Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also filled with resentment and jealousy.
The first challenge was finding enough birds for the exchange. These macaws are monogamous, so 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 following decades of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a few of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them close to Curaca. They call the birds their little blue companions and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him a true survivor, who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They feel a strong connection to him and see their lives as similar to his.
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 for so long. This also helped them form a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important data about the bird's movements throughout the day and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. They also observed attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw pair which was a crucial step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was an amazing achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has enabled scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird encouraged people to take action to save other species of endangered parrots. This has also encouraged zoos to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.
This working group is an example of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can collaborate to save endangered animals and wildlife. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common: the recovery of this unique bird.
The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including the creation of a plan for reintroducing the bird into 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 project. They have also formed 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 through habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to tirelessly work 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 around the world However, this is only the beginning in the long-distance journey to bring these birds back from the brink. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is a native species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This arid area is home to flat savannah scrubland, which is surrounded by seasonal streams 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 some museum specimens.
To save the declining population In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was established which brought together aviculturists who were the last to hold the birds as well as officials from the government. This group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws to their natural environment.
AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP is also raising and breeding birds to be released into the wild, which will provide a genetically pure source of animals for the next generation of.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and search to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can spend up to one third of the time in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was invited to join 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 actions. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the Genus 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 wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. A reintroduction program is in the process of attempting to restore this critically threatened bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is in progress. 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 have been reintroduced and will share information about food sources, nesting sites and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of this bird, which includes details of daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also provides a window into the natural history exotic bird purchase of the Spix's Macaw, helping to understand what led to its disappearance in the wild.
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 included in this diet. They can also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic sounds and speech. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute. When they are in breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many 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 flock. They are very popular as pets and are often targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, and all of them being poached. A plan to pair the male and female unsuccessful 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, which is the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany. However this year an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government expired, leaving future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat a sheikh from 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, captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce again, although not at a great rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it is crucial to reintroduce the birds back into the wild. It is important to choose the right birds before release. Macaws should be reproductive and paired with siblings or close relatives.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild but it's important to try. ABC and its partners have developed a reserve system 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 prevalent in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These savvy birds will help macaws to become used to the region, and they will provide the security of a large number.