Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring however, it is also filled with jealousies and backbiting.

The first obstacle was to get enough birds for the trade. The macaws are monogamous therefore the pairs had to be well-matched.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. The 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 captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to them as little blue friends, and compare their journey with the journey of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They feel a strong bond to him and perceive their lives as being similar to his.

Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and to better understand how this species has lasted so long. It also helped them create a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. They also monitored attempts at reproduction with an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaws, which was an important step towards the recovery of this species.

It was an amazing feat that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild despite an insufficient gene pool and it has helped researchers understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird encouraged people to take action to save other parrots as well as endangered species. Zoos have also been enticed to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.

This group serves as an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from the government, zoo representatives, international holders of this unique bird and ornithologists with a common goal: the recovery of the Spix's macaw.

The group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes preparing an approach to reintroduce 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. It has also created a permanent committee to recover the bird.

Habitat

Endangered by poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to tirelessly work to bring 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 worldwide However, this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long-distance journey to save these birds from the brink. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity back into the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This arid area is home to flat savannah scrubland, scattered with galleries and seasonal streams. It was first described in 1819 and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, few birds that are kept in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens.

To save the declining population An international committee was formed which brought together aviculturists who had the last remaining birds 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 to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.

AWWP has bought and is recovering 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, providing a genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.

In the wild, Spix's macaws are found in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They typically nest in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruit seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They may spend up to 1/3 of their time in the nest.

To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was recruited to join the field team. Members of the community were given watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was observed which allowed them to keep track of the birds and Buy-Macaw.Com their daily activities in the wild. This approach has been very successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was in the wake of the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000 and no additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project is currently in progress to return the critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga.

This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.

Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws that have been released back into the same area and will help to share information about food sources, nesting and roosting areas.

The reintroduction programme has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of this bird, including information about the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also provides an insight into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better determine the causes that led to its extinction in the wild.

Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds 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 can 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, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound similar to an acoustic note. When they are in a breeding mode they can fly high and fast.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. Like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict daily routine, from flight paths to bathing habits and are able to recognize members of their family. They are very popular as pets and are frequently targeted by the illegal bird trade because of this.

By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, with all of them poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.

The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture, which is the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at an breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed, casting doubt over future plans to return the birds and then reintroduce them into the wild.

Despite their low numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.

As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, but not at a great rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. The selection of the right birds for release is also crucial. Macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired with close relatives or siblings.

The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could prove difficult, but it is important to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws that were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These birds will help the macaws adjust to their new surroundings. They will also provide safety by the sheer numbers.