Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also rife with resentment and jealousy.
The first challenge was finding enough birds to exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so it was important to ensure that the pairs were well-matched.
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 small number of the birds that are in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They call the birds their little blue companions and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor who lost his family and was loyal to his home. 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 offered researchers with an opportunity to examine its behavior in the wild and gain an understanding of why this species has survived for so long. This also helped them form a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its eating habits. They also monitored reproduction attempts using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw pair which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild despite a limited gene pool, and it has helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The last bird's survival also motivated people to act to save other species of parrots that are endangered. Zoos have also been enticed to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.
This group is a great illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can collaborate to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international owners of the Spix's macaw, and ornithologists to achieve an aim in common that is the recovery of this rare bird.
The group has completed a lot of work, including preparing a plan for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research, community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction plan. The group has also established a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
Threatened by poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw famous to millions of people worldwide, but this is just the beginning in the long-distance journey to save these birds from the brink. For a long time, a global 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 a native species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This arid area is home to flat savannah scrubland, which is surrounded by galleries and seasonal streams. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, a few captive birds and a handful of museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was established. It was comprised of experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird and government officials. The group formed a collaboration 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 into their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released into the wild. This will create an animal that is genetically pure for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and seldom 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 1/3 of their time in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team to help to track Spix's macaws. Members of the community were given watches that 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 been 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 in the wake of the last wild parrot was lost in 2000, and no more birds were found in subsequent surveys. continue reading this is currently underway to try to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeira trees and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction plan is currently underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are scheduled to be released by 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will share information on food sources, nesting and areas 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 natural history of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better understand what led to its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the fruits, seeds and nuts of a variety of 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 can also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are extremely 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 known to fly fast and high when they are in an ecstatic mood.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, can mimic human speech. They follow a 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 the most sought-after pets and targets for the illegal bird trade.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, all of them poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them susceptible to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are kept in the breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal and causing doubt about future plans to repatriate the birds and reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their precarious number the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, though not at a rapid rate. Keeping them healthy and producing will be crucial for reintroducing these birds to the wild. It is crucial to select the right birds prior to release. Macaws must be reproductive and be paired up with close relatives or siblings.
It could be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back into the wild however, it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These savvy birds will help macaws to become accustomed to the region, and they will provide the security of a large number.