Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time with uncertainty and fear Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to participate in the exchange. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed to be matched well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically threatened 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 few of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They call them their blue-eyed friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his and feel a deep connection with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of how this species survived so long. Researchers were able to determine the historical population of this unique bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable achievement 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 returned to nature. The bird's survival has encouraged people to take action to save other species of endangered parrots. It also inspired zoos and other organizations to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from the government Zoo representatives as well as international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists together with one common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The working group has already completed a lot of work, including developing a plan for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction project. It has also 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 threatened due to the destruction of habitats and illegal poaching. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to fight tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is known to millions of people around the world due to a popular animated film and two sequels. But this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long road of bringing these birds back. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland that is dotted with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, with sporadic sightings from the wild as well as a few captive birds and some museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was established. It brought together experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird, as well as officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws back to their natural environment.
AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released into the wild. This will provide a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and forage in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to assist identify Spix's Macaws. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was observed and thereby allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily activities in the wild. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to 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 discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is currently underway to try to bring back this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to feed on nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to arrive in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. chestnut fronted macaw will share information on food sources, nesting and areas to roost.
The reintroduction programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this bird, which includes details of the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It has also opened a window on the nature of the Spix's Macaws. This can help to understand the causes that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, seeds and nuts of numerous plants 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.
Spix's Macaws like all parrots and other birds, are social birds that form close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating noise similar to a flutist note. They are known to fly high and fast when they are in an ecstatic mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They have a strict routine that includes flight patterns and bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them so popular pets, and also a target for the illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, and all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds as part of the hope of pairing them. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture that descends of only two individuals. This makes them susceptible to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at the breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed which raises doubt about the future plans to return the birds and reintroduce 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 out the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a high rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds before release. The macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired with close relatives or siblings.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, but it is essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that is designed to safeguard the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that were released recently 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 also reside. These savvy birds will help macaws to become used to the region and provide the security of a large number.