Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period filled with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully bring a group of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first challenge was to get enough birds to trade. The macaws were monogamous so it was crucial to match pairs well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds in captivity, and hope to release them in the wild near Curaca. They call them their little blue friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They call him as a true survivor who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They see their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his, and feel a deep connection with him.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and gain a better understanding of how this species has survived so long. This enabled researchers to estimate the population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to gather important data about the bird's daily movements and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. They also observed attempts at reproduction with a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaw pair which was a significant step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird was able survive and thrive in the wild despite an insufficient gene pool and has helped scientists understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act in order to save other parrots as well as threatened species. Zoos are also encouraged to create their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.
This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to conserve endangered wildlife and endangered animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common to save this unique bird.
The group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes preparing an approach to reintroduce this bird in the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research as well as community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction plan. The group has also established a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was endangered through the destruction of habitats and illegal poaching. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
A popular animated movie and two sequels have made the Spix's Macaw known 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 edge. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is a native species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This desert area is home to flat savannah scrubland that is scattered with galleries and seasonal streams. It was described in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, with a few captive birds and a handful of museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was formed. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's into their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.
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, thereby providing the genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They typically nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruit, seeds, 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, a local community was recruited to become part of the field team. The members of the community were given watches that could be activated in the event 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 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 following the last wild parrot vanished in 2000. No additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction programme is in the process of attempting to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil comprises about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeira trees, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction programme is underway to re-establish a wild 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 a group of Blue-winged Macaws. Click To See More have been released back into the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this unique bird, which includes details about the patterns of movement throughout the day and adjustments to drought during the season. It also opened a window on the natural history of the Macaws of Spix, which can help to understand the causes that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of many plants that are native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. They may also consume the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound that resembles an acoustic note. When they are in a breeding mode they can fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine that includes flight patterns and bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their family. This is what makes them so popular pets, and also a target for 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 defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are a mix of individuals that are the descendants of just two individuals, which makes them susceptible to illness and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity live at a breeding center in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out and future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their low numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce again, although not at a great rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the correct birds before releasing them. Macaws must be reproductive and paired with siblings or close relatives.
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 created reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix's macaws also live. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws become more familiar with the area, and they will provide the security of a large number.