Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period filled with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully bring a group of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to participate in the exchange. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed to be matched properly.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. The bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They call the birds little blue companions, and compare their experience with the story of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They call him a true survivor, who lost his family but remained loyal to the area. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as similar to his, and they feel a deep connection with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered researchers with an opportunity to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of why this species has survived for so long. It also helped them make a more precise estimate of the historic population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird's movements throughout the day and seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird was able endure and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and it has helped scientists understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The last bird's survival also encouraged people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. This has also encouraged zoos to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.
Ziggy hyacinth macaw parrots for sale serves as a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to conserve endangered wildlife and endangered animals. homesite consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw, and ornithologists to achieve a common goal that is the recovery of this endangered bird.
The group has already achieved a lot of work. This includes preparing plans to reintroduce the bird in the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was endangered due to habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird back from the brink extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's Macaw known to millions of people around the world However, this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long road to save these birds from the brink. For a long time, a global team has been trying to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga an arid area of savannah scrubland that is flat, interspersed with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, despite only few glimpses of the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was established which brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining birds as well as officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's Macaws into their native environment in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will create the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and search for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other plants. They typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team to help identify Spix's Macaws. The members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected, allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species in the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last known wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. A reintroduction plan is in progress to try to bring this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil covers approximately 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently in progress. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June and 12 more are scheduled to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced to the same area and will assist to share information about food sources and nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of the bird, which includes details of the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also provides a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw which helps to understand what led to its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume 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), along with the joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots as well as other birds are social birds that have close relationships with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short, repetitive grating sound like a flute note. They are often seen flying fast and high when they are in the mood to breed.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also have a strict daily routine, from flights to bathing routines, and they can recognize members of their family. They are very popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws in captivity are a mix of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, leaving them at risk of disease and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in the breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed and causing doubt about future plans to return the birds and then reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their low numbers 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.
In part due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, but not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds before release. The macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired with siblings or close relatives.
The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it's important to try. To aid, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which will help to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that 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 are also. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new surroundings. They will also provide safety by numbers.