Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first challenge was finding enough birds to exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was important to match the pairs well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a tiny population of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They call the birds their little blue companions and compared their experience 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 kept his faith in the region. They feel a strong kinship to him and perceive their lives as identical to his.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided a valuable opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of how the species has survived for so long. It also allowed them to make a more precise estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important data about the bird's movements throughout the day and seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. They also monitored reproduction attempts using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaws which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has helped scientists understand how these birds can be restored to the natural world. The survival of the last bird also encouraged people to take action to save other parrots as well as threatened species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group is a good example of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate to save endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian governmental officials as well as representatives from zoos and international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists with a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including the creation of plans for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. It also has established a permanent committee for the reintroduction of 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 10 years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
A popular animated movie and two sequels have made Spix's macaw famous to millions of people around the world However, this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long-distance journey to save these birds from the edge. For a long time, a global team has been trying to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga which is an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819, and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with few glimpses of the wild as well as a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To protect the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was created. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and government officials. This 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 into their native environment in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has bought and is renovating 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will give the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and are seldom seen on the ground. They usually nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruits as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They will typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements local communities were recruited to join the field team. The community was given watches that would be activated if a Spix's Macaw is recognized. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction project is in the process of trying to restore the critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information about food sources, nesting sites and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique 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 which helps to determine the causes that led to its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the fruits, seeds and nuts of a variety of plants that are native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. They can also eat the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound similar to an acoustic note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another with a variety of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their family. They are very popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by the illegal bird trade because of this.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, with all of them poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since the time, 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 susceptible to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity reside in an breeding center in Germany. However, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government ran out which leaves the future plans for repatriation and their 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 a collector.
In part because of this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, though not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. Ziggy Our Scarlet Macaw is crucial to select the correct birds before release. The macaws need to be at a reproductive age, and they should be in a relationship with an older sibling or close family member.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could prove difficult, but it is crucial to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws become accustomed to their new environment and will also provide safety by the sheer numbers.