Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first obstacle was obtaining enough birds to trade. Macaws are monogamous, so it was important to match the pairs 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 number of the birds that are in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They refer to them as little blue friends, and compare their experience with that of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family and remained loyal to his area. They feel a strong bond to him and perceive their lives as being similar to his.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and to better understand the reasons why this species has lasted so long. This also helped them create a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to gather important data about the bird's daily movement patterns and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery for this species.
It was a marvellous feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has allowed scientists understand how these birds can be returned 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 develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.
This working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists, with a common goal: the recovery of this endangered bird.
The group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes developing a plan to reintroduce 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 program. The group has also set up an ongoing committee to oversee the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is known to millions of people around the world thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. This is just the beginning on the long road of returning these birds. An international team 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 to a small region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This arid area is home to flat savannah scrubland and is scattered with galleries and seasonal streams. It was first described in 1819, and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with only occasional sightings in the wild as well as a few captive birds and some museum specimens.
To protect the population that is declining An international committee was established that gathered aviculturists who were the last to hold the birds and government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will give an animal that is genetically pure for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They typically build nests in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruits seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They will typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local group was recruited to become part of the field team. The community was provided with watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw is detected. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This approach has proven very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species of 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 to be identified disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction project is currently in progress to restore this critically endangered bird back to its natural home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of 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.
hahns macaw for sale is in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws. They have been reintroduced to the same area and will help to share knowledge of food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has already collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this unique bird, including details on daily movements patterns as well as seasonal adjustments to drought. It has also provided an insight into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better determine the causes that led to its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of numerous species native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas Brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia), along with the joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They may also consume the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other birds are social birds that have close relationships with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound that resembles the note of a flutist. 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 with each other through a range of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, including routines for bathing and flight. They can also recognize other members of their flock. They are adored as pets, and are frequently targeted by 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 both male and female birds in the hope of pairing them. Since then the Spix's macaws have been captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture that descends of only two individuals. This makes them susceptible to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany. However, this year an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled, leaving future plans for repatriation and their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
In part because of this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is starting to increase, though not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the right birds before releasing them. Macaws should be reproductive and be paired with siblings or close relatives.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, but it's crucial to try. To aid, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight recently released Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and share areas with the Spix's macaws. These savvy birds will help the macaws become more accustomed to the region, and they will provide the security of a large number.