Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time with speculation and worry Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully bring a group of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with jealousy and backbiting.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to be traded. These macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be well-matched.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 due to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a few of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They call them their blue-eyed friends and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They describe Presley 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 like his.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and better understand the reasons why this species has lasted so long. This also helped them create a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather crucial information on the bird's daily movement patterns 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 an important step in the recovery of this species.
It was a marvellous achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed inspired people to take action to save other parrots and endangered species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
Ziggy hyacinth macaw parrots for sale of experts is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international owners of the Spix's macaw, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common: the recovery of this unique bird.
The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird back into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction project. They have also formed a permanent committee to recover 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 work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is known to millions of people around the world thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. This is just the beginning on the long road of returning these birds. For a long time, a global team has been trying to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back 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 that is interspersed with galleries and seasonal streams. It was first described in 1819 and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with only occasional sightings in the wild, a few captive birds and some museum specimens.
To preserve the dwindling population, an international committee was formed which brought together aviculturists who had 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 establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's Macaws to 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 prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released into the wild. This will give an animal that is genetically pure for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees and seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes, and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other plants. They may spend up to 1/3 of their time in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was invited to join the field team. Members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected, allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily movements in the wild. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the family Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot vanished in 2000. No additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan currently underway is trying to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is in progress. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June and 12 more are scheduled to arrive in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will provide information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on the patterns of movement throughout the day and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also opened a window on the natural history of Spix's Macaws, which can help to understand the causes that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are very vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound that resembles an acoustic note. They are well-known for flying fast and high when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of screeching and squawking sounds, and like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their flock. This is why they are the most sought-after pets and targets for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, all of them being poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix, which is the descendant of just two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at an breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal, casting doubt over future plans to repatriate the birds and return them into the wild.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from the collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.
As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce again, although not at a great rate. Keeping them healthy and producing is crucial to reintroduce the birds back into the wild. It is essential to choose the correct birds before release. Macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired up with siblings or close relatives.
It may be difficult to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild but it's important to try. To aid, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that is designed to safeguard 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 prevalent in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These birds will assist the macaws adapt to their new surroundings. They will also ensure safety through numbers.