Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first challenge was finding enough birds to participate in the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so it was essential to match pairs well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds kept in captive, and are hoping to release them in the wild near Curaca. They call the birds their blue-eyed friends and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor, who lost his family, but was loyal to his home. They see their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his, and they feel a strong connection to him.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and gain a better understanding of the reasons why this species has survived so long. It also helped them form a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather important information about the bird's movements throughout the day, seasonal adjustment to drought, and food habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple, which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird was able survive and thrive in the wild despite an insufficient gene pool and it has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The bird's survival has encouraged people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This working group is a great example of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can collaborate to protect endangered animals and wildlife. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international owners of the Spix's macaw, and ornithologists to achieve a common goal that is the recovery of this endangered bird.
The working group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes developing plans to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to support field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction plan. The group has also established 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 due to the destruction of habitat and poaching that was illegal. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people worldwide, but this is just the beginning of the iceberg in the long-distance journey to bring these birds back from the brink. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga which is an arid region of flat savannah scrubland interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, a few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population An international committee was established that brought together aviculturists that were the last to hold the birds, as well as government officials. This group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws into their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will give a genetically-pure source of animals for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to one third of their day in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, www.buy-macaw.Com a local community was recruited to join the field team. The community was given watches that would turn on when the Spix's Macaw was identified. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily movements. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot was lost in 2000. No additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project is currently in progress to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction program is now underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost.
The reintroduction program has gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique bird, which includes details about the patterns of movement throughout the day and the seasonal changes to drought. It also provides a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, helping to discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the fruits, seeds and nuts of numerous 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 as with all parrots and other birds are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound that resembles a flutist note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another with a variety of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their flock. This is why they are so popular pets and targets for illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix that descends of just two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at the breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal and causing doubt about future plans to repatriate the birds and then reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their precarious number 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 buy from a collector three Spix's Macaws that weren't part of the breeding program.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, though not at a great rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it will be important to reintroducing the birds back into the wild. Selecting the right birds to release is equally important. The macaws need to be reproductively mature and be joined by one of their siblings or a close relative.
It may be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back into the wild however, it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These savvy birds will help the macaws get familiar with the area, and they will provide security in large numbers.