Melody Blue Spix Macaw

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

The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. Macaws are monogamous, therefore the pairs had to be matched properly.

Range

A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw, which was declared extinct in 2000 following decades of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a small population of the birds that are in captivity, and they hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him a true survivor, who lost his family, but kept his faith in the region. They feel a strong kinship to him and perceive their lives as being like his.

Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and gain a better understanding of the reasons why this species has survived so long. This allowed researchers to estimate the historical population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able gather important data on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating 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 for this species.

It was a remarkable feat that this bird was able to survive and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and it has helped researchers understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The bird's survival has encouraged people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos have also been enticed to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.

This working group is an illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can work together to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from the government, zoo representatives as well as international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists together with one common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw.

The working group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes preparing plans to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction program. The group has also set up an ongoing committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered by the destruction of habitat and illegal poaching. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.

A well-known animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people across the globe However, this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long journey to bring these birds back from the edge. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and bring back captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is native to a small portion of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga, an arid region of flat savannah scrubland that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.

To protect the population that is declining, an international committee was created that gathered aviculturists who were the last to hold the birds and government officials. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws in their native habitat.

AWWP has purchased and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP is also raising and breeding birds to be released into the wild, which will provide an incredibly pure genetic source of the animals for future generations.

In the wild, Spix's macaws will live in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes, and hunt in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plants. They can spend as much as one third of their day in the nest.

To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local group was recruited to join the field team. Members of the community were provided watches that could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep track of the birds and their daily activities in the wild. This approach has proven very successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 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 find any additional birds. A reintroduction program is in progress to try to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.

The northeast region of Brazil comprises about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating seeds and nuts.

A reintroduction programme is underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released in 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 and roosting locations.

The reintroduction program has already collected valuable data from biology 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 an insight into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw which helps to understand what led to its extinction in the wild.


Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts 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 macaw keycaps like all parrots Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond 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 similar to an acoustic note. They are known to fly high and fast when they are in the mood to breed.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, including flight patterns and bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their family. They are adored as pets and are often targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.

In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, all of them poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since then all known Spix's macaws have been captive-bred mostly in Brazil.

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

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

As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a rapid rate. In macaw purchase to keep them healthy and producing, it will be important to reintroducing these birds to the wild. Selecting the right birds for release is also critical. Macaws should be in a reproductive stage and should be in a relationship with one of their siblings or a 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 established reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws that were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These savvy birds will help the macaws become more used to the region and will offer safety in numbers.