Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with worry and speculation Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also filled with resentment and jealousy.
The first hurdle was to get enough birds to trade. The macaws were monogamous so it was essential to ensure that the pairs were well-matched.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. severe macaw have a small number of the birds that are in captivity, and hope to release them in the wild near Curaca. They refer to them as little blue friends, and compare their journey to the journey of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his and feel a strong connection to him.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and gain a better understanding of the reasons why this species has survived so long. This also helped them make a more precise estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather important details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and its eating habits. They also observed reproduction attempts using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw pair, which was an important step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird was able to endure and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and it has also helped researchers understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other endangered parrots and species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group serves as a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials as well as representatives from zoos as well as international owners of this rare bird and ornithologists together with one common goal - the recovery of the Spix's Macaw.
The working group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes the development of an approach to reintroduce this bird in the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research as well as community outreach and captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction program. It has also established a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was endangered through the destruction of habitat and illegal poaching. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people across the globe However, this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long-distance journey to save these birds from the edge. For decades, an international team has been trying to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was described in 1819, and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, a few birds in captivity and a handful of museum specimens.
To save the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was formed. It was comprised of experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird and 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 bought and is renovating 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, thereby providing the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They usually nest in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruits as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They typically spend up to a third of the day 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 activate if the Spix's Macaw was identified. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild and their daily movements. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot was lost in 2000. No additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction programme is in progress to try to bring back this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeira trees and were known to feed on seeds and nuts.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws that have been reintroduced and will provide information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, which includes details about daily movement patterns and the seasonal changes to drought. It also has opened a window on the nature of the Spix's Macaws. This aids in understanding the causes that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many plants that are native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia), along with the Joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are highly social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are very vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound that resembles a flutist note. When they are in breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of screeching and squawking 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. They are adored as pets and are often targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds in a plan to pair them. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture, which is the descendant of only two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity live at a breeding centre in Germany. However this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government expired which leaves future plans for repatriation and their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing 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 part, due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a rapid pace. Keeping them healthy and producing will be important to reintroducing the birds into the wild. It is important to choose the right birds before releasing them. Macaws must be at a reproductive age and be joined by one of their siblings or a close relative.
It could be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, however, it is essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which will help to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws that were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws become more familiar with the area, and they will provide safety in numbers.