Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period filled with uncertainty and fear Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with backbiting and jealousies.
The first challenge was to find enough birds for the trade. The macaws were monogamous so it was essential to match 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 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They call the birds their little blue companions and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but kept his faith in the region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his and feel a deep connection with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided researchers with an opportunity to investigate its behavior in wild and gain an understanding of how this species was able to survive for so long. This allowed researchers to determine the historical population of this rare bird more precisely. Researchers were able gather important information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, as well as its eating habits. They also monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws which was a crucial step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was a marvellous feat that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has helped scientists to better understand how these birds can be restored to the natural world. The survival of the last bird also inspired people to take action in order to save other parrots and threatened species. Zoos are also encouraged to create their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.
This working group is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from government Zoo representatives and international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw.
The group has already achieved a lot of work. This includes the development of plans to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the reintroduction of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was threatened by the destruction of habitat and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to tirelessly work to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A popular animated movie and two sequels have made the Spix's Macaw known to millions of people across the globe However, this is only the beginning in the long-distance journey to bring these birds back from the brink. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and bring back Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This desert region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland, interspersed with galleries and streams that flow through the season. It was first documented in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, few birds that are kept in captivity and a handful of museum specimens.
To protect the population that is declining An international committee was created which brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining birds as well as officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to develop an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws back to their natural habitat.
AWWP has bought and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, thereby providing an incredibly pure genetic source of the animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and rarely 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 as much as one third of their day in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local community was recruited to become part of the field team. The community was given watches that would activate if the Spix's Macaw was identified. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild as well as their daily actions. This method has proven successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000 and no additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project is in the process of trying to bring back the critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws. They have been reintroduced to the same area, and will help 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 details about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It has also provided a glimpse into the nature of the Macaws of Spix, which can help to understand the causes that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws eat the fruits, seeds and nuts of a variety of species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. They also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic speech and other sounds. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a short repeated grating sound that is similar to a flute note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. Like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their flock. They are adored as pets, and are frequently targeted by the illegal trade in birds due to this.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, with all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds in the hope of pairing them. Since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix of birds, and are the descendant of just two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are kept in a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government expired which leaves future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws for the collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the correct birds before release. Macaws must be in a reproductive stage and should be joined by one of their here siblings or a close relatives.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, but it's crucial to try. To aid, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws get accustomed to the region and will offer safety in numbers.