Melody Blue Spix Macaw

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

The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds for the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs needed 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 habitat loss. They have a small number of the birds that are in captive, and hope to release them in the wild near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little Melody blue spix macaw friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him a true survivor, who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as similar to his, and they feel a deep connection with him.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided a valuable opportunity for researchers to investigate its behavior in wild and gain a better understanding of why this species was able to survive for this long. Researchers were able to estimate the population of this unique bird more precisely. Researchers were able to collect important information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid Blondie scarlet macaw bird couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.

It was a remarkable feat that this bird was able to endure and thrive in the wild with such an insufficient gene pool and it has helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos are also encouraged to establish their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.

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

The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including preparing a plan for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research, community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction project. The group has also established a permanent committee to save the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was endangered through the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to fight tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions around the world thanks to a popular animated film and two sequels. This is just the tip of the iceberg on the long road of bringing these birds back. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity to the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This dry area is home to flat savannah scrubland, which is surrounded by galleries and streams that flow through the season. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with few glimpses of the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.

To protect the population that is declining, an international committee was created that gathered aviculturists who were the last to hold the birds, as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws back to their natural habitat.

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

In the wild, Spix's macaws reside in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes, and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other plants. They will typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.

To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local group was recruited to become part of the field team. The members of the community were given watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's Macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep track of the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This approach has been extremely successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to the genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is currently underway to try to bring this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.

The northeast region of Brazil comprises about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also known to feed on seeds and nuts.

Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is in progress. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.

The reintroduction programme has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of the bird, including information about the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also has provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Macaws of Spix, which helps to understand the factors that led to their disappearance.

Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a myriad 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.

Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic other sounds and words. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief continuous grating sound like a flute note. When they are in a breeding mode they can fly fast and high.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, including routines for bathing and flight. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. They are adored as pets and are often targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this.

By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, and all of them being poached. A plan to pair the male and female defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.

The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture that descends of just two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity reside in a breeding centre in Germany. However this year an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled which leaves the possibility of repatriation or reintroduction into the wild in doubt.

Despite their precarious number of captive-bred Spix's macaws, captive-bred species show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws for the collector.

In part because of this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a speedy pace. Maintaining their health and generating is crucial to reintroduce the birds into the wild. It is essential to choose the right birds before release. Macaws must be reproductive and paired with siblings or close relatives.

Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it is important to try. ABC and its partners have created reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by Leia blue macaw and red macaw-winged macaws, which are more common in the Caatinga and share areas with the Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws become accustomed to their new surroundings and will also offer protection by the sheer numbers.