Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also rife with jealousy and backbiting.

The first challenge was obtaining enough birds to be traded. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be well-matched.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically endangered 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 hope where to buy a macaw release them close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue friends, and compare their experience with that of Presley the only known spix macaw lifespan's buy scarlet macaw in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but kept his faith in the region. They see their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his and feel a strong affinity with him.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to investigate its behavior in wild and gain a deeper understanding of why this species survived so long. This enabled researchers to estimate the historical population of this rare bird more precisely. Researchers were able to collect important information about the bird's daily movements and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery of this species.

It was an amazing feat that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild despite 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. It has also prompted zoos and other organizations to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.

This working group is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government, zoo representatives and international owners of this unique bird and ornithologists with a common goal: the recovery of the Spix's Macaw.

The working group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes developing a plan to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to support field research as well as community outreach and captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction project. It also has established a permanent committee for the reintroduction of the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was endangered due to the destruction of habitat and poaching that was illegal. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to Do Macaws Make Good Pets their best to save this iconic bird from the brink extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people all over the world thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. But this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long-distance road to bringing these birds back. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.

The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small portion of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga which is an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with only sporadic sightings from the wild as well as a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.

To save the declining population, an international group was formed. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird and officials from the government. 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 renovating 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released in the wild. This will provide an animal that is genetically pure for future generations.

Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruit, seeds, nuts and other plants. They can spend up to 1/3 of their time in the nest.

To assist 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 in the event the Spix's macaw was observed and thereby allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This method has proven successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the family Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot vanished in 2000. No additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan is in the process of trying to return this critically endangered bird back to its natural home in the Caatinga.

This region in northeast Brazil covers approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.

Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is in progress. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released in 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 help to share knowledge about food sources and nesting and roosting sites.

The reintroduction program has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, which includes details of daily movements and adjustments to drought. It has also provided a window 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 seeds, nuts, and fruits of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and the joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They can also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are 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 sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute note. They are known to fly high and fast when they are in the mood to breed.

Breeding

Spix's buy macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also adhere to a strict routine for their day, from flight paths to bathing habits and can identify the members of their flock. They are very popular as pets and are often targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.

In the early 1980s only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, with all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.

The few Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are descendants of only two individuals, leaving them susceptible to illness and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at a breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal which raises doubt about the future plans to return the birds and reintroduce them into the wild.

Despite their petty numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat out a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws that weren't part of the breeding program.

In part because of this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is beginning to increase, though not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds prior to releasing them. The macaws need to be in a reproductive stage and should be paired with a sibling or a close relative.

It may be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, but it's important to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more common in the Caatinga and share areas with the Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws adjust to their new surroundings and will also offer protection by the sheer numbers.