Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational however, it is also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was crucial to match pairs well.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw, which was declared extinct in 2000 after decades of poaching and habitat loss. They have a tiny population of the birds that are in captive, and they hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue companions and 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 consider their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his, and they feel a strong connection to him.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and to better understand how this species has lasted so long. It also allowed them to form a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather crucial information on the bird's daily movement patterns, seasonal adjustment to drought, and food habits. They also monitored attempts at reproduction with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaws, which was an important step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild despite an insufficient gene pool and it has also helped researchers understand how these birds could be returned to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed motivated people to act to save other parrots as well as threatened species. It also inspired zoos and other organizations to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group of experts is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government as well as representatives from zoos, international holders of this rare bird, and ornithologists together with one common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including preparing a plan for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It has also established a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
Threatened by habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's macaw (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 globe thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. This is just the tip of the iceberg on the long-distance road to returning these birds. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is native to a small portion of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga an arid area of savannah scrubland that is flat, interspersed with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, with only sporadic sightings from the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population, an international group was created. It was comprised of aviculturists who held the last remaining bird, as well as government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's into their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released into the wild. This will create an animal that is genetically pure for the future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or tree holes and hunt for fruits seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They may spend up to one third of their day in the nest.
To help track 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, allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This method has proven to be successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. A reintroduction program is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to feed on nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction plan is currently in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will share information about food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost.
The reintroduction programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this unique bird, which includes details about daily movement patterns and seasonal adjustments to drought. It has also provided a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw, helping to discover the reasons behind 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) as well as the Joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They also eat the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws like all parrots and other bird species are social birds and have close relationships with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a short, repetitive grating sound similar to a get more info flute note. They are often seen flying high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking, and other sounds. As with many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their family. This is what makes them such popular pets, and also a target for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, with all of them poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds in a plan to pair them. Since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix that descends of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity live at a breeding center in Germany. However this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out and the possibility of repatriation or their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's Macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
In the wake of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, though not at a high rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds before releasing them. Macaws should be of reproductive age and paired with siblings or close relatives.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could be difficult, but it's crucial to try. To aid, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which will help to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws will be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will help macaws adjust to their new surroundings. They will also offer protection by numbers.