Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with jealousy and backbiting.
The first challenge was to find enough birds to trade. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be well-matched.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered 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 population of the birds in captivity and hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. hyacinth macaw parrots for sale call the birds little blue friends, and compare their lives to the journey of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to his area. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and feel a deep connection with him.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and gain a better understanding of the reasons why this species has lasted so long. It also allowed them to form 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, as well as its eating habits. Researchers also 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 a remarkable achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has allowed scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced back 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 a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from the government Zoo representatives, international holders of this rare bird, and ornithologists together with one common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes the development of an approach to reintroduce this bird back to the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds for field research and community outreach as well as captive-breed birds for the reintroduction plan. It has also established an ongoing committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
Endangered by poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists, and other experts continue to do their best to bring this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people around the world thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. But this is only the beginning on the long journey of bringing these birds back. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is a native species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This arid region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland, which is surrounded by galleries and seasonal streams. It was first described in 1819 and is among of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, despite only sporadic sightings from the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.
To protect the declining population, an international group was created. It was comprised of experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird as well as government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's into their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has bought and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will give the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes, and hunt in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plants. They will typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team to assist track Spix's Macaws. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's Macaw was detected, allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily activities in the wild. This approach has proven very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as 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. However, a reintroduction project is currently in progress to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction program is now 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 in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information about food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction programme has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, including information about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also opened a window on the natural history of the Spix's Macaws. This can help to understand the causes that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a myriad of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia), along with the joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They can also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other birds are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound similar to an acoustic note. 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 one another by making a variety of screeching and squawking sounds, and like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They have a strict routine that includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their family. This is what makes them the most sought-after pets and a target for the illegal bird trade.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, all of them poached. In this hyperlink , poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of the hope of pairing them. 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 that are the descendants of only two individuals, which makes them susceptible to illness and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in an breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal which raises doubt about the future plans to return the birds and return them back into the wild.
Despite their precarious number, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat out a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws which weren't part of the breeding program.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce again, although not at a high rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it will be crucial for reintroducing these birds to the wild. It is important to choose the right birds before release. The macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired up with close relatives or siblings.
It may be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back into the wild, but it is vital 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 are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, that are more common in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new surroundings and will also offer protection by the sheer numbers.