Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period filled with speculation and worry Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully bring a group of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with jealousies and backbiting.
The first challenge was to get enough birds for the trade. These macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched properly.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a few of the birds that are in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They describe him as a true survivor who lost his family but kept his faith in his region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his and feel a strong affinity 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 better understanding of why this species has survived for so long. This allowed researchers to estimate the historical population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird's daily movements and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able endure and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and it has also helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other species of endangered parrots. It also inspired zoos and other organizations to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government Zoo representatives and international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists with a common goal - the recovery of the Spix's Macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes developing plans to reintroduce the bird in the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research and community outreach as well as captive-breed birds for the reintroduction program. It has also established an ongoing committee to oversee the reintroduction of the bird.
Habitat
Threatened by poaching and habitat destruction, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions around the world thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. This is just the beginning on the long-distance road to bringing these birds back. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a tiny area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga which is an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, that is dotted with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with occasional sightings in the wild and 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 established. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird, as well as government officials. The group forged a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws to their natural habitat.
AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released in the wild. This will create the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and are seldom seen on the ground. They usually nest in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local community was recruited to join the field team. The members of the community were given watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was observed, 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 (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and no more birds were observed in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction program is currently underway to try to bring this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil is home to about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. 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 in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will provide information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction program has collected vital biological data about the behavior of this unique bird, including information on the patterns of movement throughout the day and adjustments to drought during the season. It also has opened a window on the nature of the Spix's Macaws. This aids in understanding the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of many plants that are 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 palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or www.Buy-macaw.com mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other birds are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive noise similar to a flutist note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they are able to mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. They are popular as pets and are frequently targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, with all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of an attempt to pair them. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture that descends of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity reside in a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out, leaving the possibility of repatriation or their reintroduction into the wild 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 the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, though not at a high rate. Maintaining their health and generating will be crucial for reintroducing these birds to the wild. It is crucial to select the right birds before releasing them. The macaws need to be reproductively mature and should be joined by one of their siblings or a close relatives.
It may be difficult to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild, but it is vital to try. To aid, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also live. These smart birds will help the macaws become more accustomed to the region, and they will provide security in large numbers.