Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with uncertainty and fear, Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to exchange. These macaws are monogamous, therefore the pairs had to be well-matched.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered Spix's macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds that are in captivity and they hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They call the birds little blue companions, and compare their journey to that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They say he was as a true survivor, who lost his family, but was loyal to the region. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as akin to his, and feel a strong affinity with him.
Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and better understand how this species has survived for so long. This allowed researchers to determine the historical population of this rare bird more precisely. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery of this species.
It was a marvellous feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has allowed scientists to better understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other endangered parrots and species. This has also encouraged zoos to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.
This working group is an illustration of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate in order to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international holders of the Spix’s macaw, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common: the recovery of this rare bird.
The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including preparing plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It also has established an ongoing committee to oversee the recovery 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. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to fight to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions around the world thanks to a popular animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long journey of returning these birds. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's hythian macaw for sale is an endemic species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This dry area is home to flat savannah scrubland, scattered with seasonal streams and gallery forests. It was described in 1819, and is among the least-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 In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was established that brought together aviculturists that were the last to hold the birds as well as officials from the government. The group forged a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to develop a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws back to their natural habitat.
AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released in the wild. This will create a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in hollows or holes in trees and forage for fruit, seeds, nuts and other plants. They can spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to assist track Spix's Macaws. Members of the community were provided watches which could be activated if the Spix's Fiona hyacinth macaw bird for sale was detected, allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This method has proven to be extremely 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 after the last wild parrot vanished in 2000 and no additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan is currently in progress to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction program is now in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will provide information on food sources, nesting sites and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on daily movements patterns as well as adjustments to drought during the season. It also provided a glimpse into the nature of Spix's Macaws, Buy macaw (my company) which aids in understanding the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a myriad of plants 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 also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other birds are social birds that have close relationships with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound similar to the note of a flutist. They are known to fly high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict daily routine, from flight paths to bathing habits, and they can recognize members of their flock. This is what makes them the most sought-after pets and targets for illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since then all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix, which is the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity are kept in a breeding centre in Germany. However this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out and 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 managed to beat a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's Macaws that weren't part of the breeding program.
In part, due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, though not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. It is essential to choose the right birds prior to release. Macaws must be reproductively mature and should be paired with a sibling or a close relatives.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could prove difficult, but it is important to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more common in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws get used to the region, and they will provide the security of a large number.