Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time with uncertainty and fear Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also rife with jealousy and backbiting.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. These macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched properly.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds that are in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They call the birds their little blue companions and compared their experience 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 remained loyal to the area. They see their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his, and they feel a strong affinity with him.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and to better understand the reasons why this species has survived so long. Researchers were able to determine the historical population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to collect crucial information on the bird's movements throughout the day and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery for this species.
It was a remarkable 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 survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos have also been enticed to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.
This working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists, with a common goal to save this endangered bird.
The group has achieved a lot of work. This includes preparing an approach to reintroduce this bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
Endangered by habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is known to millions of people around the world thanks to a popular animated film and two sequels. But this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long journey of bringing these birds back. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and bring back captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is a native species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This desert region has flat savannah scrubland, which is surrounded by galleries and seasonal streams. It was described in 1819 and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, few birds that are kept in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was created. It was comprised of aviculturists who held the last remaining bird as well as 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 of prime habitat in the Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released in the wild. This will give an animal that is genetically pure for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and are seldom seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes, and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other species. They will typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team in order to help to track Spix's macaws. Fiona hyacinth macaw bird for sale of the community were given watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily movements in the wild. This approach has proven very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction plan is currently in progress to return this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws. They have been reintroduced to the same area and will help to share knowledge about food sources and nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this bird, including details about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also provides an insight into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better understand what led to its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of numerous 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). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are highly social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are very vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive 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 highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. Like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them the most sought-after pets, and also a target for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, with all of them poached. A plan to pair the male and female defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds in captivity are in an breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed and causing doubt about future plans to repatriate the birds and then reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, but not at a high rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds before releasing them. Macaws should be at a reproductive age and should be paired with an older sibling or close relative.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, but it is important to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that will help to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These savvy birds will help macaws to become familiar with the area, and they will provide security in large numbers.