Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring however, it is also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first challenge was finding enough birds to participate in the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs needed to be matched well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission to save 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 number of the birds in captivity and hope to release them near Curaca. They call the birds 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 Presley as an authentic survivor who lost his family but kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong bond to him and view their lives as being identical to his.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered researchers with an opportunity to investigate its behavior in wild and gain a better understanding of how the species was able to survive for such a long time. It also helped them create a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect crucial information on the bird's daily movements and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. They also observed attempts at reproduction with a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws which was a significant step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat 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 returned to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed inspired people to take action to save other parrots and threatened 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 work together to protect endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from government, zoo representatives as well as international owners of this rare bird and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the recovery of the Spix's macaw.
The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including developing a plan for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also established a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered by the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to fight tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions of people around the globe thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. This is just the beginning on the long journey of bringing these birds back. For glaucous macaw , a global 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 an indigenous species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This dry region has flat savannah scrubland that is scattered with galleries and streams that flow through the season. It was first described in 1819, and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, with a few birds in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was established. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird and officials from the government. The group forged a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws back to their natural habitat.
AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to 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 rarely seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes, and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts, and various other plants. They can spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team in order to help track Spix's Macaws. The community was given watches that would be activated if Spix's Macaws are detected. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily actions. This approach has proven very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000 and no additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction programme is currently underway to try to bring this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil that covers about 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 birds were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws, which have been reintroduced to the same area and will assist to share knowledge of food sources and nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction programme has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on daily movements patterns as well as adjustments to drought during the season. It has also provided a glimpse into the nature of Spix's Macaws, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their disappearance.
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) and the Joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other bird species are social birds that form close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound similar to a flute. They are known to fly fast and high when they are in an ecstatic mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and 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 flight paths to bathing habits and can identify members of their family. They are adored as pets, and are frequently targeted by the illegal trade in birds due to this.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds as part of an attempt to pair them. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mix of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, making them susceptible to illness and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds in captivity are housed at an breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal, casting doubt over future plans to return the birds and reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their low numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
In part due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. The selection of the right birds to release is also critical. Macaws should be reproductive and be paired with close relatives or siblings.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, but it's essential to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws that were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These birds will assist the macaws adjust to their new environment and will also provide safety by numbers.