Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with backbiting and jealousies.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was crucial to match pairs well.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw, which was declared extinct in 2000 following years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a few of the birds in captivity and hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue companions, and compare their experience to the story of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They see their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his, and they feel a strong affinity with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered researchers with an opportunity to examine its behavior in the wild and gain an understanding of how this species was able to survive for such a long time. This also helped them create a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
macaw keycaps was a marvellous achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the natural world. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. 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 conserve endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from the government, zoo representatives, international holders of this unique bird and ornithologists with a common goal - the recovery of the Spix's macaw.
The working group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes developing an approach to reintroduce this bird in the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research, community outreach and captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction plan. The group has also established a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was threatened by the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to tirelessly work to bring this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions around the globe thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long road of bringing these birds back. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is native to a small portion of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga an arid area of savannah scrubland that is flat, scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819, and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, a few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To protect the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was formed. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's into their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will provide a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws will live in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They typically nest in tree holes or hollows and forage for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to 1/3 of their time in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to help identify Spix's Macaws. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected, allowing them to keep track of the birds and their daily movements in the wild. This method has proven successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to the genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. However, a reintroduction project is currently in progress to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is underway to re-establish 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 scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting sites and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has collected vital biological data about the behavior of this rare bird, including details on daily movements patterns as well as the seasonal changes to drought. It also has provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Macaws of Spix, which helps to understand the factors that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the Joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are very vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound similar to a flutist note. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They have a strict routine that includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their flock. 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 remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then the Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are a mix of individuals that are the descendants of only two individuals, leaving them susceptible to illness and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity reside in a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government expired which leaves the future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws for the collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, though not at a high rate. Maintaining their health and generating is crucial to reintroduce the birds back into the wild. Choosing the right birds for release is also critical. Macaws should be reproductively mature and should be in a relationship with one of their siblings or a close relatives.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, but it's crucial to try. ABC and its partners have created reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws that were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These smart birds will help the macaws get used to the region and will offer safety in numbers.