Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period filled with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully bring a group of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also rife with backbiting and jealousy.

The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to participate in the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched properly.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically endangered 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 few of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They call the birds their little blue friends and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They say he was as a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They feel a strong connection to him and see their lives as like his.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided researchers with an opportunity to study its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of 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 to gather crucial information on the bird's daily movements and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple, which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.

It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and it has also helped scientists understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The last bird's survival also encouraged people to take action to save other species of endangered parrots. Zoos are also encouraged to develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.

This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government Zoo representatives, international holders of this rare bird and ornithologists together with one common goal - the recovery of the Spix's macaw.

The group has completed a lot of work, including the creation of an idea for reintroducing this bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the rehabilitation of the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago the Spix's Ziggy hyacinth macaw parrots for sale (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered through the destruction of habitats and illegal poaching. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to fight to bring this given watches that would turn on when the Spix's harlequin macaw was detected. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily activities. This method has proven to be successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot vanished in 2000. No additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan is currently in progress to return this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.

This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.

A reintroduction plan is currently in progress to restore a wild 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 Blue-winged Macaws that have been released back into the same area, and will help to share information about food sources, nesting and roosting sites.

The reintroduction programme 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 nature of the Spix's Blondie scarlet macaw bird and helped to better discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a myriad of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia), along with the Joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.

Spix's Macaws like all parrots as well as other birds are social birds that form 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 repeated grating sound that is like a flute note. They are known to fly fast and high when they are in the mood to breed.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. As with many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them so popular pets, and also a target for illegal trade in birds.

In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds in the hope of pairing them. Since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.

The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are made up of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, which makes them susceptible to illness and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity reside in a breeding centre in Germany. However this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired which leaves the possibility of repatriation or the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.

Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat a sheikh from 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, captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, but not at a rapid rate. Keeping them healthy and producing will be important to reintroducing these birds to the wild. It is important to choose the right birds before releasing them. The macaws need to be reproductively mature, and they should be paired with one of their siblings or a close relative.

The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it's crucial to try. To aid, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that aims to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix's macaws also live. These birds will assist the macaws become accustomed to their new environment and will also offer protection by the sheer numbers.