Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with backbiting and jealousies.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to participate in the exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was important 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 after years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small number of the birds kept in captive, and hope to release them in the wild near Curaca. They call the birds their blue-eyed friends and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They call him as 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 feel a strong affinity with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided a valuable opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of how the species survived this long. This allowed researchers to estimate the historical population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to collect important information about the bird's daily movements and its seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a limited gene pool. This has helped scientists understand how these birds can be returned to nature. The bird's survival has encouraged people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. Zoos are also encouraged to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This group of experts is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from government Zoo representatives, international holders of this rare bird, and ornithologists together with one common goal - the recovery of the Spix's Macaw.
The group has achieved a lot of work. This includes preparing a plan to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction project. It also has established a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was endangered by the destruction of habitat and illegal poaching. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to fight to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people all over the globe thanks to a popular animated film and two sequels. This is just the tip of the iceberg on the long journey of returning these birds. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small portion of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga an arid area consisting of savannah scrubland flat interspersed with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, a few birds that are kept in captivity 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 officials from the government. This group formed a partnership with the 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 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 into the wild. This will create a genetically-pure source of animals for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and are seldom seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and forage in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local group was invited to join the field team. Going In this article of the community were provided watches that could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily activities in the wild. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared 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 2000, and subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil covers approximately 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws, which have been reintroduced to the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources and nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of the bird, including details about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Macaws of Spix, which can help to understand the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of numerous plants native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other birds are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive noise similar to the note of a flutist. 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 with each other with a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. Like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, which includes routines for bathing and flight. They are also able to recognize other members of their family. This is why they are the most sought-after pets, and also a target for illegal bird trade.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, with all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds in a plan to pair them. Since the time, all Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws in captivity are made up of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, making them at risk of disease and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity reside in a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out and the possibility of repatriation or their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.
As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, but not at a high rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. It is essential to choose the right birds before release. Macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired with close relatives or siblings.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild, however, it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have established 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 more prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws also live. These birds will help the macaws adjust to their new surroundings and will also ensure safety through numbers.