Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.
The first challenge was finding enough birds to exchange. These 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 loss of habitat. They have a small number of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They refer to them as little blue friends, and compare their experience to the journey of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They say he was as a true survivor who lost his family, but kept his faith in the region. They feel a strong bond to him and see their lives as like his.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to study its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of why this species was able to survive for this long. It also helped them create a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able gather crucial information on the bird's daily movement patterns and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. They also monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw pair which was a significant step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird was able to endure and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and it has also helped scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The bird's survival has inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. This has also encouraged zoos to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.
This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government as well as representatives from zoos as well as international owners of this rare bird and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the recovery of the Spix's macaw.
The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including developing a plan for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. chestnut fronted macaw has also created a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was endangered by the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to do their best to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's Macaw known to millions of people across the globe, but this is just the tip of the iceberg in the long-distance journey to save these birds from the edge. 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 native to a small portion of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga which is an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland 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 among of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with occasional sightings in the wild as well as a few captive birds and some museum specimens.
To save the declining population An international committee was formed that brought together aviculturists that held the last remaining birds and government officials. The group forged a partnership with the world-renowned non profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws in their native environment.
AWWP has bought and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released in the wild. This will give the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and search in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plants. They can spend up to one third of the time in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team to assist track Spix's Macaws. Members of the community were given watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their movements throughout the wild. This approach has been extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last known wild parrot disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. However, a reintroduction program currently underway is trying to restore this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws that have been reintroduced and will share information about food sources, nesting sites and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this unique bird, including details on daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought during the season. It has also opened a window on the natural history of Spix's Macaws, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of a myriad of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and often imitate 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 known to fly high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking, and other sounds. As with many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine that includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other 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 massacred the male and female birds in the hope of pairing them. Since since then all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity, mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are a mix of individuals who are descendants of only two individuals, making them at risk of disease and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity reside in an breeding center in Germany. However this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired, leaving 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 purchase three Spix's Macaws for the collector.
As great green macaw of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. Choosing the right birds for release is also critical. Macaws must be reproductively mature, and they should be paired with one of their siblings or a close relatives.
It may be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, but it is vital to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which will help to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These smart birds will help the macaws get familiar with the area and provide the security of a large number.