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 filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first obstacle was to find enough birds to be traded. The 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 habitat loss. They have a few of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They call the birds little blue companions, and compare their journey with that of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family and remained loyal to his area. They see their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his and feel a strong affinity with him.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and better understand the reasons why this species has survived for so long. Researchers were able to determine the historical population of this unique bird more precisely. Researchers were able gather important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its eating habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce with a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was an important step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able endure and thrive in the wild with such an insufficient gene pool and it has helped scientists understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed motivated people to act in order to save other parrots and endangered species. Zoos have also been enticed to establish their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.
This group of experts is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists, with an aim in common that is the recovery of this unique bird.
The group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes preparing an approach to reintroduce this bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research and community outreach as well as captive-breed birds for the reintroduction project. It has also established a permanent committee for the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered due to habitat destruction and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions around the world due to a popular animated film and two sequels. This is just the beginning on the long road of bringing these birds back. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and bring back Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a small portion of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga, an arid region of flat savannah scrubland that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was described in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, with a few captive birds and a handful of museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was established. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird as well as officials from the government. This group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws back to their natural habitat.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, which will provide an incredibly pure genetic source of animals for future generations.
In Lolita blue & gold macaw , Spix's macaws reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and search in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They may spend up to one third of their day in the nest.
A local community was recruited as part of the field team in order to help to track Spix's macaws. Members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's macaw was observed and thereby allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily movements in the wild. This approach has proven very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot vanished in 2000. No additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project currently underway is trying to return this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees and were known to feed on seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction program is now underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released 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 programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of the bird, which includes details of the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It has also provided a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better understand what led to its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of many species 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 may also consume the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound similar to the note of a flutist. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in the mood to breed.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other through a range of screeching and squawking sounds. Like many other parrots, can mimic human speech. They also have a strict routine for their day, from the flight path to bathing habits and are able to recognize members of their family. They are adored as pets, and are frequently targeted by the illegal bird trade because of this.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds as part of a plan to pair them. Since the time, all Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture that descends of only two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity are kept in a breeding centre in Germany. However this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out which leaves the possibility of repatriation or the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
In part because of this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a rapid pace. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it will be important to reintroducing the birds back into the wild. It is crucial to select the right birds before releasing them. The macaws should be reproductive and be paired up with close relatives or siblings.
It may be difficult to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild but it is vital to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws that were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix’s macaws also live. These savvy birds will help the macaws get accustomed to the region and provide safety in numbers.