Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to participate in the exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was crucial to match pairs 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 small amount of the birds that are in captivity and they hope 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 a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They feel a strong bond to him and see their lives as identical to his.
Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and better understand how this species has survived for so long. This also helped them create a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather important information on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. They also observed attempts to reproduce using an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaws which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able to survive and thrive in the wild with such an insufficient gene pool and has helped scientists to understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other species of endangered parrots. This has also encouraged zoos to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.
This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists, with an aim in common: the recovery of this rare bird.
The group has accomplished a lot of work, including the creation of an idea for reintroducing this bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It has also established a permanent committee for the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was endangered by the destruction of habitat and poaching that was illegal. 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 of people around the world thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. This is just the beginning on the long-distance road to returning these birds. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga, an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat scattered with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with only sporadic sightings from the wild, a few captive birds and some museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population, an international group was created. It was comprised of experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird and government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws to their natural habitat.
AWWP has purchased and buy macaw is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, thereby providing the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees and seldom seen on the ground. They typically build nests in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruit seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They can spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was recruited to join the field team. The members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily movements in the wild. This approach has been 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 that it was extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was in the wake of the last wild parrot was lost in 2000. No additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction program is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws, which have been reintroduced to the same area and will help to share knowledge about food sources, nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction program has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this bird, including information about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It has also provided a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better understand what led to its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a myriad of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. They may also consume the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots as well as other birds are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief continuous grating sound similar to a flute note. They are often seen flying high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with one another through a range of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, they can 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 targets for illegal trade in birds.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, with all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of a plan to pair them. Since since then, all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix that descends of just two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity reside in 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 numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat a sheikh in 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 starting to reproduce, though not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. Choosing the right birds to release is also crucial. Macaws should be reproductive and paired with siblings or close relatives.
It's not easy to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild, however, it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, that are more common in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These savvy birds will help the macaws get accustomed to the region, and they will provide security in large numbers.