Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long time filled with speculation and worry, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully bring a group of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with backbiting and jealousies.

The first hurdle was to find enough birds to trade. The macaws were monogamous so it was crucial 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 United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds that are in captivity and hope to release them close to Curaca. They refer to them as their blue-eyed friends and compare their lives to that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family, but kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong kinship to him and view their lives as identical to his.

Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Blondie scarlet macaw bird in wild, and gain a better understanding of the reasons why this species has survived so long. This allowed researchers to estimate the historical population of this unique bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to collect important data on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was an important step towards the recovery of this species.

It was a remarkable feat that this bird was able survive and thrive in the wild with such an insufficient gene pool and it has also helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed motivated people to act in order to save other parrots as well as threatened species. Zoos have also been enticed to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.

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

The group has 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, community outreach and captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction project. It has also established a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was endangered through the destruction of habitat and poaching that was illegal. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to work hard to bring this iconic bird from the brink extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions around the world thanks to a popular animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long road of returning these birds. For decades, an international team has been trying to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.

The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga which is an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is among of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with sporadic sightings from the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.

To protect the declining population, an international group was created. It was comprised of experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird and officials from the government. This group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws back to their natural environment.

AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released into the wild. This will create the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.

In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and search for fruits, seeds, nuts, and various other plants. They will typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.

A local community was enlisted as part of the field team in order to help identify Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if Spix's Macaws are identified. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily activities. This approach has proven very successful.

Diet

The Spix's macaw cage is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared 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 plan is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.

The northeast region of Brazil is home to about 10% of the entire 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 purchase into the wild is currently in progress. Eight birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting sites and Melody Blue Spix Macaw roosting locations.

The reintroduction program has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this bird, including details about the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It has also provided an insight into the nature of the Spix's Macaw which helps to discover the reasons behind its disappearance in the wild.

Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of numerous plants native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.

Spix's Macaws as with all parrots as well as other birds are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short repeated grating sound that is similar to a flute. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly high and fast.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking, and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their family. They are adored as pets, and are frequently targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.

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 defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then all known Spix's macaws have been 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 diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity reside in a breeding center in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled which leaves the future plans for repatriation and their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.

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

In part due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a rapid pace. Maintaining their health and generating is crucial to reintroduce the birds into the wild. It is crucial to select the correct birds before releasing them. The macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired up with close relatives or siblings.

The return of the Spix's Buffy macaw bird for sale to the wild may prove difficult, but it's important to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new surroundings. They will also provide safety by numbers.