Melody Blue Spix MacawAfter 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 inspiring, but also filled with resentment and jealousy.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to participate in the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched properly.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered Spix's great green macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds that why are the glaceous macaw and hyancith macaw so alike in captivity, and they hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They call them their blue-eyed friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family, but was loyal to his home. They see their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his and feel a deep connection with him.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and better understand how this species has survived so long. It also allowed them to make a more precise estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important information on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its eating habits. They even monitored attempts at reproduction with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw pair, which was an important step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able to survive and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and it has helped researchers understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other species of parrots that are endangered. Zoos and other groups to set their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This working group is an example of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can work together in order to conserve endangered wildlife and animals. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international holders of the Spix’s macaw purchase, and ornithologists to achieve an aim in common to save this endangered bird.
The working group has already completed a lot of work, including developing a plan for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research, community outreach and captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction plan. They have also formed a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered by the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions of people all over the world thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. But this is only the beginning on the long-distance road to bringing these birds back. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga which is an arid region of flat savannah scrubland scattered with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, despite only occasional sightings in the wild as well as a few captive birds and some museum specimens.
To save the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was established. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird, as well as officials from the government. This group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws in their native environment.
AWWP has bought and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released into the wild. This will create an animal that is genetically pure for future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees and seldom seen on the ground. They typically nest in tree holes or hollows and forage for fruit, seeds, nuts and other plants. They typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws as well as their movements local communities were recruited to become part of the field team. The community was given watches that would activate if Spix's Macaws are detected. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild as well as their daily activities. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot vanished in 2000 and no additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan is currently in progress to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeiras and were known to feed on nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Ziggy hyacinth macaw parrots for sale into the wild is currently in progress. 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 a group of Blue-winged macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction programme has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of this bird, which includes details of 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 fruits, nuts and seeds of a myriad of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and the joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They also eat the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute note. When they are in a breeding mode, they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them such popular pets and targets for illegal trade in birds.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity live at a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government expired, leaving future plans for repatriation and their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their precarious number the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat a sheikh in Qatar to buy from a collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
In part, due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, but not at a speedy pace. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it will be important to reintroducing the birds back into the wild. It is important to choose the right birds prior to releasing them. The macaws need to be at a reproductive age and should be paired with a sibling or a close relative.
Reintroducing the Spix's Mindy catalina macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it's important to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which is designed to safeguard the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. These savvy birds will help the macaws get used to the region and provide security in large numbers.