Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with backbiting and jealousies.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was essential to ensure that the pairs were well-matched.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. harlequin macaw was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small amount of the birds in captivity and hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as 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 an authentic survivor who lost his family but was loyal to his home. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and they feel a deep connection with him.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and better understand how this species has lasted so long. This allowed researchers to estimate the population of this rare bird more precisely. Researchers were able gather important details about the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. They also observed attempts at reproduction with an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaw pair which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and has helped researchers understand how these birds could be returned to the wild. The survival of the last bird also motivated people to act to save other parrots as well as threatened species. Zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group is a great example of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate to protect endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from the government Zoo representatives, international holders of this unique bird and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The group has achieved a lot of work. This includes the development of a plan to reintroduce the bird in the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction plan. It also has 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, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to fight tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw famous to millions of people worldwide however this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long road to save these birds from the brink. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species to a small region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This arid region has flat savannah scrubland that is interspersed with galleries and streams that flow through the season. It was first described in 1819 and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with only few glimpses of the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was established. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird, as well as 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 bought and is restoring 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 provide an animal that is genetically pure for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and are rarely seen on the ground. They typically nest in hollows or tree holes and forage for fruit seeds, nuts, seeds 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 in order to help track Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if Spix's Macaws are identified. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild and their daily movements. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to 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 known wild parrot disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction plan is currently underway to re-establish 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 by 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting and areas to roost.
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 an insight into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, helping to discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a variety of plants 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 highly social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound that resembles a flutist note. They are well-known for flying fast and high when they are in the mood to breed.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with one another with a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, can mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them such popular pets and targets for illegal trade in birds.
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 since then, all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture, which is the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them susceptible to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are in the breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed, casting doubt over future plans to repatriate the birds and then reintroduce them into the wild.
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 buy three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
In part because of this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, though not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds to release is also crucial. Macaws must be reproductive and paired with siblings or close relatives.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's macaw back to the wild, but it's important to try. ABC and its partners have created a reserve system to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These smart birds will help the macaws become more accustomed to the region, and they will provide safety in numbers.