Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.

The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds for the trade. Macaws are monogamous, so it was essential to match the pairs well.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing 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 call them their blue-eyed friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to his area. They feel a strong connection to him and view their lives as being similar to his.

Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and better understand the reasons why this species has survived so long. It also allowed them to form a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able gather important information about the bird's daily movement patterns and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.

It was an amazing feat that this bird was able endure and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and it has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed encouraged people to take action to save other parrots as well as threatened species. Zoos have also been enticed to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.

This working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international holders of the Spix’s miniature macaw for sale, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common that is the recovery of this unique bird.

The group has accomplished a lot of work. This includes the development of plans to reintroduce the bird in the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds for field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction program. It also has established an ongoing committee to oversee the reintroduction of the bird.

Habitat

At risk due to poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's macaw representative species (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to tirelessly work to bring this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people all over the world thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long-distance road to returning these birds. A team of international experts 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 known as the Caatinga an arid area consisting of savannah scrubland flat interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was described in 1819 and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, with a few birds in captivity and a handful of museum specimens.

To protect the declining population, an international group was created. It was comprised of experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird and government officials. The group forged a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws in their native habitat.

AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, which will provide a genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.

In the wild, Spix's macaws reside in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They typically build nests in tree holes or hollows and forage for fruit seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They can spend up to one third of the time in the nest.

To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local group was recruited to become part of the field team. The members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep track of the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This approach has proven very successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw 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 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot vanished in 2000, and no more birds were observed in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.

The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% 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 program is now in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June and 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been released back into the same area and will assist to share knowledge about food sources, nesting and roosting locations.

The reintroduction program has obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, including information about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also provided a glimpse into the natural history of the Macaws of Spix, which can help to understand the causes that led to their disappearance.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits and nuts of numerous species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. They may also consume the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Spix's Macaws as with all parrots as well as other birds, are social birds that have close relationships with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a short repeated grating sound that is similar to a flute note. They are known to fly high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with one another with a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. Like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also have a strict daily routine, from the flight path to bathing habits and macaw Pets can identify members of their family. They are adored as pets, and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.

In the early 1980s, only three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.

The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are made up of individuals who are the descendants of only two individuals, leaving them at risk of disease and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany. However, this year an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government expired which leaves the future plans for repatriation and their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.

Despite their low numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to buy macaws from a collector three Spix's Macaws that were not part of the breeding program.

In part, due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, but not at a rapid rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it is crucial to reintroduce the birds into the wild. Selecting the right birds for release is also critical. Macaws must be at a reproductive age and be paired with an older sibling or close relative.

Bringing the Spix's macaw pets (just click the following article) back to the wild could prove difficult, but it's important 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 are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, that are more common in the Caatinga and share areas with the Spix's macaws. These birds will assist the macaws become accustomed to their new surroundings and will also provide safety by large numbers.