Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with jealousies and backbiting.
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 has taken on the mission to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds that are in captivity and are hoping to release them close to Curaca. They call the birds little blue companions, and compare their lives with the journey of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They say he was as a true survivor who lost his family but kept his faith in the region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and feel a strong connection to him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered researchers with an opportunity to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of how this species was able to survive for so long. This enabled researchers to determine the historical population of this rare bird more accurately. Researchers were able to gather crucial details about the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was a marvellous achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has helped scientists to better understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other endangered parrots and species. It also inspired zoos and other organizations to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This working group is a great illustration of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can work together to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common to save this unique bird.
The group has completed a lot of work, including the creation of an idea for reintroducing this bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also established a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered through the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people all over the world thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. But this is only the beginning on the long-distance road to returning these birds. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland scattered with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was described in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, a few captive birds, and a handful of museum specimens.
To save the declining population, an international group was established. It was comprised of experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird and government officials. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released in the wild. This will give an animal that is genetically pure for future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and are seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and search to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can spend as much as one third of the time in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to help track Spix's Macaws. Members of the community were given 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. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was best place to buy macaw following the last wild parrot vanished in 2000, and no more birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan currently underway is trying to restore this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil is home to about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws, which have been reintroduced to the same area and will assist to share information about food sources and nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has collected vital biological data about the behavior of the bird, including information about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also has opened a window on the nature of the Spix's Macaws. This helps to understand the factors that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws consume 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) as well as the Joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They may also consume the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots as well as other birds are social birds that have close relationships with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound that resembles a flutist note. They are known to fly fast and high when they are in an ecstatic mood.
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 follow a strict routine that includes routines for bathing and flight. They are also able to recognize other members of their family. This is what makes them so popular pets and targets for the illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since the time the Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, leaving them vulnerable to disease and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal, casting doubt over future plans to return the birds and then reintroduce them into the wild.
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 buy three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, though not at a high rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the correct birds before releasing them. The macaws should be reproductive and be paired up with close relatives or siblings.
It could be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back into the wild however, it is essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These smart birds will help the macaws become more used to the region, and they will provide the security of a large number.