Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of 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 jealousies and backbiting.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. The macaws were monogamous so it was essential to ensure that the pairs were 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 loss of habitat. They have a few of the birds in captivity and hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to them as little blue friends, and compare their journey with the journey of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor, who lost his family and kept his faith in his region. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as akin to his and feel a strong connection to him.
The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered researchers with an opportunity to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of why this species has survived for this long. It also helped them make a more precise estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, as well as its eating habits. They also observed attempts at reproduction with an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaws which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild despite a limited gene pool, and it has also helped scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other parrots and endangered species. It also inspired zoos and other organizations to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This working group is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from government, zoo representatives and international owners of this rare bird and ornithologists together with one common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The group has achieved a lot of work. This includes preparing a plan to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research, community outreach and captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction program. The group has also established a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists, and other experts continue to do their best to save this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's Macaw known to millions of people around the world However, this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long road to save these birds from the edge. 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 an indigenous species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This dry region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland, which is surrounded by galleries and streams that flow through the season. It was described in 1819 and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, with a few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To preserve the dwindling population In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was created which brought together aviculturists who had the last remaining birds and government officials. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws in their native habitat.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will create the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes, and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other species. They will typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was invited to join the field team. Members of the community were provided watches which could be activated if the Spix's macaw was observed which allowed them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily movements in the wild. This method has proven to be successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to 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 wild parrot disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the entire 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 in progress. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws. They have been released back into the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources and nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this bird, which includes details of the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also opened a window on the natural history of the Macaws of Spix, which can help to understand the causes that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many plants that are native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws like all parrots as well as other birds, are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound similar to a flute. When they are in a breeding mode, they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another through a Blondie scarlet macaw bird range of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their family. This is what makes them such popular pets, and also a target for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of an attempt to pair them. Since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture that descends of only two individuals. This makes them susceptible to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are in the 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 low numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from the collector three Spix's macaws which were not 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 great rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds to release is also crucial. Macaws must be of reproductive age and be paired up with siblings or close relatives.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it's essential to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws that are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These savvy birds will help macaws to become used to the region, and they will provide the security of a large number.