Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring however, it is also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first obstacle was to get enough birds to trade. 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 following decades of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a tiny population of the birds that are in captive, and hope to release them in the wild near Curaca. They call them their little blue companions and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They say he was as a true survivor who lost his family, but kept his faith in the region. They see their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his, and they feel a deep connection with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided a valuable opportunity for researchers to study its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of how the species survived this long. This also helped them make a more precise estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and eating habits. They even monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws which was a significant step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild with such an insufficient gene pool and it has helped researchers understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed inspired people to take action to save other parrots as well as threatened species. This has also encouraged zoos to create their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.
This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common to save this endangered bird.
The working group has already achieved a lot 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 support field research, community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction program. They have also formed an ongoing committee to help 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 10 years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists, and other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird from the brink extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people all over the world thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long road of returning these birds. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and bring back Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga which is an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with sporadic sightings from the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was formed. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and officials from the government. 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 Spix's Macaws into their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, thereby providing an incredibly pure genetic source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes, and hunt in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can spend up to one third of the time in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team in order to help to track Spix's macaws. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily movements in the wild. This method has proven successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. Mindy catalina macaw was following the last wild parrot vanished in 2000, and no more birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction program currently underway is trying to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently in progress. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws. They were reintroduced into the same area, and will help to share information about food sources and nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction program has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of this bird, including information about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also opened a window on the natural history of the Spix's Macaws. This can help to understand the causes that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws eat 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 included in this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute note. When they are in a breeding mode they can fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking, and other sounds. As with many parrots they are able to 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 family. They are very popular as pets and are frequently targeted by the illegal bird trade because of this.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix that descends of just two individuals. This makes them susceptible to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity live at an breeding center in Germany. However, this year an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government ran out which leaves the possibility of repatriation or the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing 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 part due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, though not at a rapid rate. Keeping them healthy and producing is crucial to reintroduce the birds back into the wild. Selecting the right birds for release is also crucial. Macaws should be reproductively mature and should be in a relationship with a sibling or a close family member.
It may be difficult to get the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, but it is vital 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 will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more common in the Caatinga and share areas with the Spix's macaws. These birds will assist the macaws adjust to their new surroundings. They will also offer protection by large numbers.