Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully bring a group of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with backbiting and jealousies.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to be traded. 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 decades of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a small number of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue companions, and compare their journey with the story of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They call him a true survivor, who lost his family but remained loyal to the area. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his and feel a strong connection to him.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and gain a better understanding of the reasons why this species has lasted so long. This allowed researchers to determine the historical population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to collect important information about the bird's daily movement patterns and seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. They even monitored reproduction attempts using an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaws which was a crucial step in the rehabilitation of this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and it has also helped scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird encouraged people to take action to save other parrots and threatened species. It also inspired zoos and other organizations to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group is an illustration of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can work together to protect endangered animals and wildlife. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with a common goal to save this rare bird.
The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including the creation of plans for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It also has established a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
Threatened by habitat destruction and poaching, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists, and other experts continue to do their best to bring this iconic bird from the brink extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw famous to millions of people across the globe however this is only the beginning in the long journey to save these birds from the brink. For decades, an international team has been trying to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is native to a small portion of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga an arid area consisting of savannah scrubland flat that is dotted with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was described in 1819 and is one of least-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 In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was formed which brought together aviculturists who had the last remaining birds as well as officials from the government. This group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's into their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, which will provide the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws will live in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They usually nest in hollows or holes in trees and forage for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They will typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements local communities were recruited to become part of the field team. Members of the community were given watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's Macaw was detected, allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This approach has been extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the family Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1, 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.
Cleo female macaws for sale is a part of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction program is now underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. 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 by Blue-winged Macaws. They were reintroduced into the same area, and will help to share information about food sources, nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction program has collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this unique bird, including details on daily movements patterns as well as seasonal adjustments to drought. It has also provided a glimpse into the natural history of the Macaws of Spix, which can help to understand the causes that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of many plants native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in 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 that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic sounds and speech. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief continuous grating sound like a flute note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly high and fast.
why are the glaceous macaw and hyancith macaw so alike are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. Like many other parrots, can mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, including flight patterns and bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them so popular pets and targets for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, with all of them poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since since then all known Spix's macaws are captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture, which is the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them susceptible to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity reside in a breeding center in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled, leaving future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat a sheikh in Qatar to buy from a collector three Spix's macaws which weren't part of the breeding program.
In part, due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. Choosing the right birds for release is also crucial. The macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired up with siblings or close relatives.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, however, it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have created a reserve system to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws get familiar with the area, and they will provide safety in numbers.