Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period filled with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully bring a group of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational however, it is also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first obstacle was to get enough birds to be traded. These macaws are monogamous, therefore 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. The bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a tiny population of the birds in captive, and hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to them as little blue companions, and compare their journey with the story of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as an authentic survivor who lost his family and kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong connection to him and perceive their lives as like his.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and to better understand the reasons why this species has survived so long. Researchers were able to determine the historical population of this rare bird more precisely. Researchers were able to gather important information about the bird's daily movement patterns and its seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. They also monitored reproduction attempts using an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaw pair, which was an important step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able to survive and thrive in the wild with such an insufficient gene pool and it has helped scientists understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird also inspired people to take action in order to save other parrots as well as endangered species. Zoos are also encouraged to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.
This group serves as a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials, zoo representatives and international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists with a common goal - the recovery of the Spix's macaw.
The group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes developing plans to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds for field research and community outreach as well as captive-breed birds for the reintroduction plan. They have also formed an ongoing committee to help recover the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was threatened due to the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A popular animated movie and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw famous to millions of people around the world However, this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long road to save these birds from the edge. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a tiny area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga, an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat that is dotted with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, despite only sporadic sightings from the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was created. It was comprised of aviculturists who held the last remaining bird, as well as government officials. The group forged a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws to their natural environment.
AWWP has bought and is recovering 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will create a genetically-pure source of animals 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 forage to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They may spend up to 1/3 of their time in the nest.
To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local group was recruited to join the field team. Members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected which allowed them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily movements in the wild. This method has proven to be successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot vanished in 2000, and no more birds were observed in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction programme is in the process of attempting to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees and were known to eat nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction plan is currently underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released by 2022. Ziggy hyacinth macaw parrots for sale will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws, which have been reintroduced to the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has collected vital biological data about the behavior of this bird, including details about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also has provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Spix's Macaws. This aids in understanding the causes that led to their disappearance.
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 the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and 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, Spix's Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive noise similar to an acoustic note. When they are in a breeding mode, they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict routine for their day, from flight paths to bathing habits and can identify the members of their flock. This is why they are so popular pets and a target for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
Ziggy hyacinth macaw parrots for sale of Spix's macaws kept in captivity are made up of individuals that are the descendants of just two individuals, making them at risk of disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in the breeding center in Germany however, this year 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 reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their precarious number, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws for the collector.
As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds before releasing them. Macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired with siblings or close relatives.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could be difficult, but it is important to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which will help to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more common in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These savvy birds will help the macaws become more accustomed to the region, and they will provide security in large numbers.