Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with resentment and jealousy.

The first challenge was to find enough birds to be traded. These macaws are monogamous, therefore 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 decades of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a few of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They call the birds their little blue companions and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last 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 see their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his, and feel a strong affinity with him.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided a valuable opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain an understanding of how this species survived such a long time. Researchers were able to determine the historical population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able gather important data about the bird's movements throughout the day and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.

It was a remarkable feat that this bird was able endure and thrive in the wild with such an insufficient gene pool and it has helped scientists to understand how these birds could be returned to the wild. The survival of the last bird also encouraged people to take action to save other parrots as well as threatened species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.

This working group is a great illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can collaborate to protect endangered wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials, zoo representatives and international owners of this rare bird and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the recovery of the Spix's macaw.

The group has accomplished a lot of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird into the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also established a permanent committee to save the bird.

Habitat

Endangered by poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to fight tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions around the world due to a cult animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long journey of returning these birds. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity 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 savannah scrubland that is flat, that is dotted with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, with a few birds in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens.

To preserve the declining population, an international group was formed. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird, as well as government officials. This group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws into their native environment in the northeast of Brazil.

AWWP has purchased and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will give a genetically-pure source of animals for the future generations.

In the wild, Spix's macaws will live in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They may spend up to one third of their day in the nest.

To help track the Spix's macaws as well as their movements local communities were recruited to join the field team. The community was provided with watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw is recognized. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily actions. This approach has been very successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species in the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last known wild parrot disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is in progress to try to restore this critically threatened bird to its native home in the Caatinga.

This region in northeast Brazil is home to about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.

Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. 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 about food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost.

The reintroduction program has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this rare bird, including information on the patterns of movement throughout the day and the seasonal changes to drought. It has also provided a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, buymacaw helping to determine the causes that led to its extinction in the wild.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits and nuts of a variety of plants 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 palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are very vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive noise similar to the note of a flutist. When they are in breeding mode they are known to fly high and fast.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they are able to mimic human speech. They have a strict routine that includes routines for bathing and flight. They also can recognize other members of their flock. They are popular as pets and are often targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.

By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, all of them poached. A plan to pair the male and female unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.

The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix, which is the descendant of just two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity are kept in an breeding center in Germany. However this year an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled and the future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.

Despite their petty numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat a sheikh from Qatar to buy from a collector three Spix's Macaws that weren't part of the breeding program.

As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, but not at a high rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is essential to choose the right birds before release. The macaws need to be in a reproductive stage and be in a relationship with an older sibling or close relative.

The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it is crucial to try. To aid, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that aims to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws that were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix's macaws also live. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new environment and will also offer protection by numbers.