Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time with uncertainty and fear, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with jealousy and backbiting.
The first challenge was to get enough birds to trade. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched properly.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw which was declared extinct in 2000 following years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a few of the birds that are in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They call the birds their blue-eyed friends and compare their journey with the story of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They feel a strong kinship to him and perceive their lives as being like his.
Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and better understand how this species has survived for so long. This allowed researchers to determine the historical population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to collect important data about the bird's daily movement patterns and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. Researchers also observed 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 achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has enabled scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the natural world. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. Zoos have also been enticed to develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This working group is an illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can work together to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international owners of the Spix's macaw, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common that is the recovery of this endangered bird.
The group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes preparing a plan to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed an ongoing committee to help recover the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was endangered through the destruction of habitat and poaching that was illegal. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird back from the brink extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's Macaw known to millions of people across the globe However, this is only the beginning in the long road to bring these birds back from the brink. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and bring back captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This desert area is home to flat savannah scrubland and is which is surrounded by galleries and seasonal streams. It was first described in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, with a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population, an international committee was formed that gathered aviculturists who held the last remaining birds and government officials. This group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws in their native habitat.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares 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 the genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws will live in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in tree holes or hollows and forage for fruit, seeds, nuts and other plants. They can spend as much as one third of their day in the nest.
A local community was recruited as part of the field team to help identify Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw is identified. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily movements. hyacinth macaw parrots for sale buymacaw has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot was lost in 2000. No additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction program is in the process of trying to restore this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws, which have been released back into the same area, and will help to share knowledge about food sources and nesting and roosting sites.
The reintroduction program has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique bird, which includes details about daily movements patterns as well as adjustments to drought during the season. It has also provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Spix's Macaws. This helps to understand the factors that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of many plants that are native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo and linhas Brasil, as well as facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound that resembles an acoustic note. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in the mood to breed.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, can mimic human speech. They also adhere to a strict routine for their day, from flight paths to bathing habits, and they can recognize members of their family. This is why they are such popular pets and targets for illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mix of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, leaving them susceptible to illness and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity reside in an breeding center in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out, leaving the possibility of repatriation or reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their petty numbers of captive-bred Spix's macaws, captive-bred species show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce again, although not at a great rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. The selection of the right birds for release is also crucial. Macaws must be in a reproductive stage and be in a relationship with one of their siblings or a close relative.
It could be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, but it's important to try. ABC and its partners have created reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These smart birds will help the macaws get familiar with the area, and they will provide security in large numbers.