Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds for the trade. The macaws are monogamous therefore the pairs had to be matched properly.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. The bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a tiny population of the birds that are in captivity, and are hoping to release them in the wild 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 him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but kept his faith in the region. They feel a strong kinship to him and perceive their lives as being identical to his.
The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered researchers with an opportunity to study its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of how this species was able to survive for such a long time. This allowed researchers to determine the historical population of this rare bird more accurately. Researchers were able gather important information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and its eating habits. They also monitored attempts at reproduction with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw pair which was a significant step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able endure and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and it has also helped scientists understand how these birds could be returned to the wild. The survival of the last bird encouraged people to take action in order to save other parrots and endangered species. It also inspired zoos and other organizations to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate in order to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian governmental officials as well as representatives from zoos and international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The working group has already completed a lot of work, including preparing plans for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. Sinatra Macaws for Sale has also established a permanent committee for the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered through the destruction of habitats and illegal poaching. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists 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 famous to millions of people worldwide, but this is just the tip of the iceberg in the long journey to save these birds from the edge. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is a native species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This dry region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland, which is surrounded by galleries and seasonal streams. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with only few glimpses of the wild as well as a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To preserve the dwindling population An international committee was created that brought together aviculturists that were the last to hold the birds and government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to develop an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws in their native environment.
AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released in the wild. This will create a genetically-pure source of animals for the future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws will live in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and search for fruits, seeds, nuts, and various other plants. They may spend up to one third of the time in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local community was recruited to become part of the field team. The community was provided with watches that would turn on when the Spix's Macaw was identified. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild and their daily actions. This approach has been extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in 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 disappeared in 2000. No additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil is home to about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of old caraibeira trees and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction plan is currently underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of the bird, which includes details of daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It has also provided a glimpse into the nature of the Macaws of Spix, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of many plants native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and the joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots as well as other birds, are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound similar to an acoustic note. When they are in breeding mode they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots they can mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine that includes flight patterns and bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their flock. They are popular as pets and are often targeted by illegal bird trade because of 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 as part of an attempt to pair them. Since the time all known Spix's macaws are captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix that descends of just two individuals. This makes them susceptible to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity reside in a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired which leaves future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their precarious number of captive-bred Spix's macaws, captive-bred species show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws for the collector.
In part due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, but not at a rapid rate. Maintaining their health and generating is crucial to reintroduce the birds into the wild. It is essential to choose the right birds before releasing them. The macaws need to be reproductively mature, and they should be paired with an older sibling or close relative.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it's essential to try. To aid, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that is designed to safeguard the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also live. These birds will help the macaws adjust to their new environment and will also ensure safety through the sheer numbers.