Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long time filled with speculation and worry Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with backbiting and jealousies.

The first obstacle was getting enough birds to participate in the exchange. The macaws were monogamous so 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 decades of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small population of the birds that are in captivity and hope to release them in the wild near Curaca. They call the birds their blue-eyed friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him a true survivor, who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They feel a strong connection to him and view their lives as being identical to his.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided researchers with an opportunity to investigate its behavior in wild and gain a better understanding of why this species was able to survive for this long. This enabled researchers to estimate the historical population of this rare bird more accurately. Researchers were able to collect important details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery for this species.

It was a marvellous feat that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has enabled scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to nature. The last bird's survival also inspired people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. This has also encouraged zoos to establish their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.

This working group is a great illustration of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can work together in order to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials Zoo representatives, international holders of this unique bird and ornithologists with a common goal: the recovery of the Spix's macaw.

The working group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes preparing an approach to reintroduce this bird to the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. It also has established an ongoing committee to oversee the recovery of the bird.

Habitat

At risk due to poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.

A popular animated movie and two sequels have made the Spix's Mindy catalina macaw known to millions of people across the globe however this is only the beginning in the long-distance journey to save these birds from the edge. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity into the wild.

The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga, an arid region of flat savannah scrubland that is dotted with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, with a few birds in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens.

To save the declining population, an international group was formed. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and officials from the government. The group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.

AWWP has purchased and is renovating 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, thereby providing a genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.

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

To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements local communities were invited to join the field team. Members of the community were given watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was detected, allowing them to keep track of the birds and their daily movements in the wild. This method has proven successful.

Diet

The Spix's Buffy macaw bird for sale 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 disappeared in 2000 and no additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project currently underway is trying to return this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.

This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil that covers about 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to feed on seeds and nuts.

A reintroduction programme is underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity were released in the wild in June. Twelve more birds are scheduled to be released in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged macaws which have been reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.

The reintroduction program has collected valuable biological data about the behavior of this bird, including information about the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It has also opened a window on the nature of the Macaws of Spix, which helps to understand the factors that led to their decline.

Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of many plants that are native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas Brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia), along with 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 all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief repeated grating sound that is like a flute note. 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 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 family. They are popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this.

In the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, with all of them being poached. A plan to pair the male and female unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since the time the 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 issues. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled, leaving the possibility of repatriation or their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.

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

As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, though not at a high rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it is crucial to reintroduce the birds into the wild. Selecting the right birds for release is also crucial. The macaws need to be at a reproductive age and be paired with a sibling or a close family member.

It's not easy to bring the Spix's Ziggy hyacinth macaw parrots for sale back into the wild, however, it is essential 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 recently released will be joined by Lolita blue & gold macaw-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. These birds will help macaws adjust to their new surroundings and will also ensure safety through large numbers.