Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was crucial 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 after years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small amount of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their blue-eyed friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They say he was as a true survivor who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his and feel a deep connection with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to investigate its behavior in wild and gain an understanding of why this species was able to survive for such a long time. This also helped them form a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able gather important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery for this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird was able survive and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and it has also helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed motivated people to act in order to save other parrots and endangered species. Zoos are also encouraged to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.
This group serves as a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to conserve endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government as well as representatives from zoos, international holders of this rare bird, and ornithologists with a common goal: the recovery of the Spix's Macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work, including the creation of an idea for reintroducing this bird to the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds for field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction plan. It has also established an ongoing committee to oversee the reintroduction of the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to habitat destruction and poaching, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to tirelessly work to save this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw famous to millions of people around the world, but this is just the beginning of the iceberg in the long-distance journey to bring these birds back from the edge. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and bring back Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This dry region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland and is interspersed with galleries and seasonal streams. It was first described in 1819 and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with occasional sightings in the wild, a few captive birds and some museum specimens.
To save the declining population An international committee was formed that gathered aviculturists who were the last to hold the birds, as well as government officials. The group forged a partnership with the world-renowned non profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws back to their natural environment.
AWWP has bought and is renovating 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, providing the genetically pure source of the animals for the next generation of.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruits seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was recruited to join the field team. Fiona hyacinth macaw bird for sale was provided with watches that would be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily movements. This approach has proven very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in 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 did not find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction plan currently underway is trying to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10% 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 birds were released into the wild in June and 12 more are scheduled to arrive in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will provide information on food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost.
The reintroduction program has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, including information about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also has provided a glimpse into the natural history of Spix's Macaws, which can help to understand the causes that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws 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) as well as 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).
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots as well as other birds are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a brief, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute note. When they are in breeding mode, they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another with a variety of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They also adhere to a rigid daily routine, ranging from flight paths to bathing habits and can identify members of their flock. They are popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, and all of them poached. A plan to pair the male and female defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are made up of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, making them vulnerable to disease and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity reside in an breeding center in Germany. However this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out, leaving the future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws for the collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce again, although not at a high rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. Choosing the right birds for release is equally important. Macaws should be at a reproductive age and be paired with a sibling or a close family member.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's macaw back to the wild, but it is vital to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new surroundings. They will also ensure safety through large numbers.