Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period filled with speculation and worry Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to trade. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw. This bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds that are in captive, and are hoping to release them into the wild near Curaca. They call the birds their little blue friends and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor, who lost his family, but was loyal to his home. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as similar to his, and feel a strong affinity with him.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and gain a better understanding of the reasons why this species has lasted so long. This enabled researchers to determine the historical population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to gather crucial data on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was an important step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a limited gene pool. This has allowed scientists to better understand how these birds can be returned to nature. The survival of the last bird also inspired people to take action in order to save other parrots as well as threatened species. It also inspired zoos and other groups to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group serves as an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to conserve endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government, zoo representatives as well as international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists with a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes developing an approach to reintroduce this bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was threatened by the destruction of habitat and illegal poaching. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to fight tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A cult 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-distance journey to save these birds from the edge. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This dry region has flat savannah scrubland that is which is surrounded by galleries and seasonal streams. It was first documented in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, with a few birds that are kept in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens.
To save the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was created. It brought together experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird as well as officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has bought and is recovering 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, providing a genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws will live in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They usually nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruits seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They can spend as much as 1/3 of their time in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements local communities were recruited to become part of the field team. The community was provided with watches that would turn on when a Spix's Macaw is recognized. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This approach has proven very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and no more birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction programme is in the check here process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil covers approximately 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were found in 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 birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June and 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will provide information on food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost.
The reintroduction programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of the bird, which includes details of the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It has also provided a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better understand what led to its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of many plants that are native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas Brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the Joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They can also eat the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws like all parrots as well as other birds are social birds that form close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound like a flute note. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict daily routine, from flight paths to bathing habits and can identify members of their flock. They are adored as pets and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.
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 an attempt to pair them. Since the time the Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture, which is the descendant of only two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are kept in an breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal and causing doubt about future plans to repatriate the birds and reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their shaky 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, due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds prior to release. Macaws should be reproductively mature and should be paired with a sibling or a close relative.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it is important to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which aims to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws that were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix's macaws also live. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws get accustomed to the region, and they will provide the security of a large number.