Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully bring a group of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with jealousies and backbiting.
The first obstacle was obtaining enough birds to be traded. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was important to match pairs well.
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 due 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 refer to the birds as their little blue companions and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family, but kept his faith in his region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his, and they feel a deep connection with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided researchers with an opportunity to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of how this species was able to survive for so long. Researchers were able to determine the historical population of this unique bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able gather important details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery for 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 researchers understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird encouraged people to take action to save other species of endangered parrots. This has also encouraged zoos to develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This working group is a great illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can collaborate to protect endangered animals and wildlife. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common that is the recovery of this endangered bird.
The group has completed a lot of work, including preparing an idea for reintroducing this bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed an ongoing committee to help recover the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was endangered through habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made 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 bring these birds back from the brink. For decades, an international team has been trying to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland that is dotted with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819, and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, 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 formed. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and government officials. This group formed a partnership with the world-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 purchased and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, providing an incredibly pure genetic source of the animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees and are rarely 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 the time in the nest.
To aid in tracking Ziggy hyacinth macaw parrots for sale and their movements, a local community was invited to join the field team. The members of the community were given watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was observed which allowed them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily movements in the wild. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the family 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 was lost in 2000, and no more birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil that covers about 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is in progress. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information about food sources, nesting and places to roost.
The reintroduction programme has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique bird, including information on the patterns of movement throughout the day and the seasonal changes to drought. It also provides a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw which helps to discover the reasons behind its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of a variety of plants that are native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and 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.
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other bird species, are social birds that have close relationships with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic other sounds and words. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief repeated grating sound that is similar to a flute note. They are often seen flying high and fast when they are in an ecstatic mood.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots, they are able to mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, which includes routines for bathing and flight. They can also recognize other members of their family. This is what makes them the most sought-after pets and a target for illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds as part of a plan to pair them. Since the time, all Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix that descends of just two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are housed at 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 back into the wild.
Despite their petty numbers of captive-bred Spix's macaws, captive-bred species show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's Macaws that weren't part of the breeding program.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce again, although not at a rapid rate. Maintaining their health and generating will be important to reintroducing the birds into the wild. Selecting the right birds to release is also crucial. Macaws should be at a reproductive age and should be paired with an older sibling or close relative.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have established a reserve system to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. Darling hahns macaw who were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These birds will help the macaws adjust to their new environment and will also offer protection by large numbers.