Blog entry by Liza FitzGibbon
After a long time of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.
The first challenge was to get enough birds to be traded. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was important 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 decades of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a small population of the birds that are in captive, and are hoping to release them into the wild near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue companions and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's hythian macaw for sale in the wild. They describe Presley as an authentic survivor who lost his family, but remained loyal to his area. They feel a strong kinship to him and view their lives as being identical to his.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's chestnut fronted macaw in the wild, and better understand the reasons why this species has survived so long. Researchers were able to determine the historical population of this unique bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to gather important data about the bird's daily movements and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has allowed scientists to better understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to nature. The bird's survival has motivated people to act to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos are also encouraged to develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This working group is an example of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can work together in order to conserve endangered wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials as well as representatives from zoos as well as international owners of this rare bird and ornithologists together with one common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes preparing a plan to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
Endangered by poaching and habitat destruction, the Spix's Pixie mini macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to do their best to save this iconic bird from the brink extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is known to millions around the world due to a cult animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long road of returning these birds. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga, an arid region of flat savannah scrubland scattered with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is among of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with only occasional sightings in the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population, an international group was created. It was comprised of experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird and officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's Macaws into their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will give a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.
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 hunt for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend as much as one third of their day in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local group was recruited to become part of the field team. The community was provided with watches that would activate if the Spix's Macaw was detected. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This method has proven to be extremely 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 1, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot vanished in 2000 and no additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction programme 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 which covers around 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of old caraibeira trees, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction program is now underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws who were reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction program has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique bird, which includes details about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought during the season. It has also provided a glimpse into the natural history of the Spix's Macaws. This can help to understand the causes that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws eat the fruits, seeds and nuts of a variety of species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo and linhas Brasil, as well as facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in the mood to breed.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very rigid daily routine, ranging from the flight path to bathing habits, and they can recognize members of their family. This is why they are the most sought-after pets and targets for illegal bird trade.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, all of them poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds in the hope of pairing them. Since then the Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix that descends of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds in captivity are housed at a breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed which raises doubt about the future plans to repatriate the birds and reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their petty numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws for the collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, but not at a high rate. Keeping them healthy and producing will be important to reintroducing the birds back into the wild. It is crucial to select the right birds prior to release. The macaws need to be at a reproductive age and should be paired with an older sibling or close relatives.
The return of the Spix's Mindy catalina macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it's crucial to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that is designed to safeguard the species' last remaining habitats. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will be joined by Melody blue spix macaw-winged macaws, which are more common in the Caatinga and share areas with the Spix's macaws. These smart birds will help macaws to become accustomed to the region, and they will provide the security of a large number.