Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long time filled with uncertainty and fear, Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with jealousy and backbiting.

The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs had to be well-matched.

Range

A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw, which was declared extinct in 2000 after years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a few of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue friends, and compare their journey to the story of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They say he was as a true survivor, who lost his family, but was loyal to the region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his, and they feel a strong connection to him.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of how the species survived so long. This allowed researchers to estimate the historical population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able gather important details about the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. They even monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws, which was an important step in the recovery of this species.

It was a remarkable feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has helped scientists to better understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The bird's survival has inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. It also inspired zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.

This group is a good illustration of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international holders of the Spix’s Mindy catalina macaw and ornithologists, with a common goal to save this endangered bird.

The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including preparing an idea for reintroducing this bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research, community outreach and captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction project. It has also established an ongoing committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was threatened due to the destruction of habitat and illegal poaching. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is known to millions around the globe thanks to a popular animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long road of bringing these birds back. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and bring back captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.

The Spix's macaw keycaps is native to a small portion of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is among of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, with occasional sightings in the wild as well as a few captive birds and some museum specimens.

To save the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was established. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's into their native environment in the northeast of Brazil.

AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will create an animal that is genetically pure for the future generations.

Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They typically build nests in tree holes or hollows and forage for fruit seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.

To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements local communities were recruited to become part of the field team. The members of the community were given watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was observed which allowed them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily activities in the wild. This approach has proven 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 after the last wild parrot vanished in 2000. No additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction program is currently in progress to restore this critically endangered bird back to its natural home in the Caatinga.

The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.

A reintroduction program is now underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. 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 Lolita blue & gold macaw-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information about food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost.

The reintroduction program has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, including details about the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It has also provided an insight into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw, 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) and 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 Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond 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. They are often seen flying high and fast when they are in an ecstatic mood.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, which includes 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 targets 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 the hope of pairing them. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.

The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture of birds, and are the descendant of just two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws that are 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, leaving the future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.

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

As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce again, although not at a high rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it will be crucial for reintroducing these birds to the wild. The selection of the right birds to release is also critical. The macaws need to be reproductively mature and should be in a relationship with a sibling or a close relatives.

The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it is important to try. To aid, ABC and partners have started 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 the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix’s macaws are also. These birds will help macaws adjust to their new surroundings and will also provide safety by numbers.