Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with speculation and worry Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also rife with jealousy and backbiting.
The first obstacle was to get enough birds to be traded. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was important to ensure that the pairs were well-matched.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small amount of the birds that are in captivity and hope to release them close to Curaca. They call the birds little blue friends, and compare their experience with that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong connection to him and view their lives as similar to his.
Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and gain a better understanding of how this species has survived for so long. This also helped them form a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect crucial information on the bird's daily movement patterns, seasonal adjustment to drought, and food habits. They also observed attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws which was a crucial step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild despite a limited gene pool, and has helped scientists to understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird also motivated people to act to save other parrots and threatened species. It has also prompted 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 save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from the government as well as representatives from zoos and international owners of this unique bird and ornithologists with a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The working group has already achieved a lot of work. This includes preparing an approach to reintroduce this bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was endangered by the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to tirelessly work to bring this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people all over the globe thanks to a popular animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long journey of bringing these birds back. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga an arid area of savannah scrubland that is flat, that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, with occasional sightings in the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population An international committee was formed that gathered aviculturists who had the last remaining birds as well as officials from the government. The group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws into their native environment in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, thereby providing a genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They typically nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruits seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They can spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to assist identify Spix's Macaws. The members of the community were given watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was detected, allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their movements throughout the wild. 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 1, 2019. This was in the wake of the last wild parrot vanished in 2000. No additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is currently underway to try to restore this critically threatened bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction program is now underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. 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 in the area by a group of Blue-winged macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction program has collected vital biological data about the behavior of this bird, which includes details of daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also has provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Spix's Macaws. This helps to understand the factors that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a variety 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). They also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws like all parrots and other bird species, are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound that resembles the note of a flutist. They are known to fly fast and high when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent Paisley hyacinth macaw for sale and highly social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of screeching and squawking sounds, and like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their flock. This is why they are such popular pets, and also a target for the illegal bird trade.
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 foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them susceptible to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity live at a breeding center in Germany. However, this year an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled, leaving the possibility of repatriation or the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws for the collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce again, although not at a great rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the right birds before release. Macaws should be in a reproductive stage and should be paired with an older sibling or close relative.
It could be difficult to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild, however, it is essential to try. To aid, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that will help to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix’s macaws are also. These birds will help macaws adjust to their new surroundings and will also provide safety by numbers.