Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period of worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.

The first hurdle was to find enough birds to be traded. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was essential to match the pairs well.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered Spix's macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a tiny population of the birds kept in captivity and they hope to release them in the wild near Curaca. They call the birds their little blue friends and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw price from the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor who lost his family and was loyal to his home. They see their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and they feel a strong connection to him.

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. This also helped them create a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able gather important information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and its eating habits. They also observed attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws, which was an important step in the rehabilitation of this species.

It was a marvellous feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has allowed scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The last bird's survival also motivated people to act to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos have also been enticed to create their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.

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

The group has accomplished a lot of work, including the creation of plans for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds for field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction program. It also has established an ongoing committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was threatened through habitat destruction and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to tirelessly work to bring this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.

A well-known animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw famous to millions of people across the globe However, this is only the beginning in the long-distance journey to save these birds from the brink. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity into the wild.

The Spix's macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga an arid area of savannah scrubland that is flat, interspersed with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, with a few birds in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens.

To preserve the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was formed. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and government officials. This group formed a partnership 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 natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.

AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, providing the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.

In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and forage to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plants. They typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.

A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to help track Spix's Macaws. Members of the community were provided watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's Macaw was detected, allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their movements throughout the wild. This approach has been extremely successful.

Diet

The Spix's mini macaw for sale is the only species in the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is currently underway to try to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.

This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.

Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is in progress. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June and buy macaw parrot 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that were reintroduced into the same area and will assist to share information about food sources, nesting and roosting locations.

The reintroduction programme has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, including details about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It has also provided a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better determine the causes that led to its disappearance in the wild.

Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many plants 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). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.

Spix's Macaws like all parrots and other bird species are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound similar to an acoustic note. They are known to fly fast and high when they are in an ecstatic mood.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also adhere to a strict routine for their day, from the flight path to bathing habits, and they can recognize the members of their flock. This is why they are the most sought-after pets and a target for illegal trade in birds.

In the early 1980s, just three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.

The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix of birds, and are the descendant of just two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed, casting doubt over future plans to return the birds and then reintroduce them into the wild.

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

As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a great rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the correct birds before releasing them. The macaws need to be reproductively mature and be paired with one of their siblings or a close relatives.

It may be difficult to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild, however, it is essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which is designed to safeguard the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga, and they live in areas where to buy a macaw (www.lightingandsoundamerica.com published a blog post) the Spix’s macaws are also. These birds will assist the macaws adapt to their new surroundings and will also offer protection by numbers.