Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long time filled with speculation and worry, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also rife with jealousy and backbiting.

The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed to be matched well.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds that are in captivity and hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They call the birds their blue-eyed friends and compare their journey to that of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They say he was as a true survivor, who lost his family, but kept his faith in the region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his, and they feel a strong connection to him.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided researchers with an opportunity to study its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of how the species survived this long. This enabled researchers to determine the historical population of this unique bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to gather crucial details about the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery of this species.

It was an amazing feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has enabled scientists to understand how these birds can be restored to the wild. The bird's survival has encouraged people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. Zoos have also been enticed to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.

This working group is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with one goal in common: the recovery of this rare bird.

The group has accomplished a lot of work. This includes the development of plans to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.

Habitat

Threatened by 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 work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people all over the globe thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long road of bringing these birds back. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity into the wild.

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

To protect the population that is declining, an international committee was established that brought together aviculturists that were the last to hold the birds as well as officials from the government. This group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program Leia blue macaw and red macaw to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's Macaws into their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.

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

Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and are seldom seen on the ground. They usually nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruit seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They will typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.

A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to assist identify Spix's Macaws. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was observed which allowed them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily activities in the wild. This approach has been extremely successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction project is in the process of trying to restore the critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.

The northeast region of Brazil covers approximately 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeiras and were known to feed on nuts and seeds.

Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is in progress. Eight Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity were released in the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws which have been reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting sites and areas 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 seasonal adjustments to drought. It also has 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 linhas Brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and the joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They can also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other bird species are social birds and form close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound similar to the note of a flutist. They are known to fly high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, including flight patterns and bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them so popular pets and targets for illegal bird trade.

In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all known Spix's macaws have been captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.

The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix of birds, and are the descendant of just two individuals. This makes them susceptible to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity are kept in a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired, leaving the possibility of repatriation or the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.

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

In part because of this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a speedy pace. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it will be important to reintroducing the birds into the wild. The selection of the right birds to release is equally important. Macaws must be of reproductive age and paired with siblings or close relatives.

The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could prove difficult, but it is important to try. To help, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more common in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws get familiar with the area and provide security in large numbers.