Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with speculation and worry Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational however, it is also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so it was essential 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 tiny population of the birds in captive, and are hoping to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their blue-eyed friends 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 remained loyal to the area. They feel a strong bond to him and view their lives as like his.
The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to study its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of how this species has survived for such a long time. It also helped them create a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird's daily movement patterns and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. They even monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaw pair which was a crucial step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird was able to survive and thrive in the wild despite a limited gene pool, and it has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird also motivated people to act in order to save other parrots as well as endangered species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This working group is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government as well as representatives from zoos, international holders of this rare bird and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw.
The group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes preparing an approach to reintroduce this bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research as well as community outreach and captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction project. The group has also set up an ongoing committee to oversee the reintroduction of the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed 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.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people around the world, but this is just the beginning of the iceberg in the long-distance journey to save these birds 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 an endemic species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This desert region has flat savannah scrubland and is which is surrounded by galleries and streams that flow through the season. It was first described in 1819 and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, with a few birds in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was established which brought together aviculturists who had the last remaining birds, as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws in their native environment.
AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also raising and breeding 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 reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plants. They typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to help track Spix's Macaws. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was observed 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 (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the family Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last known wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. A reintroduction program is currently underway to try to restore this critically threatened bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil comprises about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating seeds and nuts.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is in progress. 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 in the area by a group of Blue-winged macaws that have been reintroduced and will share information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction programme has already collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this unique bird, which includes details about daily movements patterns as well as seasonal adjustments to drought. It also has provided a glimpse into the nature of Spix's Macaws, which can help to understand the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other birds are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound that resembles an acoustic note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with each other through a range of screeching and squawking sounds. Like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict routine for their day, from flights to bathing routines and are able to recognize the members of their flock. This is why they are so popular pets and targets for the illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are made up of individuals who are descendants of only two individuals, making them at risk of disease and other environmental challenges. this hyperlink of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are kept in an breeding center in Germany. However, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out and the possibility of repatriation or their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from the collector three Spix's Macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce again, although not at a high rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it is crucial to reintroduce these birds to the wild. It is essential to choose the right birds prior to release. The macaws should be reproductive and be paired with siblings or close relatives.
The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it's crucial to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. Continued will help macaws to become accustomed to the region and provide security in large numbers.