Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period filled with uncertainty and fear Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully bring a group of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with resentment and jealousy.
The first challenge was to get enough birds to trade. Macaws are monogamous, so 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, following years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small population of the birds kept in captive, and are hoping to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue companions and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor, who lost his family, but was loyal to his home. They see their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his and feel a deep connection with him.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and better understand how this species has survived so long. It also helped them make a more precise estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple, which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has enabled scientists to better understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. Zoos are also encouraged to create their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.
This working group is an illustration of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can collaborate in order to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government, zoo representatives and international owners of this unique bird and ornithologists together with one common goal - the recovery of the Spix's macaw.
The working group has already completed a lot of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird to the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to fund field research and community outreach as well as captive-breed birds for the reintroduction project. It has also established an ongoing committee to oversee the reintroduction of the bird.
Habitat
Threatened by poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people all over the world due to a cult animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long-distance road to bringing these birds back. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and bring back Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819, and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, a few birds that are kept in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens.
To save the declining population, an international group was created. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird 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 to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, which will provide the genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruit, seeds, nuts and other plants. They can spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to help to track Spix's macaws. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep track of the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in 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. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. A reintroduction program is currently underway to try to bring this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeiras and were known to eat seeds and nuts.
Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction program has collected vital biological data about the behavior of this bird, which includes details of daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It has also provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Macaws of Spix, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits and nuts of many species 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 can also eat the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound that resembles a flutist note. They are often seen flying high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other through a range of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their family. This is why they are such popular pets, and also a target 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 as part of a plan to pair them. Since since then, all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity, mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws kept in captivity are made up of individuals who are the descendants of only two individuals, making them at risk of disease and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany. However this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled, leaving future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, though not at a high rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. It is important to choose the correct birds before releasing them. Macaws must be at a reproductive age, and they should be in a relationship with a sibling or a close relative.
The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could prove difficult, but it's crucial to try. To help, why are the glaceous macaw and hyancith macaw so alike and partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws will be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will assist the macaws adjust to their new environment and will also offer protection by the sheer numbers.