Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with backbiting and jealousies.
The first challenge was to find enough birds to be traded. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs needed to be well-matched.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically endangered Spix's macaw. The bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds that are in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They call them their little blue companions and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They call him as a true survivor who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They see their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and they feel a deep connection with him.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and better understand the reasons why this species has lasted so long. Researchers were able to estimate the population of this unique bird more precisely. Researchers were able to gather crucial data on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. They also observed attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw pair which was a significant step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has allowed scientists to understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The survival of the last bird also motivated people to act to save other parrots and endangered species. Zoos are also encouraged to develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This working group is a good example of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can work together in order to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with one goal in common to save this unique bird.
The group has completed a great deal of work. This includes developing an approach to reintroduce this bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up an ongoing committee to oversee the reintroduction of the bird.
Habitat
Threatened by habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to fight tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people around the world However, this is only the beginning in the long-distance journey to bring these birds back from the edge. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819, and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, 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 established. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird, as well as government officials. This group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's into their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will provide the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and are rarely seen on the ground. They typically nest in hollows or tree holes and hunt for fruits as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend as much as one third of their day in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team to help track Spix's Macaws. Members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep track of the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This approach has proven very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was in the wake of the last wild parrot was lost in 2000, and no more birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan is in the process of trying to bring back the critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10% of where to get a macaw 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 in progress. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws that were reintroduced into the same area and will help to share information about food sources and nesting and roosting sites.
The reintroduction program has already collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this unique bird, including details on daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought during the season. It has also provided a glimpse into the evolution of Spix's Macaws, which helps to understand the factors that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits and nuts of a variety of species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and 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 have a strong bond with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound similar to the note of a flutist. They are known to fly high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots, they can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine that includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their flock. They are popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, with all of them poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mix of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, leaving them vulnerable to disease and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are in an breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal and causing doubt about future plans to return the birds and reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their precarious number of captive-bred Spix's macaws, captive-bred species show 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 weren't part of the breeding program.
In part due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is beginning to increase, though not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds to release is also crucial. Macaws must be reproductively mature and be joined by a sibling or a close family member.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild could prove difficult, but it is important to try. ABC and its partners have established 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 the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These birds will help the macaws adjust to their new surroundings and will also offer protection by large numbers.