Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with jealousies and backbiting.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was important to match the pairs well.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw which was declared extinct in 2000 after decades of poaching and habitat loss. They have a few of the birds that are in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They call them their little blue companions and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as an authentic survivor who lost his family, but kept his faith in his region. They see their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his and feel a strong connection to him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to study its behavior in the wild and gain an understanding of why this species survived this long. This enabled researchers to determine the historical population of this rare bird more precisely. Researchers were able to gather important data about the bird's movements throughout the day and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce with a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was an important step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has allowed scientists to better understand how these birds can be restored to the wild. The bird's survival has encouraged people to take action to save other species of endangered parrots. This has also encouraged zoos to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.
This group serves as an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to save endangered species of wildlife and animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with one goal in common to save this rare bird.
The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including developing a plan for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It also has established an ongoing committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to habitat destruction and poaching, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions of people around the world due to a cult animated film and two sequels. This is just the beginning on the long-distance road to returning these birds. For decades, an international team has been trying to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small portion of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga which is an arid region of flat savannah scrubland interspersed with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, a few birds that are kept in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens.
To save the declining population An international committee was formed that brought together aviculturists that were the last to hold the birds and government officials. This group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws into their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has bought and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, which will provide an incredibly pure genetic source of the animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. Paisley hyacinth macaw for sale build nests in hollows or holes in trees and forage for fruit seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They will typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team to help identify Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw is identified. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild as well as their daily movements. This method has proven to be successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting to restore this critically threatened bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil comprises about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeiras and were known to feed on seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. 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, which have been reintroduced to the same area, and will help to share knowledge about food sources and nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of this bird, including details about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also provides a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw, helping to discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many plants native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. They also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are highly social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound similar to the note of a flutist. They are often seen flying fast and high when they are in the mood to breed.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their family. This is what makes them such popular pets and targets for the illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, and all of them poached. A plan to pair the male and female defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then the Spix's macaws have been captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are made up of individuals that are the descendants of only two individuals, which makes them at risk of disease and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds in captivity are in the breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed which raises doubt about the future plans to repatriate the birds and reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out 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 beginning to reproduce, though not at a great rate. Keeping them healthy and producing will be important to reintroducing the birds into the wild. It is important to choose the right birds before releasing them. Macaws must be at a reproductive age and should be in a relationship with a sibling or a close relative.
It may be difficult to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild but it is vital to try. To aid, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that will help to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws that are more common in the Caatinga and share areas with the Spix's macaws. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws get familiar with the area and will offer safety in numbers.