Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time filled with worry and speculation Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.
The first hurdle was to find enough birds to be traded. The macaws were monogamous so it was crucial to match the pairs well.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small amount of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They call them their little blue companions and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but kept his faith in the region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and feel a strong affinity with him.
Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and better understand how this species has survived for so long. It also allowed them to make a more precise estimate of the historic population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to collect important data about the bird's movements throughout the day, seasonal adjustment to drought, and food habits. They also observed reproduction attempts using an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaw pair, which was an important step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild with such an insufficient gene pool and has helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. This has also encouraged zoos to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This group is an illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can work together in order to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with a common goal that is the recovery of this endangered bird.
The group has accomplished a lot of work, including developing a plan for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also established an ongoing committee to help recover the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was threatened due to the destruction of habitat and illegal poaching. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people around the world however this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long road to save these birds from the edge. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity to the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga an arid area of flat savannah scrubland scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with only sporadic sightings from the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To protect the population that is declining In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was created which brought together aviculturists who had the last remaining birds as well as officials from the government. This group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws back to their natural environment.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, providing a genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and seldom seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or holes in trees and forage for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to one third of their day in the nest.
A local community was recruited as part of the field team in order to help track Spix's Macaws. The community was given watches that would turn on when a Spix's Macaw is recognized. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot was lost in 2000 and no additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction program is currently underway to try to bring this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction plan is currently in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced to the same area and will assist to share knowledge about food sources and nesting and roosting sites.
The reintroduction programme has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on daily movement patterns and the seasonal changes to drought. It also has opened a window on the natural history of the Spix's Macaws. This helps to understand the factors that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of many species 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, like all parrots and other birds are social birds that form close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. great green macaw have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a short, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking, and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict daily routine, from flights to bathing routines and can identify members of their flock. They are adored as pets and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s only three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds in a plan to pair them. Since the time all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mix of individuals that are the descendants of only two individuals, which makes them vulnerable to disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany. However this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled and the possibility of repatriation or the reintroduction of wild animals 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 out the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the correct birds before releasing them. Macaws should be reproductively mature, and they should be paired with an older sibling or close relative.
The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it's important to try. To help, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix’s macaws also live. These savvy birds will help the macaws become more accustomed to the region, and they will provide safety in numbers.