Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with backbiting and jealousies.
The first challenge was finding enough birds to exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was essential to match the pairs well.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw, which was declared extinct in 2000 following decades of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small number of the birds in captivity, and are hoping to release them in the wild near Curaca. They call the birds their little blue friends and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him a true survivor, who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as similar to his, and feel a deep connection with him.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and better understand how this species has lasted so long. This enabled researchers to estimate the historical population of this rare bird more precisely. Researchers were able to collect important details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its eating habits. They even monitored reproduction attempts using an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaws which was a significant step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird was able to endure and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The bird's survival has encouraged people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos are also encouraged to establish their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.
This group serves as a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. chestnut fronted macaw brings together Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international holders of the Spix’s macaw, and ornithologists to achieve an aim in common: the recovery of this endangered bird.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes preparing a plan to reintroduce the bird in the wild. The group also raised funds for 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 rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
Threatened by poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to do their best 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, but this is just the beginning in the long journey to save these birds from the edge. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This dry area is home to flat savannah scrubland, which is surrounded by seasonal streams and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is among of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, with only sporadic sightings from the wild as well as a few captive birds and some museum specimens.
To protect the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was established. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird and government officials. This group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's Macaws into their native environment in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also raising and breeding birds to be released into the wild, thereby providing the genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees and seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes, and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other plants. They typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local group was invited to join the field team. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if Spix's Macaws are recognized. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild as well as their daily activities. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction project is currently in progress to return this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to feed on seeds and nuts.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is in progress. 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 a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been released back into the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources and nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has already collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on the patterns of movement throughout the day and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also provides a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of a myriad of plants 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.
Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound similar to a flutist note. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict daily routine, from the flight path to bathing habits, and they can recognize members of their family. They are very popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by the 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 killed the male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since 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 just two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in the 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 repatriate the birds and reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws for the collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, but not at a high rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds to release is equally important. Macaws should be reproductively mature and should be in a relationship with an older sibling or close family member.
It could be difficult to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild, however, it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have created reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws that 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 and will also offer protection by large numbers.
