Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.
The first challenge was finding enough birds to exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so it was important to ensure that the pairs were well-matched.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw. This bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a few of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them close to Curaca. They call them their blue-eyed friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They say he was as a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They feel a strong connection to him and perceive their lives as identical to his.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and gain a better understanding of how this species has survived for so long. This also helped them make a more precise estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather important data about the bird's daily movement patterns, seasonal adjustment to drought and its food habits. They also observed attempts at reproduction with an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaw pair which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a marvellous feat that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a limited gene pool. This has allowed scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the natural world. The survival of the last bird encouraged people to take action in order to save other parrots as well as threatened species. Zoos have also been enticed to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.
This working group is a great example of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can work together to save endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from government as well as representatives from zoos, international holders of this rare 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 the development of a plan to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research, community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction project. It has also established an ongoing committee to oversee the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was threatened by the destruction of habitats and illegal poaching. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to do their best to save this iconic bird back from the brink extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people worldwide however this is only the beginning in the long journey to bring these birds back from the edge. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a small portion of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga an arid area consisting of savannah scrubland flat interspersed with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819, and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with few glimpses of the wild as well as a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population, an international committee was created which brought together aviculturists who had the last remaining birds as well as officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released into the wild. This will give an animal that is genetically pure for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and are seldom seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and search in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants. They will typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
A local community was recruited as part of the field team in order to help track Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw is recognized. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily activities. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the family Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last known wild parrot disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction plan is in the process of trying to restore this critically endangered bird back to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction program has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of the bird, including information about the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It has also provided a window into the natural history 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 many plants that are 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, Spix's Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are very vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive noise similar to a flutist note. When Orville macaw parrot price are in a breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking, and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, including flight patterns and bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their flock. They are very popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds as part of a plan to pair them. Since since then the Spix's macaws are captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws that are in captivity are made up of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, leaving them vulnerable to disease and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity reside in a breeding center in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled which leaves the possibility of repatriation or reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their precarious number, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds for release is also crucial. Macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired up with close relatives or siblings.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it is essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that is designed to safeguard the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws that were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These birds will assist the macaws adapt to their new environment and will also offer protection by numbers.