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 into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with resentment and jealousy.
The first obstacle was to get enough birds for the trade. Macaws are monogamous, so it was essential to match pairs well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission to save 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 in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their blue-eyed friends and compare their lives to the story 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 his home. They feel a strong connection to him and perceive their lives as like his.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and better understand the reasons why this species has survived so long. It also allowed them to create a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather crucial information on the bird's daily movement patterns, seasonal adjustment to drought, and its feeding habits. They even monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws, which was an important step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was a remarkable feat 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 returned to nature. The survival of the bird that was killed encouraged people to take action to save other parrots as well as threatened species. Zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group serves as an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with a common goal to save this unique bird.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes the development of plans to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support 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
Endangered by poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's Macaw known to millions of people worldwide However, this is only the beginning in the long road to bring these birds back from the brink. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small portion of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland that is dotted with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is among of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with only few glimpses of the wild, a few captive birds and some museum specimens.
To preserve the dwindling population In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was created that gathered aviculturists who were the last to hold the birds, as well as government officials. This group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws to their natural habitat.
AWWP has bought and is restoring 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will provide a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements local communities were recruited to become part of the field team. Members of the community were provided watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's Macaw was detected, allowing them to keep track of the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the family Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. However, a reintroduction program is currently in progress to return the critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to feed on seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws that were reintroduced into the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources and nesting and roosting sites.
The reintroduction program has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this unique bird, including details on daily movements patterns as well as adjustments to drought during the season. It also has opened a window on the natural history of Spix's Macaws, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of numerous plants that are native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and 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, Spix's Macaws are social birds that bond closely with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a short, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute note. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in an ecstatic mood.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict routine for their day, from flight paths to bathing habits, and they can recognize members of their family. They are very popular as pets and are often targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, and all of them click here 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 captive-bred – 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 diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at an breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed which raises doubt about the future plans to repatriate the birds and reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat out a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from the collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.
As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the right birds prior to releasing them. Macaws should be of reproductive age and paired with siblings or close relatives.
It could be difficult to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild, but it is vital to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws get familiar with the area and will offer the security of a large number.