Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long time with uncertainty and fear Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.

The first challenge was to find enough birds for the trade. Macaws are monogamous, so it was essential 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 years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small amount of the birds that are in captivity and hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue friends, and compare their journey with the journey of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They describe him as a true survivor who lost his family and kept his faith in his region. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as akin to his, and feel a deep connection with him.

Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and to better understand the reasons why this species has lasted so long. This also helped them form a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird's daily movements and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce using an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.

It was an amazing achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has helped scientists to better understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the natural world. The last bird's survival also encouraged people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. This has also encouraged zoos to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.

This working group is a great illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can work together to save endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials as well as representatives from zoos as well as international owners of this unique bird and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw.

The group has completed a great deal of work. This includes preparing plans to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also established a permanent committee to recover the bird.

Habitat

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

harlequin macaw 's Macaw is known to millions around the globe thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long-distance road to returning these birds. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity to the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This desert area is home to flat savannah scrubland, scattered with seasonal streams and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, with only sporadic sightings from the wild as well as a few captive birds and some museum specimens.


To protect the population that is declining In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was established that gathered aviculturists who were the last to hold the birds, as well as government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's Macaws to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.

AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released in the wild. This will provide an animal that is genetically pure for the future generations.

Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and search for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other species. They will typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.

A local community was enlisted as part of the field team in order to help to track Spix's macaws. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected, allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their movements throughout the wild. This method has proven 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 in the wake of the last wild parrot was lost in 2000, and no more birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project currently underway is trying to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in Caatinga.

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

Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that were reintroduced into the same area and will assist to share knowledge about food sources, nesting and roosting areas.

The reintroduction program has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of this bird, which includes details of the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also has provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Spix's Macaws. This aids in understanding the causes that led to their disappearance.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of a variety 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 social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound similar to a flutist note. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in an ecstatic mood.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking, and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also have a strict daily routine, from flight paths to bathing habits and are able to recognize the members of their flock. They are very popular as pets and are often targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this.

By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, with all of them being poached. A plan to pair the male and female foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - 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 diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are kept in an breeding center in Germany. However this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government ran out and the future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.

Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's Macaws that were not part of the breeding program.

In part because of this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds prior to release. Macaws must be reproductively mature and should be joined by an older sibling or close relatives.

It could be difficult to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild, but it is vital to try. To aid, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that aims to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight recently released Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These smart birds will help the macaws become more familiar with the area and will offer safety in numbers.