Melody blue spix macaw cage (what is it worth)

After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational however, it is also filled with jealousies and backbiting.

The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs needed to be well-matched.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered 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 that are in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They call them their little Lolita blue & gold macaw friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as an authentic survivor who lost his family but kept his faith in his region. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as being similar to his, and they feel a strong connection to him.

Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and better understand how this species has lasted so long. It also allowed them to make a more precise estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather crucial information on the bird's movements throughout the day, seasonal adjustment 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 for this species.

It was a remarkable feat that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and has helped researchers understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The bird's survival has inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos are also encouraged to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.

This working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government, zoo representatives and international owners of this unique bird and ornithologists together with one common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.

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 support community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.

Habitat

Endangered by 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 edge of extinction.

The Spix's macaw cage is recognizable to millions of people all over the globe thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. This is just the beginning on the long-distance road to bringing these birds back. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity to the wild.

The Spix's macaw is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga, an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was described in 1819 and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, with a few birds that are kept in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens.

To preserve the dwindling population An international committee was formed that brought together aviculturists that had the last remaining birds, as well as government officials. The group formed a collaboration 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 natural habitat in northeast Brazil.

AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, which will provide a genetically pure source of animals for future generations.

Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and search for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend as much as one third of their day in the nest.

A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to assist to track Spix's macaws. The members of the community were provided watches which could be activated if the Spix's severe macaw was observed which allowed them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their movements throughout the wild. This approach has been very successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the family Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was in the wake of the last wild parrot was lost in 2000 and no additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction program is in the process of trying to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga.

This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 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 currently underway. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws that have been reintroduced and will provide information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.

The reintroduction program has obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, including details about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also provides a window into the natural history of the Spix's Tallula indigo park mollie macaw and helped to better determine the causes that led to its disappearance in the wild.

Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of many plants that are native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other birds are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound that resembles an acoustic note. When they are in breeding mode, they are known to fly fast and high.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict routine for their day, from flights to bathing routines, and they can recognize the members of their flock. This is why they are so popular pets and a target for the illegal bird trade.

In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since since then the Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity, mostly in Brazil.

The few Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, making them at risk of disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity live at a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government ran out, leaving the future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.

Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from the 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 starting to increase, though not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the right birds before release. Macaws must be reproductively mature and should be in a relationship with a sibling or a close family member.

Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild could prove difficult, but it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws are going to 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 accustomed to the region, and they will provide security in large numbers.