Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds for the exchange. The macaws are monogamous therefore the pairs had to be matched well.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw, which was declared extinct in 2000, following years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small population of the birds that are in captive, and are hoping to release them into the wild near Curaca. They call them their little blue friends and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They call him as a true survivor who lost his family but kept his faith in the region. They feel a strong connection to him and see their lives as being identical to his.
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 the species was able to survive for such a long time. This allowed researchers to estimate the population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird's daily movement patterns and seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. They also observed attempts at reproduction with a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaw pair which was a significant step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was an amazing achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has allowed scientists to understand how these birds can be returned to nature. The survival of the bird that was killed encouraged people to take action in order to save other parrots and threatened species. It also inspired zoos and other groups to set up 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 work together to save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government, zoo representatives as well as international owners of this rare bird and ornithologists together with one common goal: the recovery of the Spix's Macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes the development of an approach to reintroduce this bird back to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research, community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction plan. It also has established a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was threatened by the destruction of habitat and illegal poaching. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's Macaw known to millions of people around the world however this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long road to bring these birds back from the brink. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga, an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, 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 least-known Neotropical parrots, despite only few glimpses of the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To protect the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was created. It brought together experts in aviculture who had 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 create a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws to their natural environment.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also raising and breeding birds to be released into the wild, which will provide the genetically pure source of animals for the next generation of.
In the wild, Spix's macaws will live in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruits as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to help track Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would activate if the Spix's Macaw was recognized. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This method has proven successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the family Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. A reintroduction plan is in progress to try to bring back this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to feed on nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is in progress. 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 by a group of Blue-winged Macaws, which have been released back into the same area, and will help to share information about food sources, nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction program has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of the bird, which includes details of daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It has also provided an insight into the nature of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of numerous plants native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the Joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They may also consume the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other bird species are social birds and form close bonds with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic other sounds and words. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a brief, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute. When they are in breeding mode they can fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine that includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. They are very popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds in a plan to pair them. Since the time all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity, mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws in captivity are a mix of individuals that are the descendants of just two individuals, making them vulnerable more info to disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity reside in an breeding center in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out and the future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their precarious number, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, though not at a high rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds to release is equally important. Macaws must be of reproductive age and paired with siblings or close relatives.
It's not easy to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild, but it's important to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws that were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix’s macaws also live. These savvy birds will help macaws to become used to the region, and they will provide the security of a large number.