Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time with speculation and worry, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with jealousy and backbiting.
The first challenge was finding enough birds for the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, therefore the pairs had to be matched well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 due to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small amount of the birds that are in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue companions, and compare their lives to that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family and remained loyal to his area. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and 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 how this species was able to survive for such a long time. This allowed researchers to estimate the historical population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird's daily movements, seasonal adjustment to drought, and its feeding 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 an amazing feat that this bird was able to survive and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and has helped researchers understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. This has also encouraged zoos to develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This group is a good example of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate to protect endangered wildlife and animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international owners of the Spix's macaw, and ornithologists to achieve a common goal: the recovery of this unique bird.
The group has accomplished a lot of work, including developing plans for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research as well as community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction project. It has also created a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to tirelessly work to save this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is known to millions around the world due to a popular animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long journey of bringing these birds back. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is a native species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. check here is home to flat savannah scrubland and is scattered with seasonal streams and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, despite only occasional sightings in the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To preserve the dwindling population In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was formed that gathered aviculturists who held the last remaining birds, as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws in their native environment.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will provide the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees and seldom seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and forage in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was recruited to become part of the field team. Members of the community were provided watches that could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily activities in the wild. Pixie mini macaw has been extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction project currently underway is trying to bring back the critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are scheduled to be released by 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws. They were reintroduced into the same area and will assist to share knowledge about food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of this bird, including information about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also opened a window on the evolution of Spix's Macaws, which can help to understand the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of a variety of species native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the 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, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound similar to a flutist note. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They also have a strict routine for their day, from the flight path to bathing habits and are able to recognize members of their family. This is why they are so popular pets and a target for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds as part of a plan to pair them. Since then the Spix's macaws have been captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture, which is the descendant of just two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds in captivity are in a 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 reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from a 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 starting to increase, though not at a speedy pace. Maintaining their health and generating will be crucial for reintroducing the birds back into the wild. The selection of the right birds to release is also crucial. The macaws should be reproductive and be paired up with close relatives or siblings.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it is crucial to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. These birds will help macaws adjust to their new environment and will also offer protection by numbers.