Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.
The first challenge was to get enough birds for the trade. These macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had 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 years of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a small population of the birds that are in captive, and hope to release them in the wild near 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 Presley as a true survivor who lost his family and kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong connection to him and perceive their lives as being similar to his.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and better understand how this species has lasted so long. It also helped them create a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important information about the bird's daily movements and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was an important 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 enabled scientists to understand how these birds can be returned to nature. The last bird's survival also inspired people to take action to save other species of endangered parrots. It also inspired zoos and other organizations to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to protect endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from government as well as representatives from zoos as well as international owners of this rare bird and ornithologists with a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to support 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
Endangered by habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people around the world However, this is only the beginning in the long journey to save these birds from the edge. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was described in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, few captive birds and a handful of museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was formed. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird as well as government officials. The group forged a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to develop an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws to their natural environment.
AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released into the wild. This will provide the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws will live 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 various other plants. They typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to assist identify Spix's Macaws. The members of the community were given watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's Macaw was detected, allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily activities in the wild. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the family Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot was lost in 2000, and no more birds were found in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction program is currently underway to try to bring this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat 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 amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction programme is underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information about food sources, nesting and areas to roost.
The reintroduction programme has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, including details on daily movement patterns and the seasonal changes to drought. It has also provided a glimpse into the nature of Spix's Macaws, which helps to understand the factors that led to their decline.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a myriad of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots as well as other birds are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic speech and other sounds. Sinatra Macaws for Sale have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief repeated grating sound that is like a flute note. When they are in breeding mode, they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of screeching and squawking sounds, and like many other parrots, can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine that includes routines for bathing and flight. They also can recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them so popular pets, and also a target for the illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since since then the Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mix of individuals that are the descendants of just two individuals, which makes them at risk of disease and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity live at a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out which leaves the possibility of repatriation or the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their low numbers of captive-bred Spix's macaws, captive-bred species show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
In part due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, though not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the right birds prior to release. Macaws must be in a reproductive stage and should be paired with an older sibling or close relatives.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild, but it is vital to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will be joined by blue-winged macaws, that are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These smart birds will help the macaws become more used to the region and will offer the security of a large number.