Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with jealousy and backbiting.
The first challenge was obtaining enough birds for the trade. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was essential 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 decades of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small number of the birds in captivity, and hope to release them in the wild near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their blue-eyed friends and compare their lives with that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family and was loyal to his home. They feel a strong kinship to him and view their lives as being like his.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and to better understand the reasons why this species has survived for so long. This enabled researchers to estimate the historical population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to collect important data about the bird's movements throughout the day and seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has enabled scientists to understand how these birds can be returned to the natural world. The survival of the last bird also motivated people to act to save other parrots and threatened species. It also inspired zoos and other organizations to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group is a good illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can collaborate in order to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials Zoo representatives and international owners 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 preparing a plan for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the reintroduction of the bird.
Habitat
Threatened by habitat destruction and poaching, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
A popular animated movie and two sequels have made Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people worldwide, but this is just the tip of the iceberg in the long journey to bring these birds back from the brink. A team of international experts 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 that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This desert region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland, interspersed with galleries and seasonal streams. 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 in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To protect the population that is declining In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was established which brought together aviculturists who had the last remaining birds, as well as government officials. 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 the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, providing an incredibly pure genetic source of the animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws are found in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and forage for fruits, seeds, nuts, and various other plants. They will typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to help identify Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would activate if Spix's Macaws are recognized. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily actions. This method has proven to be successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was in the wake of the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000 and no additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project is in the process of trying to restore this critically endangered bird back to its natural home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeira trees and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds 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, which have been reintroduced to the same area and will help to share knowledge about food sources and nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction program has collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought during the season. It also has opened a window on the nature of the Spix's Macaws. This aids in understanding the causes that led to their extinction.
Buffy macaw bird for sale eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a variety of species native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and the Joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They may also consume the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other bird species, are social birds that form close bonds with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a short repeated grating sound that is like a flute note. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine that includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their flock. This is why they are such popular pets, and also a target for illegal bird trade.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, all of them poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds in the hope of pairing them. Since then, all known Spix's macaws are captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mix 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 are kept in a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired, leaving 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 beat a sheikh from 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, captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, though not at a high rate. Maintaining their health and generating is crucial to reintroduce these birds to the wild. It is crucial to select the right birds prior to release. Macaws must be reproductive and be paired with close relatives or siblings.
It's not easy to bring the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, but it is vital to try. To aid, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more common in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will assist the macaws adjust to their new surroundings and will also ensure safety through the sheer numbers.