Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with backbiting and jealousy.
The first hurdle was to get enough birds to be traded. The macaws are monogamous therefore the pairs had to be well-matched.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw which was declared extinct in 2000 after years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a few of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They call the birds little blue companions, and compare their journey to that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. buy-macaw.com describe him a true survivor, who lost his family but kept his faith in the region. 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 a valuable opportunity for researchers to investigate its behavior in wild and gain an understanding of how the species has survived for such a long time. It also helped them form a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its eating habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has enabled scientists to better understand how these birds can be restored to the natural world. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. It also inspired 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 save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists, with one goal in common: the recovery of this unique bird.
The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including the creation of plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research as well as community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction plan. They have also formed a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
Endangered by poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to fight to save this iconic bird from the brink extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions of people around the world due to a well-known animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long-distance road to returning these birds. For a long time, a global 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 native to a small area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland scattered with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is among of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with occasional sightings in the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To protect the population that is declining An international committee was created which brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining birds and government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released into the wild. This will give the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws are found in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes, and hunt in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants. They typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local group 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 detected. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily movements. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the family Cyanopsitta. It was listed as 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 locate any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is in progress to try to bring this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil is home to about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeira trees and were known to eat nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has collected vital biological data about the behavior of this bird, including information about the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also opened a window on the nature of the Spix's Macaws. This helps to understand the factors that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil 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 bird species are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound similar to the note of a flutist. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in an ecstatic mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking, and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict routine for their day, from the flight path to bathing habits and are able to recognize members of their family. This is why they are so popular pets and targets for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are descendants of only two individuals, making them vulnerable to disease and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws 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 which leaves future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
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 managed to beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce again, although not at a high rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds before release. The macaws need to be reproductively mature, and they should be in a relationship with an older sibling or close relative.
It's not easy to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild, but it is vital to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These smart birds will help the macaws become more accustomed to the region, and they will provide the security of a large number.