Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with jealousies and backbiting.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to be traded. These macaws are monogamous, so 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 after years of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a small number of the birds in captive, and are hoping to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their blue-eyed friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last 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 being identical to his.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and to better understand how this species has survived for so long. This also helped them make a more precise estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and its eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce with a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able survive and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and it has also helped scientists to understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The bird's survival has inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos are also encouraged to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.
This working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to save endangered animals and wildlife. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international owners of the Spix's macaw, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common that is the recovery of this rare bird.
The group has completed a lot of work, including the creation of plans for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research, community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction program. It has also established an ongoing committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
Endangered by habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to do their best to save this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's Macaw known to millions of people worldwide however this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long-distance journey 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 endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga an arid area of savannah scrubland that is flat, scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with occasional sightings in the wild as well as a few captive birds and some museum specimens.
To save the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was formed. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird as well as officials from the government. The group formed a partnership 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 into their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released in the wild. This will create a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes, and hunt in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to help to track Spix's macaws. The community was provided with watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw is detected. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This method has proven successful.
Paisley hyacinth macaw for sale 's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. However, a reintroduction project is in the process of trying to return this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction plan is currently in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity were released in the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting and places to roost.
The reintroduction program has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of this bird, which includes details of the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also has opened a window on the natural history of the Macaws of Spix, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their disappearance.
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 the 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 Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound similar to an acoustic note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also adhere to a rigid daily routine, ranging from the flight path to bathing habits and can identify members of their family. This is what makes them such popular pets and targets for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, and all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of an attempt to pair them. Since since then all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture of birds, and are the descendant of only 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 a German conservation center and Brazilian government expired which leaves future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's Macaws that weren't part of the breeding program.
As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a great rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds prior to release. Macaws should be of reproductive age and paired with siblings or close relatives.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's Macaw back into the wild but it is vital to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will help macaws adapt to their new surroundings and will also ensure safety through numbers.