Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so it was important to match the pairs well.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw, which was declared extinct in 2000 after years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a tiny population of the birds in captive, and are hoping to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to them as their blue-eyed friends and compare their lives with the journey of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They describe him 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 being similar to his.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided an excellent opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of why this species survived so long. It also helped them make a more precise estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather important information about the bird's daily movements and seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. They also observed reproduction attempts using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaw pair which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was a marvellous achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has helped scientists to better understand how these birds can be restored to nature. The survival of the bird that was killed encouraged people to take action to save other parrots as well as threatened species. Zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group is a great illustration of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can collaborate to protect endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian governmental officials Zoo representatives as well as international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes developing a plan to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to fund field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction program. They have also formed a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was threatened through the destruction of habitats and illegal poaching. Aviculturists, ornithologists, and other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions of people all over the world thanks to a popular animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long-distance road to returning these birds. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity into the wild.
Cleo female macaws for sale 's macaw is endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga which is an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, interspersed with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, with few glimpses of the wild as well as a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was formed. It brought together aviculturists who held 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 to their natural habitat.
AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, thereby providing the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plants. They may spend up to 1/3 of their time in the nest.
To aid in tracking 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 given watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was observed, allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This approach has been extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot vanished in 2000 and no additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction program is currently underway to try to restore this critically threatened bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of old caraibeira trees and were known to feed on seeds and nuts.
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 expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group 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 vital biological data about the behavior of this rare bird, which includes details about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought during the season. It also provides a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw, helping to discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many plants native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a brief repeated grating sound that is like a flute note. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. Like many other parrots, can mimic human speech. They also have a strict routine for their day, from flights to bathing routines and are able to recognize the members of their flock. This is what makes them such popular pets, and also a target for the illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are made up of individuals that are the descendants of just two individuals, making them vulnerable to disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at the breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed, casting doubt over future plans to repatriate the birds and return 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 a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce again, although not at a great rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. The selection of the right birds for release is equally important. The macaws should be reproductive and paired with close relatives or siblings.
The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it's crucial to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that is designed to safeguard the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws that were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws also live. These intelligent birds will aid macaws to become familiar with the area, and they will provide safety in numbers.