Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with uncertainty and fear, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also filled with resentment and jealousy.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds for the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs needed to be matched properly.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically endangered Spix's macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a few of the birds in captivity and are hoping 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 the area. They feel a strong connection to him and see their lives as being like his.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and to better understand the reasons why this species has lasted so long. This enabled researchers to estimate the historical population of this rare bird more precisely. Researchers were able gather important data about the bird's daily movement patterns, seasonal adjustment to drought, and food habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery for this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able endure and thrive in the wild with such an insufficient gene pool and has helped researchers understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The last bird's survival also encouraged people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos are also encouraged to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.
This working group is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common that is the recovery of this unique bird.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes preparing a plan to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It has also created a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
Threatened 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 tirelessly work 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 around the world, but this is just the beginning in the long road to save these birds from the brink. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and bring back Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This dry region has flat savannah scrubland that is interspersed with seasonal streams and gallery forests. Sinatra Macaws for Sale was first documented in 1819, and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, a few birds that are kept in captivity and a handful of museum specimens.
To save the declining population In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was formed which brought together aviculturists who had the last remaining birds, as well as government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's into their native environment in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has bought and is renovating 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also raising and breeding 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 will live in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants. They may spend up to 1/3 of their time in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was invited to join the field team. The community was provided with watches that would turn on when Spix's Macaws are recognized. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild and their daily movements. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. Ziggy hyacinth macaw parrots for sale for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot was lost in 2000, and no more birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction programme is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
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 birds are scheduled to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws, which were reintroduced into the same area and will assist to share knowledge about food sources and nesting and roosting sites.
The reintroduction program has collected valuable biological data about the behavior of the bird, including information about the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also has opened a window on the nature of Spix's Macaws, which can help to understand the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of a variety of plants that are native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo and linhas Brasil, as well as facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. They also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive noise similar to an acoustic note. When they are in breeding mode they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They also adhere to a rigid daily routine, ranging from flight paths to bathing habits and can identify members of their family. They are very popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by the illegal bird trade because of this.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since since then the Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mix of individuals that are the descendants of only two individuals, making them vulnerable to disease and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at an breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal which raises doubt about the future plans to return the birds and reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
In part, due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is beginning to increase, though not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds for release is also crucial. The macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired up with close relatives or siblings.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could be difficult, but it's essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which will help to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These birds will help the macaws become accustomed to their new surroundings and will also provide safety by numbers.