Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long time of worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with backbiting and jealousy.

The first hurdle was to get enough birds to trade. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be well-matched.

Range

A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw, which was declared extinct in 2000, following years of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a small amount of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue friends, and compare their journey to that of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family and remained loyal to his area. They feel a strong connection to him and see their lives as being identical to his.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of why this species was able to survive for such a long time. It also allowed them to form a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather important details about the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery for this species.

It was an amazing feat that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and it has helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird also inspired people to take action in order to save other parrots and endangered species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.

This working group is a good example of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can work together to protect endangered wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government, zoo representatives and international owners of this rare bird and ornithologists with a common goal: the recovery of the Spix's macaw.

The working group has already completed a lot of work, including developing plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research, community outreach and captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction plan. It has also created a permanent committee to recover the bird.

Habitat

Threatened by habitat destruction and poaching, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.

A well-known animated film and two sequels have made Spix's Macaw known to millions of people around the world, but this is just the tip of the iceberg in the long road to save these birds from the brink. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity 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, interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. 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 captive birds and a handful of museum specimens.

To protect the population that is declining In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was created which brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining birds and government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.

AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will create the 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 in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants. They will typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.

To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements local communities were recruited to join the field team. 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 movements throughout the wild. This approach has been extremely successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species in the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in the year 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 locate any additional birds. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.

This region in northeast Brazil covers approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.

Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently in progress. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws. They have been reintroduced to the same area and will assist to share knowledge of food sources and nesting and roosting locations.

The reintroduction program has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of this bird, which includes details of more info the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also provides a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw which helps to understand what led to its disappearance in the wild.

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), along with 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 Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound that resembles the note of a flutist. They are often seen flying high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other through a range of screeching and squawking sounds. Like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine that includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their family. This is why they are the most sought-after pets and a target for illegal bird trade.

In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of a plan to pair them. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.

The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix that descends of just two individuals. This makes them susceptible to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity live at an breeding center in Germany. However this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out which leaves future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.

Despite their precarious number of captive-bred Spix's macaws, captive-bred species show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws for the collector.

In part due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, though not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the correct birds before release. Macaws must be reproductive and be paired with close relatives or siblings.

The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it is crucial to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to safeguard 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 more common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These smart birds will help macaws to become used to the region and will offer safety in numbers.