Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with resentment and jealousy.
The first challenge was finding enough birds to exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was crucial to match pairs well.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw, which was declared extinct in 2000 following decades of poaching and habitat loss. They have a few of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them close to Curaca. They call them their little blue companions and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family, but kept his faith in his region. macaw purchase consider their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his and feel a deep connection with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain an understanding of why this species survived this long. This enabled researchers to estimate the historical population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to collect important data about the bird's movements throughout the day and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. They even monitored attempts at reproduction with a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and it has also helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird also encouraged people to take action to save other parrots and endangered species. Zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group serves as an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists, with an aim in common: the recovery of this endangered bird.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes preparing a plan to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction plan. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to tirelessly work to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw famous to millions of people worldwide However, this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long road to bring these birds back from the edge. 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 portion of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga an arid area of savannah scrubland that is flat, interspersed with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of 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 experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to develop a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws to their natural environment.
AWWP has bought and is restoring 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released into the wild. This will provide a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and are seldom seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or tree holes and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts and other plants. They can spend up to one third of their day in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to assist to track Spix's macaws. The members of the community were given watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's Macaw was detected which allowed them to keep track of the birds and their daily movements in the wild. This approach has been extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) 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 after the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction project is in the process of trying to restore this critically endangered bird back to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras and 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 birds are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced to the same area, and will help to share knowledge about food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on daily movement patterns and the seasonal changes to drought. It also has opened a window on the nature of the Macaws of Spix, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. They may also consume the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other bird species, are social birds that form close bonds with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive noise similar to an acoustic note. They are often seen flying fast and high when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict daily routine, from the flight path to bathing habits, and they can recognize members of their family. They are popular as pets and are often targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then all known Spix's macaws have been captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are made up of individuals who are the descendants of only two individuals, making them susceptible to illness and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity live at a breeding centre in Germany. However this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled, leaving the possibility of repatriation or their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing 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 that were not part of the breeding program.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce again, although not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. The selection of the right birds for release is also crucial. The macaws need to be in a reproductive stage, and they should be joined by one of their siblings or a close relatives.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it is crucial to try. To aid, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws will be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new surroundings. They will also offer protection by numbers.