Simone Hopwood

Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with backbiting and jealousy.

The first challenge was finding enough birds for the exchange. The macaws were monogamous so it was crucial to match the 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 small amount of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them close to Curaca. They refer to them as little blue companions, and compare their lives to the story of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor who lost his family but kept his faith in his region. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as being similar to his and feel a strong connection to him.

The discovery of the last Spix's Ziggy Our Scarlet Macaw provided researchers with an opportunity to investigate its behavior in wild and gain a better understanding of how the species survived this long. This allowed researchers to estimate the population of this unique bird more precisely. Researchers were able to collect important data about the bird's daily movement patterns and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery for this species.

It was an amazing achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be returned to nature. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other parrots and threatened species. This has also encouraged zoos to create their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.

This working group is a good example of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can collaborate to protect endangered wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials Zoo representatives as well as international owners of this unique bird and ornithologists with a common goal: the recovery of the Spix's glaucous macaw.

The group has accomplished a great green macaw deal of work, including preparing a plan for reintroducing the bird to 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 set up an ongoing committee to oversee the recovery of the bird.

Habitat

Threatened by habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists, and other experts continue to fight to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is known to millions of people around the world due to a cult animated film and two sequels. But this is only the beginning on the long-distance road to returning these birds. 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 native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga, an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is among of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, despite only occasional sightings in the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.

To protect the declining population, an international group was formed. 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 an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws to their natural environment.

AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP is also raising and breeding birds to be released into the wild, thereby providing the genetically pure source of the animals for the next generation of.

In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other species. They typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.

A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to help to track Spix's macaws. The members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected, allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily movements in the wild. This method has proven to be 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 following the last wild parrot was lost in 2000 and no additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction program is in progress to try to restore this critically threatened bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.

The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also known to eat seeds and nuts.

Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by a group Lolita blue & gold macaw-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.

The reintroduction program has 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 opened a window on the evolution of Spix's Macaws, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their extinction.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits and nuts of many plants that are 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). They may also consume the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other bird species are social birds and have close relationships with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic other sounds and words. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound similar to a flute. When they are in a breeding mode they can fly fast and high.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, can mimic human speech. They also have a strict routine for their day, from flight paths to bathing habits and are able to recognize members of their flock. They are very popular as pets and are often targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.

In the early 1980s, just 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 the time, all Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.

The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix, which is the descendant of just two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are in an breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed, casting doubt over future plans to return the birds and then reintroduce them back into the wild.

Despite their low numbers of captive-bred Spix's macaws, captive-bred species show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws for the collector.

In part due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, though not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the correct birds before releasing them. Macaws should be at a reproductive age, and they should be in a relationship with an older sibling or close relative.

Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, but it is important to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, that are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These smart birds will help the macaws get accustomed to the region, and they will provide safety in numbers.