Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period filled with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also rife with jealousy and backbiting.
The first hurdle was to get enough birds for the trade. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed 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 after years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small amount of the birds that are in captivity and hope to release them near 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 call him a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as being similar to his, and they feel a strong connection to 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 better understanding of why this species was able to survive for so long. It also helped them form a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to collect important details about the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery for this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able endure and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and has helped scientists understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The survival of the last bird also inspired people to take action to save other parrots as well as endangered species. Zoos have also been enticed to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.
This group is an illustration of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can work together to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials Zoo representatives and 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 accomplished a lot of work, including preparing plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
Endangered by poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought 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.
The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people around the globe thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. But this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long journey of bringing these birds back. A team of international experts 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 consisting of savannah scrubland flat that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, with 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 created. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released in the wild. This will give the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can spend up to one third of the time in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team in order to help to track Spix's macaws. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was detected, allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily movements in the wild. This approach has been 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 in the wake of the last wild parrot was lost in 2000 and no additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil comprises about 10% of the entire 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 Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws, which have been reintroduced to the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources and nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction programme has already collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on daily movements patterns as well as adjustments to drought during the season. It has also provided a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, helping to understand what led to its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of numerous species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo and linhas Brasil, as well as facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. They can also eat the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that bond closely with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief repeated grating sound that is similar to a flute note. When they are in breeding mode they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. As with many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They also adhere to a strict daily routine, from flights to bathing routines and can identify members of their family. They are adored as pets, and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds due to this.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds in a plan to pair them. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, making them vulnerable to disease and other environmental threats. Fiona hyacinth macaw bird for sale of Spix's macaws in captivity live at a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled, leaving the future plans for repatriation and their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their petty numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
In part due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. It is essential to choose the correct birds before release. The macaws need to be reproductively mature and be paired with an older sibling or close relative.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild but it is vital to try. To aid, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which aims to protect the species' 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 live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. These smart birds will help the macaws get accustomed to the region and will offer security in large numbers.