Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with resentment and jealousy.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was important to match pairs well.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw which was declared extinct in 2000, following decades of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a small number of the birds kept in captive, and hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to them as little blue friends, and compare their experience to that of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They call him a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They feel a strong bond to him and perceive their lives as being identical to 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 has survived for so long. It also helped them create a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to gather important information 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 the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird was able survive and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and has helped scientists understand how these birds could 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. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group is an example of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can collaborate to save endangered species of wildlife and animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international owners of the Spix's macaw, and ornithologists to achieve a common goal to save this endangered bird.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work, including preparing a plan for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to support field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction program. It also has established a permanent committee for the reintroduction of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was threatened through habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to fight tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
A well-known 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 road to bring these birds back from the brink. For decades, an international team has been trying to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is a native species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This desert region has flat savannah scrubland that is scattered with galleries and streams that flow through the season. It was first described in 1819 and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, with a few birds in captivity and a handful of museum specimens.
To protect the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was formed. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird as well as government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws into their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, which will provide an incredibly pure genetic source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws will live in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They may spend up to one third of their day in the nest.
To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements local communities were invited to join the field team. 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 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 1, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot vanished in 2000, and no more birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan is currently in progress to restore this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws Cleo female macaws for sale were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction program is now underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds that were 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. They were reintroduced into the same area, and will help to share knowledge about food sources, nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction program has collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought during the season. It also has provided a glimpse into the nature of the Macaws of Spix, which helps to understand the factors that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a myriad of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws like all parrots and other birds are social birds and have close relationships with their parents. They are very vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief, repetitive grating sound like a flute note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their family. This is what makes them the most sought-after pets and a target for the illegal bird trade.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, and all of them poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds in a plan to pair them. Since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are made up of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, making them susceptible to illness and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity reside in a breeding centre in Germany. However this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out which leaves the possibility of repatriation or the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their low numbers of captive-bred Spix's macaws, captive-bred species show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
In part because of this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to increase, though not at a rapid pace. Maintaining their health and generating will be crucial for reintroducing the birds back into the wild. Choosing the right birds to release is equally important. Macaws should be reproductively mature, and they should be joined by one of their siblings or a close relatives.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, but it's crucial to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which is designed to safeguard the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws that were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. These birds will assist the macaws become accustomed to their new environment and will also ensure safety through the sheer numbers.