Melody Blue Spix Macaw

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

The first hurdle was to get enough birds to trade. The macaws were monogamous so it was essential to ensure that the pairs were 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 few of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They call them 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 was loyal to the region. They feel a strong bond to him and perceive their lives as like his.

Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's macaw parrot cost wild, and gain a better understanding of the reasons why this species has survived so long. This allowed researchers to estimate the population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able gather important data about the bird's movements throughout the day and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery for this species.

It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild despite an insufficient gene pool and it has also helped scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other parrots as well as threatened species. Zoos are also encouraged to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.

This group is a good example of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can work together in order to conserve endangered wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials, zoo representatives, international holders of this rare bird, and ornithologists with a common goal - the recovery of the Spix's macaw.

The working group has already completed a lot of work, including the creation of plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed an ongoing committee to help recover the bird.

Habitat

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

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

The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species to a small region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This desert area is home to flat savannah scrubland, scattered with seasonal streams and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with only sporadic sightings from the wild, a few captive birds and some museum specimens.

To save the declining population, an international committee was established that brought together aviculturists that had the last remaining birds as well as officials from the government. 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 native environment in northeast Brazil.

AWWP has bought and is recovering 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released into the wild. This will give the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.

Spix's Macaws can be found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They will typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.

To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements local communities were recruited to become part of the field team. The members of the community were given watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected which allowed them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily activities in the wild. This approach has been extremely successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and no more birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is currently underway to try to restore this critically threatened bird to its native home in the Caatinga.

This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.

Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. 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 in the area by a group of Lolita blue & gold macaw-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost.

The reintroduction program has collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this unique bird, which includes details about the patterns of movement throughout the day and adjustments to drought during the season. It also provides a window into the natural history of the Spix's severe macaw which helps to determine the causes that led to its disappearance in the wild.

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 linhas Brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They can also eat the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that bond closely with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound similar to the note of a flutist. When they are in breeding mode, they are known to fly high and fast.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, can mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, which includes flight patterns and bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their family. They are adored as pets, and are frequently targeted by the illegal trade in birds due to this.

In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since the time all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.

The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are made up of individuals that are the descendants of just two individuals, making them susceptible to illness and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity reside in a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled and the possibility of repatriation or reintroduction into the wild in doubt.

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

In part, due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to increase, though not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. Choosing the right birds to release is equally important. The macaws should be reproductive and be paired with close relatives or siblings.

The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it's important to try. ABC and its partners have created a reserve system to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws that were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These birds will help macaws adapt to their new surroundings. They will also offer protection by numbers.