Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so it was important 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 they hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue companions, and compare their experience with the story of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They call him a true survivor, who lost his family but remained loyal to the area. They feel a strong kinship to him and perceive their lives as being identical to his.
Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and to better understand the reasons why this species has lasted so long. It also allowed them to create a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and its eating habits. They also observed attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird was able to endure and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and it has helped scientists understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The last bird's survival also motivated people to act to save other endangered parrots and species. This has also encouraged zoos to develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.
This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from the government, zoo representatives as well as international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists together with one common goal - the recovery of the Spix's Macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including the creation of plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to fund field research as well as community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction project. It has also created an ongoing committee to help recover the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to poaching and habitat destruction, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to fight tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw recognizable 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 edge. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a tiny area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga which is an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is among of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, with only few glimpses of the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.
To preserve the dwindling population In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was established which brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining birds as well as officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP is also raising and breeding birds to be released into the wild, providing the genetically pure source of the animals for the next generation of.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or holes in trees and forage for fruit seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They can spend as much as one third of their day in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team to assist identify Spix's Macaws. Members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep track of the birds and their daily activities in the wild. This approach has been extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000. No additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project currently underway is trying to return the critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been released back into the same area and will assist to share knowledge of food sources, nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction programme has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique bird, including information on daily movement patterns and the seasonal changes to drought. It also opened a window on the nature of the Macaws of Spix, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and www.Buy-macaw.com nuts of numerous species native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as 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 as with all parrots as well as other birds, are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are very vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound similar to a flute note. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in the mood to breed.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another through a range of squawking and screeching sounds. Like many other parrots, can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to 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, just three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds as part of a plan to pair them. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are made up of individuals who are descendants of only two individuals, making them susceptible to illness and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are kept in an 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 the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat a sheikh from Qatar to buy from a collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.
In the wake of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, but not at a rapid rate. Maintaining their health and generating is crucial to reintroduce the birds back into the wild. It is essential to choose the correct birds before release. Macaws must be reproductive and be paired up with siblings or close relatives.
It could be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back into the wild 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 are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more common in the Caatinga and share areas with Spix's macaws. These smart birds will help the macaws get familiar with the area and provide the security of a large number.