Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with resentment and jealousy.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed to be matched well.
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 small number of the birds that are in captivity and are hoping to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They call them their blue-eyed friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They say he was a true survivor, who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and they feel a strong connection to him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to investigate its behavior in wild and gain an understanding of how this species has survived for this long. It also helped them form a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important data about the bird's daily movements, seasonal adjustment to drought and its food habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery for this species.
It was a remarkable achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has helped scientists to better understand how these birds can be returned to nature. The bird's survival has encouraged people to take action to save other species of endangered parrots. Zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group is a great illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can work together in order to conserve endangered wildlife and animals. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists, with an aim in common: the recovery of this endangered bird.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes the development of a plan to reintroduce the bird in the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds for field research, community outreach and captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction plan. The group has also established a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered through habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is well-known 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-distance road to returning these birds. For a long time, a global team has been trying to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is a native species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This dry area is home to flat savannah scrubland and is which is surrounded by galleries and streams that flow through the season. It was first described in 1819, and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with sporadic sightings from the wild as well as a few captive birds and some museum specimens.
To preserve the dwindling population, an international committee was formed that gathered aviculturists who were the last to hold the birds, as well as government officials. This group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws in their native environment.
AWWP has bought and is recovering 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released into the wild. This will provide the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and seldom seen on the ground. They typically nest in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruit, seeds, nuts and other plants. They will typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local group was recruited to become part of the field team. 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 to be successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil comprises about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is in progress. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are scheduled to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting and places to roost.
The reintroduction program has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this rare bird, including information on daily movements patterns as well as adjustments to drought during the season. It has also provided a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, helping to understand what led to its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of numerous plants native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas Brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and 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, like all parrots and other bird species are social birds and form close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic sounds and speech. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a short, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute. When they are in breeding mode, they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They also follow a very rigid daily routine, ranging from flights to bathing routines and are able to recognize the members of their flock. They are adored as pets and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds 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 as part of a plan 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 of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are in the breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal which raises doubt about the future plans to repatriate the birds and reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their petty numbers of captive-bred Spix's macaws, captive-bred species show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from the collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a great rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the right birds before releasing them. Macaws must be at a reproductive age and be paired with an older sibling or close family member.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could prove difficult, but it is important to try. ABC and its partners have developed a reserve where to get a macaw system to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws get accustomed to the region and will offer safety in numbers.