Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring however, it is also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first challenge was to find enough birds to trade. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed to be matched well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 due to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a tiny population of the birds that are in captivity and they hope to release them in the wild near Curaca. They call the birds their little blue friends and have 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 remained loyal to the area. They see their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his, and feel a deep connection with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of how this species survived this long. This allowed researchers to determine the historical population of this rare bird more precisely. Researchers were able to collect important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has enabled scientists to better understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The last bird's survival also inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. It also inspired zoos and other organizations to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group is a good illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can work together to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from the government as well as representatives from zoos and international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the recovery of the Spix's Macaw.
The group has completed a lot of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird into the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was threatened due to habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions of people around the world due to a popular animated film and two sequels. But this is only the beginning on the long journey of bringing these birds back. For decades, an international team has been trying to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This dry region has flat savannah scrubland that is which is surrounded by galleries and seasonal streams. It was first documented in 1819 and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, despite only sporadic sightings from the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.
To save the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was established. It was comprised of aviculturists who held the last remaining bird as well as government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws into their native environment in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released into the wild. This will provide an animal that is genetically pure for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They typically build nests in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruit seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They can spend as much as one third of their day in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local community was invited to join the field team. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if a Spix's Macaw is identified. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This approach has been extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot vanished in 2000. No additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction program is in the process of attempting to bring back this critically endangered bird to its native home 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 currently in progress. Eight Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws that have been reintroduced and will share information on food sources, nesting sites and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of the bird, including information about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also opened a window on the evolution of the Spix's Macaws. This aids in understanding the causes that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a variety of plants 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 the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other bird species are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They are very vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound like a flute note. When they are in breeding mode, they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, can mimic human speech. They have a strict routine that includes routines for bathing and flight. They are also able to recognize other members of their family. They are adored as pets and are frequently targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, all of them being poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since then the Spix's macaws are captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws in captivity are a mixture of individuals that are the descendants of just two individuals, which makes them at risk of disease and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity live at a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out and the possibility of repatriation or the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws which weren't part of the breeding program.
In Tallula indigo park mollie macaw 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 will be important to reintroducing these birds to the wild. The selection of the right birds to release is equally important. Macaws must be at a reproductive age, and they should be paired with a sibling or a close relatives.
It's not easy to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild however, it is essential 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 that were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These smart birds will help the macaws get used to the region and will offer the security of a large number.