Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. The macaws were monogamous so it was important to match the pairs well.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw which was declared extinct in 2000 after years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small population of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue companions, and compare their journey to the journey of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family, but kept his faith in his region. They see their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and they feel a strong affinity with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to study its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of how this species was able to survive for such a long time. This enabled researchers to estimate the population of this rare bird more accurately. Researchers were able to gather important data about the bird's daily movements and seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. They also observed attempts to reproduce using an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaw pair, which was an important step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild despite an insufficient gene pool and it has also helped scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other species of parrots that are endangered. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
glaucous macaw working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw, and ornithologists to achieve a common goal to save this rare bird.
The group has achieved a lot of work. This includes the development of plans to reintroduce the bird in the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up an ongoing committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to habitat destruction and poaching, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people across the globe, but this is just the tip of the iceberg in the long journey to save these birds from the brink. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species to a small region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This arid region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland and is scattered with seasonal streams and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, despite only occasional sightings in the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population, an international group was formed. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird as well as government officials. This group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws back to their natural environment.
AWWP has bought and is restoring 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released into the wild. This will give the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws reside in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and search for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other species. They will 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 group was recruited to become part of the field team. The community was given watches that would activate if the Spix's Macaw was detected. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily movements. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the family Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000. No additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction programme is in the process of attempting to bring back this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction plan is currently in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws. They have been released back into the same area, and will help to share information about food sources, nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction program has collected valuable biological data about the behavior of this bird, which includes details of daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also has opened a window on the evolution of Spix's Macaws, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a myriad of plants 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). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating noise similar to an acoustic 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 by screeching, squawking and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also have a rigid daily routine, ranging from flight paths to bathing habits and are able to recognize members of their family. They are very popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, with all of them poached. A plan to pair the male and female foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mixture of individuals that are the descendants of just two individuals, which makes them vulnerable to disease and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in an breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 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 then reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their precarious number 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 in Qatar to purchase from the collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
In part due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, though not at a rapid rate. Maintaining their health and generating is crucial to reintroduce the birds into the wild. It is crucial to select the correct birds before release. Macaws should be reproductively mature and be joined by a sibling or a close relatives.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could prove difficult, but it's important to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which is designed to safeguard the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who 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 are also. These savvy birds will help the macaws become more used to the region, and they will provide safety in numbers.