Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with worry and speculation Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully bring a group of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first challenge was obtaining enough birds for the trade. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched well.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw which was declared extinct in 2000, following years of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a small amount of the birds that are in captivity and hope to release them close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue companions and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They call him as a true survivor, who lost his family but kept his faith in the 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 investigate its behavior in wild and gain a better understanding of how the species was able to survive for so long. This enabled researchers to estimate the population of this unique bird more precisely. Researchers were able gather important data about the bird's daily movement patterns and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. They also monitored attempts to reproduce using an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaw pair which was a crucial step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird was able to survive and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and it has also helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The bird's survival has motivated people to act to save other species of endangered parrots. Zoos and other groups to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group of experts is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government Zoo representatives and international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The group has completed a great deal of work. This includes preparing a plan to reintroduce the bird in the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research as well as community outreach and captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction plan. They have also formed a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to fight tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people worldwide however this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long road to save these birds from the edge. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species to a small region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This desert region has flat savannah scrubland and is scattered with galleries and seasonal streams. It was first documented in 1819, and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, a few birds in captivity and a handful of museum specimens.
To preserve the dwindling population, an international committee was established that gathered aviculturists who held the last remaining birds, as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws to their natural environment.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will create the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They typically build nests in tree holes or hollows and forage for fruit, seeds, nuts and other plants. They can spend as much as one third of the time in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was recruited to become part of the field team. The community was given watches that would activate if Spix's Macaws are identified. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild as well as their daily movements. This method has proven successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the family Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last wild parrot disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10 percent 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 Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity were released in 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 sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction program has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, including information about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also provides an insight into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw which helps to discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. They can also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots as well as other birds are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are very vocal harlequin macaw and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound similar to the note of a flutist. 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 through screeching, squawking and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very rigid daily routine, ranging from flight paths to bathing habits, and they can recognize members of their flock. They are popular as pets and are often targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all known Spix's macaws are captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them susceptible to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal and causing doubt about future plans to return the birds and reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their precarious number the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws that weren't 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 rate. Keeping them healthy and producing will be crucial for reintroducing the birds back into the wild. Selecting the right birds to release is also critical. The macaws should be of reproductive age and paired with siblings or close relatives.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's Macaw back into the wild but it is vital to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and share areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new environment and will also offer protection by numbers.