Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first obstacle was to find enough birds to be traded. Macaws are monogamous, so it was crucial to match the 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 United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds that are in captivity, and are hoping to release them into the wild near Curaca. They refer to them as little blue companions, and compare their experience to that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as an authentic survivor who lost his family and was loyal to his home. They see their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his, and they feel a deep connection with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided a valuable opportunity for researchers to investigate its behavior in wild and gain an understanding of why this species has survived for so long. This also helped them create a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to collect important data on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery for this species.
It was a remarkable achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a limited gene pool. This has allowed scientists understand how these birds can be restored to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed inspired people to take action in order to save other parrots and endangered species. It also inspired zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group serves as an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect 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 with a common goal that is the recovery of this rare bird.
The group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes developing an approach to reintroduce this bird in the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed an ongoing committee to help recover 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 habitats and illegal poaching. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird back from the brink extinction.
A popular animated movie and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people worldwide However, this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long journey to save these birds from the brink. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This desert region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland, scattered with galleries and seasonal streams. It was first described in 1819, and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with sporadic sightings from the wild as well as a few captive birds and some 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 officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, providing an incredibly pure genetic source of the animals for the next generation of.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes, and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other species. They can spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
A local community was recruited as part of the field team to help to track Spix's macaws. 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 track of the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to the genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. A reintroduction plan is currently underway to try to restore this critically threatened bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating 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 expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that were reintroduced into the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources and nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has collected vital biological data about the behavior of this bird, including information about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also provides an insight into the nature of the Spix's Macaw which helps to discover the reasons behind its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of a myriad of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and the joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They may also consume the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound similar to a flute note. When they are in a breeding mode they can fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. As with many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They also have a rigid daily routine, ranging from the flight path to bathing habits and are able to recognize members of their family. They are adored as pets, and are frequently targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, with all of them poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since the time the Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws in captivity are a mix of individuals who are the descendants of only two individuals, making them vulnerable to disease and other environmental issues. The majority 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, leaving the possibility of repatriation or 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 the collector three Spix's macaws that weren't part of the breeding program.
In part, due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, though not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. Choosing the right birds for release is also critical. Macaws must be reproductive and be paired with siblings or close relatives.
It could be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back into the wild but it is vital to try. Ziggy Our Scarlet Macaw and its partners have created reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws that were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also live. These birds will help the macaws adjust to their new surroundings. They will also provide safety by numbers.