Melody blue spix macaw (no title)

After a long time with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with jealousies and backbiting.

The first obstacle was getting enough birds to participate in the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, therefore 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 population of the birds in captive, and they hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue companions and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong kinship to him and perceive their lives as like his.

Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and gain a better understanding of how this species has survived so long. It also allowed them to make a more precise estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce with a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple, which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.

It was a remarkable feat that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild despite an insufficient gene pool and it has helped researchers understand how these birds could be returned to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed motivated people to act to save other parrots as well as threatened species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.

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

The group has accomplished a lot of work, including preparing a plan for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund 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 reintroduction of the bird.

Habitat

At risk due to poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.

A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's Macaw known to millions of people worldwide however this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long journey to bring these birds back from the edge. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity to the wild.

The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga, an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat interspersed with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was described in 1819, and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, with a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.

To preserve the dwindling population An international committee was created which brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining birds, as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.

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

In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees and are seldom 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 as much as one third of the time in the nest.

A local community was selected as part of the field team to help track Spix's Macaws. Members of the community were provided watches which could be activated if the Spix's Fiona hyacinth macaw bird for sale was detected which allowed them to keep an eye on the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This method has proven to be successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to the genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction program currently underway is trying to return this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in Caatinga.

The northeast region of Brazil is home to about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.

A reintroduction program is now underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's hythian macaw for sale. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will provide information on food sources, nesting sites and roosting locations.

The reintroduction program has collected valuable biological data about the behavior of this bird, which includes details of daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also opened a window on the evolution of Spix's Macaws, which can help to understand the causes that led to their extinction.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of a myriad of plants 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 also eat the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive noise similar to an acoustic note. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. As with many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their family. They are popular as pets and are frequently targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this.

In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds in a plan to pair them. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.

The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture that descends of just two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are housed at the breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed and causing doubt about future plans to return the birds and then reintroduce them back into the wild.

Despite their petty numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws for the collector.

As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce again, although not at a great rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds prior to release. Macaws must be in a reproductive stage and should be joined by one of their siblings or a close relative.

Bringing the Spix's Darling hahns macaw back to the wild could be difficult, but it's important to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more common in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws become more accustomed to the region and will offer security in large numbers.