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Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with jealousies and backbiting.

The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was essential 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 years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a few of the birds that are in captivity and are hoping to release them close to Curaca. They call them their blue-eyed friends and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor who lost his family and kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong bond to him and see their lives as similar to his.

Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and gain a better understanding of how this species has lasted so long. It also allowed them to form a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, as well as its eating habits. They even monitored attempts at reproduction with an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaws which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.

It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able survive and thrive in the wild despite a limited gene pool, and it has also helped scientists understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird also encouraged people to take action to save other parrots and threatened species. Zoos are also encouraged to establish their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.

This group of experts is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to protect endangered animals and wildlife. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international holders of the Spix’s macaw, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common to save this endangered bird.

The working group has already accomplished a lot of work, including the creation of a plan for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research as well as community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction plan. The group has also established a permanent committee to save the bird.

Habitat

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

A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw famous to millions of people worldwide However, this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long journey to bring these birds back from the brink. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is a native species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This desert area is home to flat savannah scrubland that is interspersed with seasonal streams and gallery forests. It was described in 1819 and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.

To protect the declining population, an international group was created. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and government officials. This group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws in their native habitat.

AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, which will provide a genetically pure source of animals for future generations.

In the wild, Spix's macaws are found in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or tree holes and forage for fruit, seeds, nuts and other plants. They can spend as much as 1/3 of their time in the nest.

To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements local communities were recruited to join the field team. 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 as well as their daily actions. This method has proven to be extremely successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is currently underway to try to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.

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

A reintroduction programme is in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws. They have been reintroduced to the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources, nesting and roosting locations.

The reintroduction program has already collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this unique bird, which includes details about daily movement patterns and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also provides an insight into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better determine the causes that led to its disappearance in the wild.

Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of many 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 can also eat the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Like chestnut fronted macaw Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating noise similar to the note of a flutist. When they are in a breeding mode they can fly fast and high.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also have a rigid daily routine, ranging from the flight path to bathing habits, and they can recognize members of their flock. This is what makes them so popular pets and targets for the illegal bird trade.

In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since since then all known Spix's macaws have been captive-bred mostly in Brazil.

The few Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mix of individuals who are descendants of only two individuals, which makes them susceptible to illness and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds in captivity are housed at the breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal, casting doubt over future plans to repatriate the birds and return them back into the wild.


Despite their petty numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's Macaws that were not 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. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it is crucial to reintroduce the birds into the wild. It is important to choose the correct birds before release. Macaws should be reproductive and be paired with close relatives or siblings.

The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it is important to try. To aid, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which aims to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These birds will help the macaws become accustomed to their new surroundings. They will also ensure safety through large numbers.

Member since: Saturday, December 7, 2024

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