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After a long period of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational however, it is also filled with jealousies and backbiting.

The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds for the exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was important 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 loss of habitat. They have a small number of the birds that are in captivity and hope to release them close to Curaca. They call the birds their blue-eyed friends and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They call him 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.

The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain an understanding of why this species has survived for such a long time. This also helped them form a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important information about the bird's movements throughout the day, seasonal adjustment to drought, and food habits. Researchers also observed 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 an amazing feat that this bird was able to survive and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and it has helped scientists to understand how these birds could be returned to the wild. The survival of the last bird encouraged people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos have also been enticed to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.

This group serves as a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to save endangered animals and wildlife. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with one goal in common to save this rare bird.

The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including the creation of plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research as well as community outreach and captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction plan. The group has also established an ongoing committee to help recover the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was threatened through the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to do their best to bring this iconic bird from the brink extinction.

A well-known animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw famous to millions of people around the world However, this is only the beginning in the long road to bring these birds back from the brink. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity to the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga, 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 least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, few captive birds and a few museum specimens.

To protect the population that is declining, 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 formed a collaboration 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 into their native environment in the northeast of Brazil.

AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP is also raising and breeding birds to be released into the wild, which will provide a genetically pure source of animals for the next generation of.

In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and search for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other species. They typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.

A local community was selected as part of the field team to help track Spix's Macaws. The community was given watches that would be activated if the Spix's Macaw was recognized. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This approach has been extremely successful.

Diet

The Spix's Tallula indigo park mollie macaw is the only species belonging to the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot was lost in 2000. No additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan is in the process of trying to restore this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga.

This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to eat nuts and seeds.

A reintroduction plan is currently underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's macaw parrot cost. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws. They have been released back into the same area, and will help to share information about food sources, nesting and roosting sites.

The reintroduction program has obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of this bird, including details about the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It also has provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Spix's Macaws. This helps to understand the factors that led to their decline.

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 the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia), along with the Joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.

Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief continuous grating sound similar to a flute note. They are often seen flying fast and high when they are in the mood to breed.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, which includes routines for bathing and flight. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. This is why they are so popular pets, and also a target for illegal bird trade.

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

The few Spix's macaws that are in captivity are made up of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, making them vulnerable to disease and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are in a breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed and causing doubt about future plans to repatriate the birds and reintroduce them into the wild.

Despite their petty numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to buy from a collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.

In part due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, though not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. The selection of the right birds for release is equally important. Macaws should be reproductive and be paired with close relatives or siblings.

Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could be difficult, but it's essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that aims to protect 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 common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix’s macaws are also. These birds will assist the macaws become accustomed to their new surroundings. They will also offer protection by numbers.