Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring however, it is also filled with jealousies and backbiting.

The first hurdle was to get enough birds for the trade. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed 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 tiny population of the birds that are in captivity, and are hoping to release them in the wild near Curaca. They refer to them as their blue-eyed friends and compare their lives with the journey of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They call him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but kept his faith in the region. They feel a strong kinship to him and see their lives as identical to his.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to study its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of why this species was able to survive for so long. This allowed researchers to estimate the historical population of this rare bird more accurately. Researchers were able to collect important information about the bird's movements throughout the day and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. They also observed reproduction attempts using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws which was a crucial step in the rehabilitation of this species.

It was a remarkable feat that this bird was able to survive and thrive in the wild despite a limited gene pool, and it has also 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 as well as threatened species. Zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.

Suggested Internet page of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from the government as well as representatives from zoos, international holders of this unique bird and ornithologists with a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.

The group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes the development of plans to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It also has established an ongoing committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the bird.

Habitat

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

A popular animated movie and two sequels have made Spix's Macaw known to millions of people around the world However, this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long road to bring these birds back from the brink. For a long time, 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 endemic to a tiny area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga which is an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, interspersed with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with only few glimpses of the wild, a few captive birds and some museum specimens.

To preserve the declining population, an international group was created. 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 an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws back to their natural environment.

AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. 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.

In the wild, Spix's Macaws will live in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes, and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other species. They can spend up to a third of the day in the nest.

A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to help track Spix's Macaws. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was detected which allowed them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily movements in the wild. This approach has been very successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to the genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last known wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is currently underway to try to bring this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.

The northeast region of Brazil comprises about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.

A reintroduction plan is currently underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting and areas to roost.

The reintroduction program has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this unique bird, including information on daily movements patterns as well as the seasonal changes to drought. It also provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Spix's Macaws. This aids in understanding the causes that led to their decline.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of numerous plants that are 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.

Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic other sounds and words. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief repeated grating sound that is similar to a flute. When they are in a breeding mode, they are known to fly high and fast.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They also have a rigid daily routine, ranging from flight paths to bathing habits, and they can recognize members of their flock. This is what makes them so popular pets, and also 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 in the hope of pairing them. Since since then, all known Spix's macaws have been captive-bred mostly in Brazil.

The few Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, which makes them susceptible to illness and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in an breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed and causing doubt about future plans to repatriate the birds and then reintroduce them back into the wild.

Despite their low numbers of captive-bred Spix's macaws, captive-bred species show 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 weren't part of the breeding program.

In part, due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, but not at a speedy pace. Maintaining their health and generating will be crucial for reintroducing the birds back into the wild. It is crucial to select the right birds before release. The macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired with siblings or close relatives.

Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, but it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also live. These intelligent birds will aid macaws to become familiar with the area, and they will provide safety in numbers.