Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.

The first challenge was finding enough birds to participate in the exchange. These macaws are monogamous, so the pairs needed to be matched properly.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 due to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a few of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue companions, and compare their experience with the journey of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They say he was a true survivor, who lost his family but kept his faith in the region. They feel a strong bond to him and perceive their lives as identical to his.

The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to study its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of why this species survived so long. This enabled researchers to determine the historical population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able gather important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and eating habits. They also monitored attempts at reproduction with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaws, which was an important step towards the recovery of this species.

It was an amazing feat that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has enabled scientists to understand how these birds can be returned to nature. The last bird's survival also encouraged people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos are also encouraged to create their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.

This group is a good example of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate to save endangered animals and wildlife. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with a common goal: the recovery of this endangered bird.

The group has accomplished a lot of work. This includes the development of a plan to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It has also established an ongoing committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the bird.

Habitat

Threatened by habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to fight tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.

A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people across the globe However, this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long road to bring these birds back from the edge. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.

The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, despite only sporadic sightings from the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.

To protect the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was established. It was comprised of aviculturists who held the last remaining bird, as well as 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 the northeast of Brazil.

AWWP has bought and is restoring 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, thereby providing a genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.

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

To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was recruited to become part of the field team. The community was given watches that would activate if Spix's Macaws are recognized. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This approach has proven very successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 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 this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.

This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of old caraibeira trees and were known to eat seeds and nuts.

A reintroduction program is now underway to establish a natural 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 in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting and areas to roost.

The reintroduction program has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, which includes details about daily movement patterns and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also has opened a window on the evolution of the Spix's Macaws. This aids in understanding the causes that led to their extinction.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of many 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 palms of acai (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 have vocalizations and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound that resembles an acoustic note. They are well-known for flying fast and high when they are in a breeding mood.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots they can mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their flock. They are popular as pets and are frequently targeted by the illegal bird trade because of this.

By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, and all of them poached. In 1995, poachers website killed the male and female birds as part of a plan to pair them. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.

The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are a mix of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, leaving them vulnerable to disease and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity live at a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out, leaving future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.

Despite their petty numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws 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 starting to reproduce, though not at a high rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds to release is also crucial. Macaws must be reproductive and paired with close relatives or siblings.

Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it is crucial to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will 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 become accustomed to their new surroundings. They will also ensure safety through numbers.