Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.

The first challenge was finding enough birds to participate in the exchange. 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 number of the birds that are in captivity, and are hoping to release them into the wild near Curaca. They call the birds their little blue companions and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix’s macaw from the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family but was loyal to his home. They feel a strong bond to him and perceive their lives as similar to his.

The discovery of the last Spix’s macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to investigate its behavior in wild and gain a better understanding of why this species survived so long. Researchers were able to estimate the historical population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird’s daily movements and seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. They also observed reproduction attempts using a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw pair which was a significant step in the recovery of this species.

It was an amazing feat that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and it has helped researchers understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other species of endangered parrots. Zoos are also encouraged to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.

This working group is a model for 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 holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists, with a common goal that is the recovery of this rare bird.

The group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes the development of plans to reintroduce the bird in the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to fund field research as well as community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction plan. It also has established a permanent committee for the reintroduction 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 tirelessly work to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.

The Spix’s Macaw is well-known to millions of people all over the world thanks to a popular animated film and two sequels. This is just the tip of the iceberg on the long journey of bringing these birds back. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix’s Macaws raised in captivity to the wild.

The Spix’s Macaw is an indigenous species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This dry area is home to flat savannah scrubland, interspersed with seasonal streams and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819, and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, despite only few glimpses of the wild as well as a few captive birds and some museum specimens.

To save the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was formed. It was comprised of aviculturists who held the last remaining bird, as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix’s macaws into their native environment in northeast Brazil.

AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also raising and breeding birds to be released into the wild, thereby providing an incredibly pure genetic source of animals for future generations.

In the wild, Spix’s Macaws reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They typically nest in hollows or holes in trees and forage for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.

A local community was enlisted as part of the field team in order to help to track Spix’s macaws. The community was provided with watches that would activate if the Spix’s Macaw was identified. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This method has proven successful.

Diet

The Spix’s Macaw is the only species belonging to the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot was lost in 2000, and no more birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, severe macaw is currently in progress to return this critically endangered bird back to its natural home in the Caatinga.

The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% of the entire country. Spix’s Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.

A reintroduction plan is currently underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix’s Macaw. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.

The reintroduction program has collected valuable biological data about the behavior of the bird, including information about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also opened a window on the nature of Spix’s Macaws, which can help to understand the causes that led to their decline.

Spix’s Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of a myriad of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. They may also consume the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Spix’s Macaws like all parrots as well as other birds are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called “whichaka,” described as a short and repetitive grating sound that resembles a flutist note. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high.

Breeding

Spix’s macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots they can mimic human speech. great green macaw have a strict routine that includes routines for bathing and flight. They can also recognize other members of their flock. They are adored as pets and are often targeted by illegal trade in birds due to this.

In the early 1980s only three Spix’s macaws survived in the wild, all of them poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds as part of an attempt to pair them. Since since then, all Spix’s Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.

The Spix’s Macaws in captivity are a mix, which is the descendant of just two individuals. This makes them susceptible to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are kept in a 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 return the birds and return them back into the wild.

Despite their precarious number the captive-bred Spix’s macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix’s Macaws from a collector.

In part due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is starting to increase, though not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds for release is also critical. Macaws must be of reproductive age and paired with siblings or close relatives.

It may be difficult to get the Spix’s Macaw back to the wild, however, it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have created reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix’s macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and share areas with the Spix’s macaws. These birds will help macaws adapt to their new surroundings. They will also offer protection by numbers.