Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with speculation and worry, Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully bring a group of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with backbiting and jealousies.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed to be matched well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered Spix's macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 due to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds in captive, and they hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They say he was as a true survivor, who lost his family but remained loyal to the area. They feel a strong connection to him and see their lives as similar to his.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and to better understand the reasons why this species has lasted so long. This enabled researchers to estimate the population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to collect important information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and its eating habits. They even monitored attempts at reproduction with a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws which was a significant step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was a remarkable achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a limited gene pool. This has allowed scientists understand how these birds can be returned to the natural world. The survival of the bird that was killed motivated people to act to save other parrots as well as threatened species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This working group is a great example of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can work together in order to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials as well as representatives from zoos as well as international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists together with one common goal - the recovery of the Spix's macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work, including preparing plans for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to support field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction project. visit this link has also created a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was threatened by the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. 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 globe thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. But this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long journey of bringing these birds back. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and bring back captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga which is an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, with a few captive birds and a handful of museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was established. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird and officials from the government. This group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws into their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released in the wild. This will create a genetically-pure source of animals for the future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They typically nest in hollows or tree holes and forage for fruit seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They can spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team to assist identify Spix's Macaws. The community was given watches that would be activated if the Spix's Macaw was identified. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild as well as their daily activities. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species in the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and no more birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan is in the process of trying to restore this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil which covers around 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws, which have been released back into the same area and will help to share knowledge about food sources, nesting and roosting sites.
The reintroduction programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this unique bird, including information on daily movements patterns as well as adjustments to drought during the season. It also has opened a window on the nature of the Macaws of Spix, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of numerous 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). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a brief, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. Like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They also adhere to a strict daily routine, from flights to bathing routines and are able to recognize members of their family. They are very popular as pets and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds due to this.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, with all of them poached. A plan to pair the male and female foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, which makes them vulnerable to disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at the breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed and causing doubt about future plans to return the birds and return them into the wild.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
In part because of this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, though not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. It is essential to choose the right birds before release. The macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired with siblings or close relatives.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could prove difficult, but it is crucial to try. ABC and its partners have created a reserve system to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws become more used to the region and will offer security in large numbers.