Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long time with worry and speculation Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.

The first hurdle was to find enough birds for the trade. These 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 in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They call the birds their blue-eyed friends and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They say he was as a true survivor who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They feel a strong bond to him and view their lives as like his.

Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and better understand how this species has lasted so long. It also allowed them to form a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.

It was a remarkable feat that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a limited gene pool. This has enabled scientists to understand how these birds can be restored to nature. The survival of the last bird also encouraged people to take action to save other parrots as well as endangered species. Zoos are also encouraged to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.

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

The working group has already accomplished a lot of work, including preparing plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. 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 endangered by the destruction of habitats and illegal poaching. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to fight tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions around the world thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. But this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long journey of returning these birds. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity to the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is a native species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This arid region has flat savannah scrubland and is interspersed with seasonal streams and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819, and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, few birds that are kept in captivity and a handful of museum specimens.

To preserve the dwindling population, an international committee was created that gathered aviculturists who had the last remaining birds and government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws into their native environment in northeast Brazil.

AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released in the wild. This will provide the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.

In the wild, Spix's Macaws will live in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts and other plants. They will typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.

To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was recruited to join the field team. The community was given watches that would activate if Spix's Macaws are identified. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily movements. This approach has proven very successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000. No additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project is currently in progress to restore this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.

The northeast region of Brazil is home to about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to eat seeds and nuts.

Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently underway. 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 that were reintroduced into the same area and will help to share knowledge about food sources and nesting and roosting areas.

The reintroduction program has collected valuable biological data about the behavior of the bird, including information about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It has also provided a window into the natural history of the Spix's harlequin macaw, helping to discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild.

Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.

Spix's Macaws, like all parrots as well as other birds are social birds and have close relationships 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 extremely short and repetitive sound that resembles a flutist note. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots they can mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them the most sought-after pets, and also a target for the illegal bird trade.

By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, with all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since the time all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity, mostly in Brazil.

The few Spix's macaws in captivity are a mixture of individuals that are the descendants of only two individuals, making them vulnerable to disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity reside in an breeding center in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government expired which leaves future plans for repatriation and their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.

Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws are showing 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 that weren't part of the breeding program.

In part, due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to increase, though not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they stay healthy and hahns macaw purchase for sale (Going Here) produce. It is essential to choose the right birds prior to release. Macaws must be reproductive and be paired up with siblings or close relatives.

Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could prove difficult, but it is crucial to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws that were recently released will be joined by the Lolita blue & gold macaw-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix’s macaws also live. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new surroundings. They will also provide safety by numbers.