Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with resentment and jealousy.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs had 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 following decades of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a small number of the birds in captivity and hope to release them close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue companions and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but was loyal to the region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and feel a deep connection with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to study its behavior in the wild and gain an understanding of how this species was able to survive for such a long time. Researchers were able to determine the historical population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to gather crucial data on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce with a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has enabled scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The bird's survival has motivated people to act to save other endangered parrots and species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group of experts is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from the government, zoo representatives and international owners of this rare bird and ornithologists with a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including preparing a plan for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research, community outreach and captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction project. The group has also established a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to poaching and habitat destruction, 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 fight to save this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
A popular animated movie and two sequels have made Spix's Macaw known to millions of people around the world, but this is just the beginning in the long journey to bring these birds back from the brink. For decades, an international 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 an endemic species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This arid area is home to flat savannah scrubland, scattered with galleries and streams that flow through the season. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with only few glimpses of 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 formed. It was comprised of aviculturists who held the last remaining bird, as well as officials from the government. The click here group forged a partnership 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 environment.
AWWP has bought and is restoring 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also raising and breeding birds to be released into the wild, providing an incredibly pure genetic source of animals for the next generation of.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or tree holes and forage for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was invited to join the field team. Members of the community were given watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was observed and thereby allowing them to keep track of the birds and their daily activities in the wild. This method has proven to be successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) 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 vanished in 2000, and no more birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan currently underway is trying to return this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to feed on nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction program is now underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to arrive 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 obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, including information about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It has also provided a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw, helping to understand what led to its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a variety of plants 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.
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other birds are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive noise similar to a flutist note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. As with many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine that includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their family. They are adored as pets and are often targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds in the hope of pairing them. Since since then, all known Spix's macaws have been captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are 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 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 expired without renewal, casting doubt over future plans to repatriate the birds and then reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their petty numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from the collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.
In part because of this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, but not at a rapid rate. Keeping them healthy and producing is crucial to reintroduce the birds back into the wild. It is important to choose the right birds before release. The macaws should be reproductive and paired with siblings or close relatives.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, but it is vital to try. To aid, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more common in the Caatinga and share areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will help macaws adjust to their new surroundings and will also ensure safety through large numbers.