Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with backbiting and jealousy.
The first hurdle was to find enough birds to be traded. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was important to match the pairs well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. The bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a few of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They call them their little blue friends and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor who lost his family and remained loyal to his area. They feel a strong kinship to him and perceive their lives as being similar to his.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and to better understand how this species has survived so long. It also allowed them to create a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild with such an insufficient gene pool and has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The last bird's survival also encouraged people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos are also encouraged to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.
This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered animals and wildlife. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international holders of the Spix’s macaw, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common to save this rare bird.
The working group has already completed a lot of work, including developing a plan for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was threatened through the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly 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 beginning on the long-distance road to returning these birds. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was described in 1819 and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, with a few birds in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To preserve the dwindling population, an international committee was established that brought together aviculturists that were the last to hold the birds as well as officials from the government. This group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to develop an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws to their natural environment.
AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will create an animal that is genetically pure for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and forage in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants. They typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was invited to join the field team. The community was provided with watches that would turn on when a Spix's Macaw is identified. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild and their daily movements. This method has proven to be 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 following the disappearance of the last known wild parrot disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. A reintroduction plan is currently underway to try to restore this critically threatened bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil comprises about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction programme is in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information about food sources, nesting sites and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, including details on daily movements patterns as well as seasonal adjustments to drought. It also provides a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw which helps to discover the reasons behind its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other bird species are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described get more info as an extremely short and repetitive noise similar to the note of a flutist. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also adhere to a strict routine for their day, from flights to bathing routines and are able to recognize the members of their flock. This is what makes them the most sought-after pets and a target for the illegal bird trade.
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 Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture, which is the descendant of just two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity live at an breeding center in Germany. However this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled and the future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.
As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce again, although not at a rapid rate. Maintaining their health and generating will be crucial for reintroducing the birds into the wild. It is important to choose the correct birds before release. Macaws must be of reproductive age and be paired up with siblings or close relatives.
It could be difficult to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild, however, it is essential to try. To aid, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and share areas with Spix's macaws. These intelligent birds will aid macaws to become familiar with the area and provide the security of a large number.