Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period filled with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to participate in the exchange. The macaws were monogamous so it was important to match the pairs well.
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 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small amount of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue companions, and compare their experience with the story of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family but remained loyal to his area. They feel a strong bond to him and view their lives as being identical to his.
Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and better understand how this species has survived for so long. It also helped them form a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to collect important details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery for this species.
It was a remarkable achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has enabled scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to nature. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act in order to save other parrots and endangered species. Zoos and other groups to set 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 conserve endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials as well as representatives from zoos as well as international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists with a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The group has completed a lot of work, including preparing plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to fund field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction plan. It has also established a permanent committee for the reintroduction of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was threatened through the destruction of habitats and illegal poaching. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions around the world due to a popular animated film and two sequels. This is just the tip of the iceberg on the long road of returning these birds. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is a native species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This desert region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland, scattered with seasonal streams and gallery forests. It was described in 1819 and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, few captive birds, and a handful of museum specimens.
To save the declining population, an international group was established. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's Macaws into their native environment in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released into the wild. This will create a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and forage for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to 1/3 of their time in the nest.
To assist in tracking Lolita blue & gold macaw and their movements local communities were recruited to join the field team. 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 method has proven to be successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species 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 wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction project is currently in progress to restore this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
This dry forest is located in the region 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.
A reintroduction program is now in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws that were reintroduced into the same area and will assist to share knowledge of food sources and nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction program has collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this unique bird, including details on the patterns of movement throughout the day and the seasonal changes to drought. It also provided a glimpse into 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, seeds and nuts of many species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. They can also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other birds, are social birds that form close bonds with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic other sounds and words. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a brief continuous grating sound similar to a flute. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in the mood to breed.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they are able to mimic human speech. They also have a strict daily routine, from flight paths to bathing habits, and they can recognize the members of their flock. They are popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this.
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 unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mix of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, which makes them at risk of disease and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in an breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal and causing doubt about future plans to repatriate the birds and then reintroduce them back 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 a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws which weren't part of the breeding program.
As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a rapid rate. Keeping them healthy and producing is crucial to reintroduce the birds into the wild. It is crucial to select the correct birds before release. The macaws need to be reproductively mature and should be in a relationship with a sibling or a close relative.
The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could prove difficult, but it's essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that is designed to safeguard the species' last remaining habitats. The eight recently released Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more common in the Caatinga and share areas with Spix's macaws. These smart birds will help the macaws become more accustomed to the region and provide the security of a large number.