Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time with uncertainty and fear, Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to participate in the exchange. The macaws are monogamous therefore the pairs had to be well-matched.
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 habitat loss. They have a few of the birds that are in captivity and hope to release them close to Curaca. They call the birds their little blue companions and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They call him a true survivor, who lost his family, but kept his faith in the region. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as similar to his, and feel a deep connection with him.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and better understand how this species has lasted so long. Researchers were able to determine the historical population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able gather important data about the bird's movements throughout the day, seasonal adjustment to drought, and its feeding habits. They also monitored reproduction attempts using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws, which was an important step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has helped scientists to better understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The last bird's survival also inspired people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. Zoos and other organizations to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials as well as representatives from zoos 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 group has already achieved a lot of work. This includes preparing plans to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to support field research, community outreach and 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 believed to be extinct. It was threatened through the destruction of habitat and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to tirelessly work to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw famous to millions of people worldwide However, this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long road to save these birds from the brink. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small portion of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga, an arid region of flat savannah scrubland that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was described in 1819 and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, a few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population, an international committee was created which brought together aviculturists who were the last to hold the birds, as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws back to their natural habitat.
AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, providing a genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and are rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants. They will typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team to help identify 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 on top of the birds' movements and their daily movements in the wild. This method has proven to be successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to 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 disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil is home to about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction program is now in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, which includes details of the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. Leia blue macaw and red macaw opened a window on the nature of the Spix's Macaws. This can help to understand the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws eat the fruits, seeds and nuts of many species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo and linhas Brasil, as well as facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in 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 that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound similar to a flutist note. When they are in a breeding mode they can fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots, they can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. They are adored as pets and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, all of them being poached. A plan to pair the male and female foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity, mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are made up of individuals who are the descendants of only two individuals, which makes them at risk of disease and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds in captivity are 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, casting doubt over future plans to return the birds and return them into the wild.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
In part because of this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to increase, though not at a rapid rate. Keeping them healthy and producing will be important to reintroducing the birds back into the wild. The selection of the right birds to release is equally important. Macaws should be in a reproductive stage and be paired with one of their siblings or a close relative.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it's essential to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws that were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. These intelligent birds will aid macaws to become used to the region and will offer safety in numbers.