Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with jealousy and backbiting.
The first hurdle was to get enough birds to trade. buy-macaw were monogamous so it was essential to match the pairs well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small amount of the birds in captivity and hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to them as their blue-eyed friends and compare their journey with that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor who lost his family, but kept his faith in the region. They feel a strong bond to him and view their lives as like his.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and gain a better understanding of how this species has survived so long. It also allowed them to create a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able gather important information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and eating habits. They even monitored attempts at reproduction with a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a marvellous feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has helped scientists to better understand how these birds can be returned to nature. The survival of the last bird encouraged people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos have also been enticed to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This group of experts is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with a common goal that is the recovery of this unique bird.
The group has accomplished a lot of work. This includes preparing plans to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
Threatened by habitat destruction and poaching, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to fight tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's Macaw known to millions of people worldwide, but this is just the beginning of the iceberg in the long journey to save these birds from the edge. For decades, an international 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 native to a small area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga an arid area consisting of savannah scrubland flat scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819, and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, despite only sporadic sightings from the wild as well as a few captive birds and some museum specimens.
To protect the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was formed. It brought together experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird and government officials. This group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime 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 are usually found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in hollows or tree holes and hunt for fruits as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend as much as one third of the time in the nest.
A local community was recruited as part of the field team to help track Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw is detected. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild as well as their daily activities. This approach has been extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw 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 following the disappearance of the last wild parrot disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is in progress to try to bring this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction program is now underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged macaws that have been reintroduced and will share information on food sources, nesting and places to roost.
The reintroduction programme has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of this bird, including details about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also provides an insight into the nature of the Spix's Macaw which helps to understand what led to its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and 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 Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are very vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief repeated grating sound that is like a flute note. They are often seen flying fast and high when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they are able to mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, which includes routines for bathing and flight. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. This is why they are so popular pets and targets for the illegal bird trade.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, with all of them poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of an attempt to pair them. Since the time, all known Spix's macaws are captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at a breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal and causing doubt about future plans to return the birds and return them back into the wild.
Despite their petty numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a high rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is essential to choose the right birds before releasing them. The macaws should be of reproductive age and paired with close relatives or siblings.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, but it's important to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws become more used to the region and provide the security of a large number.