Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with jealousy and backbiting.

The first hurdle was to find enough birds to be traded. Macaws are monogamous, so it was important to match pairs well.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds in captive, and are hoping to release them in the wild near Curaca. They call them their little blue companions and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Pixie mini macaw from the wild. They describe him as a true survivor who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They see their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and feel a deep connection with him.

Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and to better understand the reasons why are the glaceous macaw and hyancith macaw so alike this species has survived so long. It also allowed them to form a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, as well as its eating habits. They also observed reproduction attempts using an Illiger's and Melody Blue Spix Macaw Spix's hybrid macaw pair which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.

It was an amazing feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has allowed scientists to understand how these birds can be restored to the natural world. The last bird's survival also motivated people to act to save other species of endangered parrots. This has also encouraged zoos to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.

This working group is an illustration of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate in order to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with one goal in common: the recovery of this endangered bird.

The group has accomplished a lot of work, including preparing a plan for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research, community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction program. It also has established a permanent committee for the reintroduction of the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered tand forage for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.

To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local group was recruited to become part of the field team. 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 as well as their daily actions. This method has proven to be extremely successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species of 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 disappeared in 2000. No additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction programme is currently underway to try to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.

This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeiras and were known to feed on nuts and seeds.

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

The reintroduction program has collected vital biological data about the behavior of this rare bird, which includes details about daily movement patterns and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also provides a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, helping to understand what led to its extinction in the wild.

Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. They can also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other birds, are social birds that form close bonds with their parents. They are very vocal and often imitate 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 well-known for flying high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots, they are able to mimic human speech. They also follow a very rigid daily routine, ranging from flight paths to bathing habits and can identify members of their flock. They are adored as pets and are often targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.

In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.

The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix, which is the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them susceptible to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are in a breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal and causing doubt about future plans to repatriate the birds and return them back into the wild.

Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws for the collector.

In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a rapid rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it will be crucial for reintroducing the birds into the wild. The selection of the right birds to release is also crucial. The macaws need to be reproductively mature, and they should be paired with one of their siblings or a close family member.

It's not easy to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild but it is vital to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by Leia blue macaw and red macaw-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. These savvy birds will help the macaws get familiar with the area and will offer safety in numbers.