Fanny De Garis

Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period filled with speculation and worry Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring however, it is also filled with backbiting and jealousies.

The first challenge was to find enough birds for the trade. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed to be well-matched.

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 number of the birds kept in captivity, and are hoping to release them into the wild near Curaca. They refer to them as their blue-eyed friends and compare their experience with the story of Presley, the only 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 connection to him.

Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and gain a better understanding of 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 important information about the bird's daily movement patterns and seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. They even monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaws which was a significant 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 can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act in order to save other parrots and endangered species. Zoos and other groups to set their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.

This working group is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international holders of the Spix’s Buffy macaw bird for sale, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common: the recovery of this endangered bird.

The working group has already accomplished a great green macaw deal of work, including the creation of plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group also raised funds to fund 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 reintroduction of the bird.

Habitat

Endangered by habitat destruction and poaching 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 bring this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.

A popular animated movie and two sequels have made Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people around the world However, this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long journey to bring these birds back from the brink. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity to the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga which is an arid region of flat savannah scrubland interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.

To preserve the declining population, an international group was created. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird, as well as officials from the government. This group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to develop a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws to their natural environment.

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

In the wild, Spix's macaws reside in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage for fruits, Harlequin macaw seeds, nuts, and various other plants. They typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.

To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local group was invited to join the field team. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild as well as their daily movements. This method has proven successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was in the wake of the last wild parrot was lost in 2000, and no more birds were found in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction programme is currently underway to try to restore this critically threatened bird back to its home in the Caatinga.

This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeira trees and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating seeds and nuts.

Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently in progress. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws, which were reintroduced into the same area and will assist to share knowledge of food sources and nesting and roosting areas.

The reintroduction program has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on daily movements patterns as well as adjustments to drought during the season. It has also provided a window into the natural history of the Spix's hythian macaw for sale, helping to discover the reasons behind its disappearance in the wild.

Spix's Macaws eat the fruits, seeds and nuts of numerous plants that are native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo and linhas Brasil, as well as 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 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 repeated grating sound that is similar to a flute. They are often seen flying high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with one another with a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their family. This is why they are such popular pets and a target for illegal trade in birds.

By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, and all of them poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of an attempt to pair them. Since then, all known Spix's macaws have been captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.

The handful of Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, which makes them at risk of disease and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are kept in an breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal which raises doubt about the future plans to repatriate the birds and return them back into the wild.

Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.

In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, but not at a rapid rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it is crucial to reintroduce these birds to the wild. Choosing the right birds for release is also critical. The macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired with siblings or close relatives.

It's not easy to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild but it's important to try. ABC and its partners have created a reserve system to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged Sinatra Macaws for Sale which are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws become accustomed to their new surroundings. They will also offer protection by numbers.