Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time with uncertainty and fear Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational however, it is also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to exchange. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed to be well-matched.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. The bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds in captive, and hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue companions and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as an authentic survivor who lost his family, but kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong connection to him and perceive their lives as being similar to his.
The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered researchers with an opportunity to investigate its behavior in wild and gain an understanding of why this species has survived for so long. This also helped them create a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able gather important data about the bird's movements throughout the day and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild despite a limited gene pool, and has helped researchers understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. Zoos have also been enticed to establish their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.
This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to protect endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian governmental officials as well as representatives from zoos, international holders of this rare bird, and ornithologists with a common goal - the recovery of the Spix's Macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird to the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed an ongoing committee to help recover the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to habitat destruction and poaching, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to work hard to bring this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's Macaw known to millions of people across the globe however this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long road to bring these birds back from the edge. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil which is 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 only occasional sightings in the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population, an international group was created. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird, as well as officials from the government. This group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is harlequin macaw of prime habitat in Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, which will provide the genetically pure source of the animals for the next generation of.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
A local community was recruited as part of the field team to assist to track Spix's macaws. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if the Spix's Macaw was identified. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily actions. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the family Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last wild parrot disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. However, a reintroduction plan currently underway is trying to restore this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil that covers about 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws. They 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 already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique bird, including details on the patterns of movement throughout the day and adjustments to drought during the season. It also provides a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw, helping to understand what led to its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat 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). 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 bond closely with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating noise similar to an acoustic note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict routine for their day, from flight paths to bathing habits, and they can recognize members of their family. This is why they are such popular pets and a target for illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s only 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 captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mix of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, leaving them at risk of disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity live at a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government expired which leaves the future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their precarious number, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat out 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 rate. Maintaining their health and generating will be important to reintroducing the birds into the wild. Selecting the right birds for release is equally important. Macaws must be of reproductive age and be paired up with close relatives or siblings.
It may be difficult to bring the Spix's macaw back to the wild, however, it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have established a reserve system to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws, that are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws adjust to their new environment and will also ensure safety through the sheer numbers.