Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with uncertainty and fear Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with resentment and jealousy.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a few of the birds that are in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their blue-eyed friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor, who lost his family but remained loyal to his area. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as being similar to his and feel a strong affinity with him.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and better understand how this species has survived so long. Researchers were able to estimate the historical population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird's daily movement patterns and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. They even monitored attempts to reproduce using an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaw pair which was a significant step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was an amazing achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be restored to the wild. The bird's survival has inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. This has also encouraged zoos to establish their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.
This working group is a good example of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can collaborate in order to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from the government Zoo representatives, international holders of this rare bird, and ornithologists together with one common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The group has completed a lot 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-breeding birds for the reintroduction project. The group has also established a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
Threatened by poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists, and other experts continue to work hard to bring this iconic bird from the brink extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made Spix's Macaw known to millions of people across the globe However, this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long journey to save these birds from the edge. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This desert region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland, scattered with galleries and seasonal streams. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, with a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was established. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird, as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws in their native environment.
AWWP has bought and is recovering 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will provide an animal that is genetically pure for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruit, seeds, nuts and other plants. They will typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local group was recruited to join the field team. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was observed and thereby allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily activities in the wild. This approach has proven very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. A reintroduction plan is in progress to try to bring back this here critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of 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 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 Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information about food sources, nesting and areas to roost.
The reintroduction program has obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of this bird, including information about the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also provides an insight into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better determine the causes that led to its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, seeds and nuts of many plants native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the Joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They can also eat the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws like all parrots and other birds are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound that resembles a flutist note. They are often seen flying fast and high when they are in an ecstatic mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they are able to mimic human speech. They also adhere to a strict routine for their day, from flight paths to bathing habits and can identify members of their flock. This is why they are the most sought-after pets and targets for the illegal bird trade.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, all of them poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mix of individuals who are descendants of only two individuals, leaving them vulnerable to disease and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity live at an breeding center in Germany. However this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled which leaves future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing 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 beginning to grow, though not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the right birds before releasing them. Macaws should be reproductively mature and should be joined by an older sibling or close family member.
It could be difficult to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild but it is vital to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also live. These intelligent birds will aid macaws to become familiar with the area, and they will provide safety in numbers.