Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period filled with uncertainty and fear Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully bring a group of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first hurdle was to get enough birds for the trade. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed 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 years of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a small number of the birds kept in captivity, and are hoping to release them in the wild near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their blue-eyed friends and compare their journey to the journey of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as similar to his and feel a strong affinity with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to study its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of why this species has survived for such a long time. Researchers were able to estimate the historical population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able gather important details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and its eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery for this species.
It was a remarkable achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has enabled scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the natural world. The bird's survival has inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. It also inspired zoos and other groups to set 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. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with one goal in common: the recovery of this rare bird.
The group has accomplished a lot of work. This includes the development of plans to reintroduce the bird in the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. It also has established an ongoing committee to oversee the reintroduction of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered by the destruction of habitat and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to tirelessly work to save this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is known to millions of people around the world thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long-distance road to bringing these birds back. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is a native species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This dry region has flat savannah scrubland that is scattered with galleries and seasonal streams. It was first described in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic 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 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 develop an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws in their native environment.
AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and rears 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 rarely seen on the ground. They typically nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts and other plants. They will typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws as well as their movements local communities were recruited to join the field team. The members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected, allowing them to keep track of the birds and their daily activities in the wild. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw get more info is the only species of 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 disappeared in 2000 and no additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction programme is in progress 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 nestled in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction program is now underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity were released in the wild in June. Twelve more birds are scheduled to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws, which were reintroduced into the same area and will help to share information about food sources, nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction programme has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, including details about the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also has provided a glimpse into the natural history of the Macaws of Spix, which can help to understand the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. They can also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound that resembles a flutist note. When they are in a breeding mode, they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also adhere to a strict daily routine, from the flight path to bathing habits and are able to recognize members of their flock. This is why they are such popular pets and a target for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, all of them being poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since then the Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental threats. 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 and causing doubt about future plans to return the birds and then reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws for the collector.
As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce again, although not at a high rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds for release is equally important. Macaws must be in a reproductive stage, and they should be in a relationship with an older sibling or close relatives.
It could be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back into the wild but it is vital to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These savvy birds will help macaws to become used to the region and provide the security of a large number.