Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with uncertainty and fear, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with backbiting and jealousies.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds for the exchange. The macaws are monogamous therefore the pairs had to be well-matched.
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 small amount of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They call the birds their blue-eyed friends and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They describe him a true survivor, who lost his family but remained loyal to the area. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as being similar to his and feel a strong affinity with him.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and better understand the reasons why this species has lasted so long. This allowed researchers to determine the historical population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to collect important information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. They also monitored reproduction attempts using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws, which was an important step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird was able endure and thrive in the wild with such an insufficient gene pool and it has helped researchers understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed encouraged people to take action in order to save other parrots as well as endangered species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group serves as an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists, with one goal in common to save this unique bird.
The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird back into the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. It has also created a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was threatened by the destruction of habitats and illegal poaching. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is known to millions of people all over the world thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. But this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long road of bringing these birds back. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga which is an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, despite only few glimpses of the wild as well as a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was created. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird and officials from the government. This group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is renovating 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 future generations.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes, and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local community was recruited to join the field team. The community was provided with watches that would turn on when Spix's Macaws are recognized. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily movements. This method has proven successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. However, a reintroduction program currently underway is trying to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws more info nested in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees and were known to feed on nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently 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, which have been released back into the same area and will assist to share knowledge of food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this rare bird, including information on daily movements patterns as well as seasonal adjustments to drought. It also opened a window on the nature of the Spix's Macaws. This aids in understanding the causes that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits and nuts of numerous plants that are 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 palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other birds are social birds that form close bonds with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic sounds and speech. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound similar to a flute. They are well-known for flying fast and high when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their flock. This is why they are so popular pets, and also a target for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, all of them poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since the time, all Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at an breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal, casting doubt over future plans to return the birds and reintroduce them back into the wild.
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 out 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 beginning to reproduce, though not at a high 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 should be of reproductive age and paired with close relatives or siblings.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, but it is crucial to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These birds will help macaws adjust to their new environment and will also provide safety by the sheer numbers.