Melody Blue Spix Macaw

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

The first challenge was to get enough birds to trade. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed 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 decades of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small number of the birds that are in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue friends, and compare their experience to that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family and was loyal to his home. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his, and they feel a strong connection to him.

Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and better understand the reasons why this species has survived for so long. This also helped them form a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able gather important information on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery for this species.

It was a remarkable feat that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild despite a limited gene pool, and it has also helped researchers understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The bird's survival has encouraged people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. It also inspired 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 collaborate to save endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common to save this rare bird.

The group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes developing an approach to reintroduce this bird in the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research as well as community outreach and captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction plan. It also has established a permanent committee for the reintroduction of the bird.

Habitat

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

A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's buy macaw bird, enquiry, recognizable to millions of people around the world however this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long-distance journey to save these birds from the edge. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity to the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is native to a small portion of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga, an arid region of flat savannah scrubland scattered with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is among of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with only few glimpses of the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.

To save the declining population, an international group was established. It was comprised of aviculturists who held the last remaining bird and officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.

AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released into the wild. This will give a genetically-pure source of animals for the future generations.

In the wild, spix macaw characteristics's Macaws are found in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes, and hunt in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.

To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local group was invited to join the field team. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if a Spix's Macaw is recognized. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild as well as their daily movements. This method has proven to be successful.

Diet

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

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

A reintroduction program is now underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.

The reintroduction programme has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, which includes details of the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It has also provided an insight into the natural history of the spix macaw lifespan's Macaw which helps to understand what led to its extinction in the wild.

Spix's do macaws make good pets consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a variety of plants that are native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas Brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and the Joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute note. They are often seen flying high and fast when they are in the mood to breed.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. As with many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They also have a strict routine for their day, from flights to bathing routines, and they can recognize members of their family. This is why they are the most sought-after pets and a target for the illegal bird trade.

In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, with all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of the hope of pairing them. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.

The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are a mixture of individuals that are the descendants of just two individuals, which makes them at risk of disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity are kept in an breeding center in Germany. However this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled, leaving future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.

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

In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, but not at a high rate. Maintaining their health and generating will be crucial for reintroducing these birds to the wild. Selecting the right birds for release is also crucial. The macaws need to be in a reproductive stage and be paired with one of their siblings or a close family member.

Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it is important to try. To aid, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix’s macaws are also. These smart birds will help the macaws become more familiar with the area and will offer the security of a large number.