Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring however, it is also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first challenge was to get enough birds for the trade. The macaws were monogamous so it was crucial to match pairs well.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw, which was declared extinct in 2000, following decades of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a tiny population of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They call the birds their blue-eyed friends and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They say he was a true survivor, who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They feel a strong kinship to him and perceive their lives as like his.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and better understand the reasons why this species has survived so long. This allowed researchers to estimate the population of this unique bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to gather important information about the bird's daily movement patterns, seasonal adjustment to drought, and its feeding habits. They also monitored attempts at reproduction with an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaw pair, which was an important step towards the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has enabled scientists understand how these birds can be restored to the natural world. The bird's survival has encouraged people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. This has also encouraged zoos to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.
This working group is a great example of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate to save endangered species of wildlife and animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists, with one goal in common to save this unique bird.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird back into the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It also has established a permanent committee for the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered due to the destruction of habitats and illegal poaching. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions of people around the world due to a popular animated film and two sequels. This is just the beginning on the long journey of bringing these birds back. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This arid region has flat savannah scrubland that is interspersed with galleries and streams that flow through the season. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with only occasional sightings in the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To protect the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was formed. It was comprised of experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird as well as officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws back to their natural environment.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will give a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws are found in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plants. They can spend up to one third of their day in the nest.
A local community was recruited as part of the field team to help track Spix's Macaws. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected which allowed them to keep track of the birds and their daily activities in the wild. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last known wild parrot disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is currently underway to try to bring this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information about food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost.
The reintroduction program has collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this unique bird, including information on the patterns of movement throughout the day and the seasonal changes to drought. It also provides a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw which helps to understand what led to its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, seeds and nuts of many species native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the Joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They can also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound similar to an acoustic note. They are known to fly fast and high when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with one another with a variety of screeching and squawking sounds, and like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also adhere to a strict routine for their day, from flight paths to bathing habits and can identify members of their flock. They are adored as pets and are often targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, with all of them poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds as part of the hope of pairing them. Since then, all known Spix's macaws have been captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them susceptible to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany. However, this year an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled, leaving the possibility of repatriation or reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, though not at a high rate. Keeping them healthy and producing will be important to reintroducing these birds to the wild. Fiona hyacinth macaw bird for sale of the right birds to release is also crucial. Macaws must be at a reproductive age and be in a relationship with an older sibling or close relatives.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it is important to try. ABC and its partners have created a reserve system to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also live. These savvy birds will help macaws to become familiar with the area, and they will provide security in large numbers.