companions, and compare their experience to the journey of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family, but kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong kinship to him and see their lives as being similar to his.
The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of how the species was able to survive for this long. Researchers were able to estimate the population of this unique bird more precisely. Researchers were able gather important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce using an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and it has helped researchers understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed motivated people to act in order to save other parrots and endangered species. Zoos have also been enticed to create their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.
This working group is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common to save this unique bird.
The group has completed a great deal of work. This includes the development of a plan to reintroduce the bird in the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was endangered by habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Aviculturists, ornithologists, and other experts continue to do their best to bring this iconic bird from the brink extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions around the world thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long-distance road to bringing these birds back. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This desert region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland and is scattered with seasonal streams and gallery forests. It was described in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, with a few birds in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens.
To save the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was formed. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird, as well as government officials. The group forged a partnership with the world-renowned non profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to develop an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws in their native environment.
AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released in the wild. This will give an animal that is genetically pure for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and seldom seen on the ground. They typically nest in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruits as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They will typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local group was recruited to become part of the field team. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was observed which allowed them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily activities in the wild. This method has proven to be successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction project is in the process of trying to restore this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. macaw purchase will share information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction program has gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, which includes details about the patterns of movement throughout the day and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also provides a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, helping to understand what led to its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits and nuts of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. They also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound similar to a flute note. When they are in a breeding mode, they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, which includes routines for bathing and flight. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. They are adored as pets and are frequently targeted by the illegal bird trade because of this.
In the early 1980s only three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds in the hope of pairing them. Since then all known Spix's macaws are captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws that are in captivity are made up of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, which makes them susceptible to illness and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed and causing doubt about future plans to return the birds and then reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to buy from a collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
In part due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is essential to choose the correct birds before release. Macaws must be reproductive and paired with close relatives or siblings.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, but it's important to try. To aid, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that is designed to safeguard the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws that were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new surroundings and will also ensure safety through large numbers.