Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long time with worry and speculation Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with resentment and jealousy.

The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to be traded. Macaws are monogamous, therefore the pairs had to be well-matched.

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 number of the birds kept in captivity and hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They call the birds their little blue companions and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's chestnut fronted macaw for sale in the wild. They describe Presley as an authentic survivor who lost his family, but was loyal to his home. 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 in wild, and to better understand how this species has lasted so long. This also helped them make a more precise estimation of the historical population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to collect important information about the bird's daily movements and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.

It was a marvellous feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a limited gene pool. This has allowed scientists to understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed inspired people to take action in order to save other parrots as well as threatened species. This has also encouraged zoos to create their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.

This group serves as a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to conserve endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from the government, zoo representatives as well as international owners of this unique bird and ornithologists together with one common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw.

The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird back into the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the rehabilitation of the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago, the Spix's macaw Bird toys (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was threatened due to habitat destruction and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to tirelessly work to save this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.

A well-known animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people across the globe However, this is only the beginning in the long journey to bring these birds back from the brink. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity back into the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species to a small region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This arid region has flat savannah scrubland that is interspersed with galleries and seasonal streams. It was first described in 1819, and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, with a few birds in captivity and a few museum specimens.

To protect the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was formed. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird, as well as government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.

AWWP has bought and is recovering 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will provide the genetically pure source of animals for the 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 hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts and other plants. They can spend up to one third of the time in the nest.

A local community was selected as part of the field team to assist track Spix's Macaws. Members of the community were provided watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily activities in the wild. This approach has proven very successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the family Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. A reintroduction plan is in progress to try to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.

This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.

Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is in progress. 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. They will be joined by a group Blue-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting and areas to roost.

The reintroduction programme has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique bird, including information on daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought during the season. It has also opened a window on the natural history of the Macaws of Spix, which helps to understand the factors that led to their decline.

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

Spix's Macaws like all parrots and other birds are social birds and have close relationships with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive noise similar to an acoustic note. They are known to fly high and fast when they are in the mood to breed.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They also have a strict daily routine, from flight paths to bathing habits and can identify the members of their flock. This is why they are the most sought-after pets and targets for illegal bird trade.

In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, and all of them poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since the time the Spix's macaws have been captive-bred mostly in Brazil.

The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mix of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, leaving them vulnerable to disease and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are housed at an breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed which raises doubt about the future plans to return the birds and return them back into the wild.

Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.

In part because of this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, though not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the right birds prior to release. Macaws must be at a reproductive age and be joined by an older sibling or close family member.

It's not easy to bring the Spix's buy macaw bird back to the wild, however, it is essential to try. To help, ABC and macaw bird toys partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and are found in areas where to buy macaw the Spix’s macaws are also. These birds will help macaws adapt to their new surroundings. They will also offer protection by large numbers.