Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational however, it is also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds for the trade. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs needed to be matched well.
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 habitat loss. They have a tiny population of the birds that are in captivity and they hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They call the birds their little blue friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family but remained loyal to his area. They see their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his, and they feel a deep connection with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided an excellent opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of how the species has survived for this long. It also allowed them to create a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and its eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery for this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild despite an insufficient gene pool and it has also helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other parrots as well as endangered species. Zoos have also been enticed to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.
This group serves as a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with one goal in common to save this endangered bird.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work, including the creation of an idea for reintroducing this bird into the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction plan. It has also created a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
Threatened by habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to do their best to bring this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw famous to millions of people across the globe However, this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long road to save these birds from the edge. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This desert area is home to flat savannah scrubland that is which is surrounded by galleries and seasonal streams. It was first described in 1819, and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with only occasional sightings in the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population, an international committee was created that gathered aviculturists who held the last remaining birds as well as officials from the government. This group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws to their natural habitat.
AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will create the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws reside in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or tree holes and hunt for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to 1/3 of their time in the nest.
To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements local communities were invited to join the field team. The community was given watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw is identified. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily movements. This method has proven to be 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 discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction program is in progress to try to bring this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced to the same area and will help to share knowledge of food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique bird, which includes details about daily movements patterns as well as the seasonal changes to drought. It also provided a glimpse into the natural history of the Macaws of Spix, which can help to understand the causes that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts 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. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound similar to a flute. They are often seen flying fast and high when they are in the mood to breed.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and highly social birds. Mindy catalina macaw communicate with each other through a range of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, can mimic human speech. They also adhere to a strict daily routine, from the flight path to bathing habits and are able to recognize members of their flock. This is what makes them so popular pets and targets for the illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds as part of the hope of pairing them. Since then all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity reside in a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government ran out and future plans for repatriation and their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to buy from a collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
In the wake of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, though not at a high rate. Keeping them healthy and producing is crucial to reintroduce these birds to the wild. It is important to choose the right birds prior to releasing them. Macaws must be in a reproductive stage, and they should be paired with one of their siblings or a close relatives.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could prove difficult, but it is important 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 who were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix's macaws also live. These smart birds will help the macaws get familiar with the area, and they will provide the security of a large number.