Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with jealousy and backbiting.
The first hurdle was to find enough birds for the trade. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed to be matched properly.
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 loss of habitat. They have a small amount of the birds that are in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue friends and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor, who lost his family and remained loyal to his area. They feel a strong bond to him and view their lives as being identical to his.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and better understand how this species has lasted so long. It also helped them make a more precise estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather important information about the bird's daily movements, seasonal adjustment to drought, and its feeding habits. They also observed attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaws, which was an important 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 small gene pool. This has helped scientists to better understand how these birds can be restored to nature. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action in order to save other parrots as well as endangered species. This has also encouraged zoos to establish their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This group serves as an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to save endangered species of wildlife and animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common that is the recovery of this rare bird.
The group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes preparing an approach to reintroduce this bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It also has established a permanent committee for the reintroduction of the bird.
Habitat
Endangered by habitat destruction and poaching, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to fight tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A popular animated movie and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people across the globe However, this is only the beginning in the long road to save these birds from the edge. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species to a small region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This dry region has flat savannah scrubland, which is surrounded by galleries and streams that flow through the season. It was first documented in 1819 and is among of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, despite only occasional sightings in the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.
To preserve the dwindling population An international committee was established that brought together aviculturists that had the last remaining birds and government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's here into their native environment in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has bought and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, thereby providing the genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in hollows or tree holes and hunt for fruit, seeds, nuts and other plants. They may spend up to one third of the time in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local group was recruited to become part of the field team. Members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected which allowed them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily movements in the wild. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the Genus 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 failed to find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction plan is in the process of 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 were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to feed on nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws. They have been reintroduced to the same area and will help to share information about food sources and nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has collected valuable biological data about the behavior of the bird, which includes details of the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also provides a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, helping to understand what led to 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), along with the joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots as well as other birds, are social birds that have close relationships with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic other sounds and words. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief continuous grating sound similar to a flute. They are known to fly high and fast when they are in the mood to breed.
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 very strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their family. They are popular as pets and are often targeted by the 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 massacred the male and female birds as part of the hope of pairing them. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are made up of individuals who are the descendants of only two individuals, leaving them susceptible to illness and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany. However this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled which leaves future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws show 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 which were not part of the breeding program.
In part due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to increase, though not at a rapid rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it will be crucial for reintroducing the birds into the wild. Choosing the right birds for release is also critical. Macaws should be at a reproductive age and be joined by one of their siblings or a close family member.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, however, it is essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that is designed to safeguard the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix’s macaws are also. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new surroundings and will also offer protection by the sheer numbers.