Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring however, it is also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. 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. This bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds kept in captive, and they hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They call the birds little blue companions, and compare their journey with that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They call him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but kept his faith in the region. They feel a strong kinship to him and view their lives as being like his.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and gain a better understanding of the reasons why this species has survived for so long. This enabled researchers to determine the historical population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to collect important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, as well as its eating habits. They also observed attempts to reproduce using an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaws which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and it has also helped scientists to understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird also inspired people to take action to save other parrots and endangered species. Zoos have also been enticed to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.
This working group is a good example of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can collaborate in order to conserve endangered wildlife and animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists, with an aim in common that is the recovery of this unique bird.
The working group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes developing an approach to reintroduce this bird in the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also established a permanent committee to save the bird.
Habitat
Endangered by habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to do their best to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's Macaw known to millions of people around the world however this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long road to bring these birds back from the edge. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and bring back captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga which is an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was described in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, a few captive birds, and a handful of museum specimens.
To protect the population that is declining An international committee was established that gathered aviculturists who held the last remaining birds as well as officials from the government. The group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's into their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP is also raising and breeding birds to be released into the wild, which will provide the genetically pure source of the animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and are seldom seen on the ground. They usually nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts and other plants. They may spend up to one third of their day in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team in order to help track Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw is detected. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild as well as their daily actions. This method has proven successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) 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 after the last wild parrot was lost in 2000, and no more birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan currently underway is trying to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction program is now underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Ziggy Our Scarlet Macaw -raised Spix's macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws that have been reintroduced and will share information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this rare bird, including details on the patterns of movement throughout the day and the seasonal changes to drought. It also provides an insight into the nature of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better understand what led to its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a variety of plants 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 highly social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic sounds and speech. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound similar to a flute note. When they are in a breeding mode, they are known to fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another through a range of screeching and squawking sounds, and like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. They are very popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, all of them poached. A plan to pair the male and female foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since then the Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mixture, which is the descendant of only two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are in the breeding center in Germany however, 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 then reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from the collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
In part, due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to increase, though not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds for release is equally important. Macaws must be reproductive and paired with close relatives or siblings.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, but it's crucial to try. ABC and its partners have created reserves to safeguard 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 live in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These intelligent birds will aid the macaws get accustomed to the region, and they will provide the security of a large number.