Melody Blue Spix Macaw

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

The first obstacle was to find enough birds to be traded. The macaws are monogamous therefore the pairs had to be well-matched.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the mission to save 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 few of the birds that are in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They call the birds little Leia blue macaw and red macaw friends, and compare their experience to that of Presley, the only known Spix's hythian macaw for sale found in the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family but kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong bond to him and see their lives as being like his.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided a valuable opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of why this species has survived for this long. It also helped them make a more precise estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important data on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. They also monitored attempts at reproduction with an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaw pair which was a significant step towards the recovery of this species.

It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and has helped scientists understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird encouraged people to take action to save other parrots as well as endangered species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set up 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 save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials, zoo representatives, international holders of this unique bird and ornithologists together with one common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.

The group has accomplished a lot of work, Melody Blue Spix Macaw including preparing plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. It also has established an ongoing committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the bird.

Habitat

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

The Spix's Macaw is known to millions around the globe thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. This is just the beginning on the long journey of bringing these birds back. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity back into the wild.

The Spix's Mindy catalina macaw is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga, an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat scattered with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was described in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, few captive birds and a handful of museum specimens.

To protect the population that is declining In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was created that brought together aviculturists that had the last remaining birds as well as officials from the government. The group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.

AWWP has bought and is restoring 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, providing a genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.

Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and seldom seen on the ground. They typically build nests in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruits as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to 1/3 of their time in the nest.

A local community was selected as part of the field team in order to help identify Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw is detected. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily movements. This method has proven successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species in 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 more birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan currently underway is trying to return this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in Caatinga.

This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeiras and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.

Reintroduction of the Spix’s Ziggy hyacinth macaw parrots for sale into the wild is currently in progress. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws. They have been released back into the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources, nesting and roosting areas.

The reintroduction programme has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on the patterns of movement throughout the day and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also provides a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, helping to determine the causes that led to its extinction in the wild.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits and nuts of many species native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and the Joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other birds are social birds and develop close bonds with their parents. They are very vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute note. When they are in breeding mode, they are known to fly high and fast.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking, and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They have a strict routine that includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them such popular pets, and also a target for illegal bird trade.

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

The few Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mix of individuals that are the descendants of just two individuals, which makes them susceptible to illness and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal, casting doubt over future plans to repatriate the birds and return them into the wild.

Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from the collector.

In the wake of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds to release is equally important. The macaws should be of reproductive age and paired with siblings or close relatives.

The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it is important to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by the Leia blue macaw and red macaw-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws become more used to the region and will offer the security of a large number.