Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period filled with uncertainty and fear, Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully bring a group of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with backbiting and jealousy.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to trade. 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 small amount of the birds in captivity and hope to release them close to Curaca. They call the birds little blue companions, and compare their lives to the journey of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They call him as a true survivor who lost his family but remained loyal to the area. They feel a strong kinship to him and perceive their lives as like his.
The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain an understanding of why this species has survived for so long. This also helped them make a more precise estimate of the historic numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able gather crucial information on the bird's daily movements and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. They even monitored attempts at reproduction with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw pair, which was an important step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has enabled scientists understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The last bird's survival also inspired people to take action to save other species of endangered parrots. Zoos are also encouraged to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.
This group serves as a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to conserve endangered wildlife and endangered animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists, with one goal in common: the recovery of this endangered bird.
The working group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes the development of a plan to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to support field research, community outreach and captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction program. It also has established an ongoing committee to oversee the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
Endangered by poaching and habitat destruction, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to fight tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw famous to millions of people across the globe However, this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long journey to bring these birds back from the edge. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and bring back captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is native to a small portion of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga which is an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819, and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with sporadic sightings from the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To protect the declining population, an international group was established. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird as well as officials from the government. This group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's Macaws into their native environment in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released in the wild. This will create the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and forage in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team to assist identify Spix's Macaws. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected, allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their movements throughout the wild. This method has proven successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw 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. No additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project is in the process of trying to restore this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil is home to about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also known to feed on 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 in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction programme has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of the bird, which includes details of the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Spix's Macaws. This aids in understanding the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a variety of plants that are native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia), along with the Joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). 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 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 note. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly high and fast.
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 also adhere to a rigid daily routine, ranging from flights to bathing routines and can identify members of their family. This is what makes them such popular pets and targets for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, with all of them poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture, which is the descendant of only two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws get more info in captivity reside in an breeding center in Germany. However this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government expired which leaves the future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the right birds before releasing them. Macaws should be at a reproductive age and be in a relationship with an older sibling or close relatives.
It could be difficult to get the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, however, it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also live. These birds will help macaws adjust to their new surroundings. They will also provide safety by the sheer numbers.