Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring however, it is also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first hurdle was to get enough birds for the trade. Macaws are monogamous, so 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. This bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 due to 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 refer to the birds as their blue-eyed friends and compare their lives with the story of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor, who lost his family, but was loyal to his home. They feel a strong connection to him and perceive their lives as identical 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 for so long. It also allowed them to make a more precise estimate of the historic population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather important details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and eating habits. They even monitored attempts to reproduce using an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaw pair which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and it has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The bird's survival has inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos and other groups to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from government Zoo representatives as well as international owners of this rare bird and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal: the recovery of the Spix's macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including preparing an idea for reintroducing this bird into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research as well as community outreach and captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction program. It has also created a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was endangered due to the destruction of habitat and poaching that was illegal. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists 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. However, this is only the beginning on the long journey of returning these birds. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species to a small region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This dry region has flat savannah scrubland that is scattered with seasonal streams and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, 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 was comprised of aviculturists who held the last remaining bird as well as government officials. This group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws to their natural habitat.
AWWP has bought and is renovating 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will create the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in hollows or holes in trees and forage for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend as much as 1/3 of their time in the nest.
To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements local communities were recruited to become part of the field team. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily actions. This approach has been extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species in the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys failed to 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.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil that covers about 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June and 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction program has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of the bird, which includes details of daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also has provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Spix's Macaws. This helps to understand the factors that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws eat the fruits, seeds and nuts 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. They can also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are 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 called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive noise similar to a flutist note. When they are in a breeding mode, they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, mimic human speech. macaw cage follow a strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. They are popular as pets and are often 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 the male and female birds in a plan to pair them. Since then all known Spix's macaws have been captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mix of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, which makes them susceptible to illness and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds in captivity are in a breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal which raises doubt about the future plans to repatriate the birds and reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat a sheikh in Qatar to buy from a collector three Spix's macaws which weren't part of the breeding program.
In part due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds before releasing them. Macaws should be reproductive and paired with siblings or close relatives.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it's crucial to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which is designed to safeguard the last remaining habitats. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more common in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws adjust to their new surroundings and will also offer protection by numbers.