Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first challenge was obtaining enough birds for the trade. Macaws are monogamous, so it was important to match the pairs well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 due to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their blue-eyed friends and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor who lost his family but remained loyal to his area. They feel a strong bond to him and perceive their lives as like his.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain an understanding of how this species has survived for such a long time. This allowed researchers to estimate the population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to collect important details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and its eating habits. They also observed reproduction attempts using an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaws which was a significant step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird was able to endure and thrive in the wild despite an insufficient gene pool and it has helped researchers understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other species of endangered parrots. It also inspired 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 protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international holders of the Spix’s macaw, and ornithologists to achieve a common goal that is the recovery of this endangered bird.
The group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes the development of an approach to reintroduce this bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed a permanent committee to save 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 fight tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's Macaw known to millions of people across the globe however this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long road to save these birds from the edge. For decades, an international team has been trying to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This desert area is home to flat savannah scrubland that is scattered with seasonal streams and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819, and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with only occasional sightings in the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.
To protect the declining population, an international group was established. It was comprised of aviculturists who held the last remaining bird and officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws back to their natural environment.
AWWP has bought and is recovering 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, which will provide an incredibly pure genetic source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. chestnut fronted macaw in hollows or holes in trees and forage for fruit, seeds, nuts and other plants. They typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to assist track Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw is recognized. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily actions. This method has proven to be successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species of 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 disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. A reintroduction program is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the 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 in progress. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to arrive in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information about food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction program has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of the bird, which includes details of daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also provides a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw, helping to discover the reasons behind its disappearance in the wild.
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). They also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other bird species are social birds and have close relationships 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 an ecstatic mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with one another through a range of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, including routines for bathing and flight. They can also recognize other members of their family. They are very popular as pets and are often targeted by the illegal trade in birds due to this.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, and all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds in a plan to pair them. Since since then all known Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, making them at risk of disease and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at the breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal, casting doubt over future plans to repatriate the birds and return them into the wild.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
In part because of this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, though not at a speedy pace. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it is crucial to reintroduce the birds back into the wild. It is crucial to select the correct birds before releasing them. Macaws should be reproductively mature and should be paired with one of their siblings or a close family member.
It could be difficult to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild, but it is vital to try. ABC and its partners have created reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and share areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will help macaws adjust to their new surroundings and will also offer protection by the sheer numbers.